A question for fellow 2-part Ca/Alk users

Harville

Harville

Premium Member
Quick Question.

I have a 90 gal. tank. Lots of sps, some LPS and a few softies

This 2-part thing is costing me a fortune.

I'm dosing 50ml of each daily just to keep levels up.

I'm curious to hear how much every one else uses.

My levels are Ca 400-420ppm
Alk 7.6-7.9 dkh

Thanks guys.
 
I'm using Randy's and dose 175ml or 6 floz 1 and 2 each day.

125gl w/ 30 sump est total water volume 115-120gl

ca 425-450
alk 3.25-3.5
mg 1300-1325
 
I quickly calculated that Randy's recipe costs approximately 50 cents for a gallon of each. Much better than $25 for the commercial formulas...

Dowflake from the pool store, baking soda from the grocery store.
 
i think they call it a calcium reactor....a small pricey investment, but as i mentioned....its an investment. that would solve your whoas of 2-parting everyday....IMO of course.
Cheers
 
I agree with Racenrich, the Ca reactor is alot cheaper than the 2 part additive. And will take care of ca and alk demands. It is a great piece of equipment for a sps tank.

I'd switch to Randy's homemade two part system. And save the extra to get you a ca reactor when you can afford it.

I have seen where some only use Randy's two part and have very nice tanks too. But the Ca reactor is alot less trouble in my opinion.
 
I use Randy's fourmula and I am up to 130ML of each part every day, and my tank is still frags!!! (This is a 125G tank)

I just bought a doser to do this automatically for me and I am so happy.

Whiskey
 
Better option yet, switch to Randy's and save up $100 for a medical dosing pump that can automate dosing of both, no CO2 can to muck with.

Kevin W.
 
just curious... how is dumping in 2-part 3 times a day easier than a reactor? Did you have issues with the reactor being dialed in?
 
Just keeping the drip rate steady is a pain.

Ph is another problem, and dripping limewater is a pain because you have to clean the pump's all the time.

I just pour a cup in in the morning and one in the afternoon.
 
I ran a ca reactor..... got tired of trying messing with it too. Now im running DIY two part on a doser and couldnt be happier. Just wish i did this from the beginning.... also dosers have a cheaper start up cost then calcium reactors.
 
That's funny...I'm tired of Randy's two part. I bought the dual-channel feed pump and ran it for quite a while. Then I killed most of my sps when the two-part sent my salinity over the moon.

Just keep that in mind. Even skimming wet, your salinity is going higher and higher every time you dump that stuff in your tank.

One benefit that the reactor has is that it not only provides calcium and alkalinity, but it also provide the trace elements that get rapidly depleted.

Anyway, at least I can use the feed pump on my new calcium reactor that's on it's way...
 
Thanks for all the info guys.

Unfortunatley the Ca reactor is currently out of the question because of my current set-up.

My tank is not drilled and I do not have a sump.

I'm using an algae Turf Scrubber that dumps into the tank. I also use a deltec mce600 that hangs on along with it.

If I would've done it over again, I would've used a sump.

Don't get me wrong, my set-up works great. But you have many things you can do with the extra space of a sump.

So, no sump for me at the moment. I'm stuck with th 2-part for a while.

Thanks for the link to Randy's 2-part by the way.
 
Been using the 2-part for last couple months after much debate on running a reactor or 2-part within our club and I'll have to say growth has never been better and no more issues with low PH.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8362916#post8362916 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RobTheReefer
That's funny...I'm tired of Randy's two part. I bought the dual-channel feed pump and ran it for quite a while. Then I killed most of my sps when the two-part sent my salinity over the moon.

Just keep that in mind. Even skimming wet, your salinity is going higher and higher every time you dump that stuff in your tank.
Click to expand...

I've never heard that. How can putting Baking soda and CaCl in your tank raise your Salinity?

Now the MG part of it, with the Epsom Salts, yes I can see that raising your Salinity, but we use a very small amount of it over a year.

Been using Randy's since the info came out. Very easy to maintain perfect levels, or whatever level you choose:)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8362916#post8362916 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RobTheReefer
That's funny...I'm tired of Randy's two part. I bought the dual-channel feed pump and ran it for quite a while. Then I killed most of my sps when the two-part sent my salinity over the moon.

Just keep that in mind. Even skimming wet, your salinity is going higher and higher every time you dump that stuff in your tank.

One benefit that the reactor has is that it not only provides calcium and alkalinity, but it also provide the trace elements that get rapidly depleted.

Anyway, at least I can use the feed pump on my new calcium reactor that's on it's way...
Click to expand...

Are you mixing the two part in SW? I drip Kalk, dose the two part and my salinity has never changed. All are mixed in RO/DI FW.
 
I, too, use Randy's 2-part on a daily basis. 160ml of each part for my 90g & 60ml of each part for my 45g. Both tanks topped off w/kalkwasser to make up for evaporation.

I also agree with the last couple of posts that maintaining salinity is not an issue. I am also not sure about carx providing extra trace elements...I have not heard that before, but I guess it would be possible, however it would seem to me that would depend on the media you are using. In any case, with regards to trace elements, I rely on regular water changes to replenish those trace elements. I understand that the salt mixes commonly used in the hobby provide the necessary trace elements, so I hope that is true.

Next up for me, dosing pump to automate the 2-part additives :)
 
Getting a dosing pump for the Alk part of this is really the way to go. I make up a gallon of the mix, pour it into a 10 gallon container with RO/DI water, and dose @ around 40ml/hour. It lasts about 25 days, and keeps my alk steady at 7.8 dkh.
I mix the Ca part, and keep a 48 oz measuring cup in the sump. Over a week I dose the whole 48 oz. I look into the sump once or twice per day, and just add a little. Very easy.
 
Re: A question for fellow 2-part Ca/Alk users

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8354720#post8354720 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Harville
Quick Question. I'm curious to hear how much every one else uses.
Thanks guys.
Click to expand...
BTW, I didn't answer your question. I use 80 ml daily of Randy's Recipe for my 90g. I add equal amounts of Ca and Alk via dosing pump. I have no issues with salinity or pH. I rely on regular water changes to replenish trace elements. I realized a slight increase in product use over B-Ionic, but a huge decrease in cost.
 
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