BRS dosing amount question

[gnu]

I have some questions about dosing BRS. My 220 reef tank is about 1 year old and I just started dosing with the 2 part brs setup. I started with there rec on the dosing for my setup (50ml) of each part each day. When I started the reading were this....

ph 8.0
cal 380
alk 7.8
mag 1380

Now after 3 weeks of dosing im at this....

ph 8.3
cal 480
alk 9.0
mag 1480

Everything in the tank seems to be doing fine. I have lps, zoas and mushrooms. I have no sps as of yet. Question is shoud I back off the dosing or keep going on it or should I lower the dose rate per day. Im manually dosing BRS as of now until I get the reef angel setup. I do know that my levels are with in range for the amount of stuff I have I think. I do 25 gallon water changes every sunday also with coral pro salt.

Please give me a litte info on this

ammonia 0
nitrate 25
nitrite 0

 

[bertoni]

Those numbers are fine as is, although I'd stop dosing calcium and let that drift back down to 400-450 ppm. The numbers seem to be rising, and I'd start cutting back on dosing, most likely, to keep them stable.

The nitrate level is noticeable. If the kit is accurate, some corals might change coloration. You can add some nutrient export or reduce feeding if you want to lower the number. Many people are successful with vodka or vinegar dosing.

 

[WickedBlue28]

Question on Dosing BRS CA and ALk what product do you choose if using

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

I'm guessing it's Randy's recipe since its my understanding that is what BRS uses.

 

[bertoni]

Yes, the entries for Randy's recipes are the ones to use.

 

[gnu]

I will skip dosing for 3 nights and see where the levels go after that.

 

[jerpa]

Are you using sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate for the alkalinity portion?

 

[gnu]

Are you using sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate for the alkalinity portion?

Im actually using the b-ionic 2 part.

After 3 days my levels are

ph 8.1
alk/dkh 8.6
cal 420
mag 1335
sal 1.025

was....

ph 8.3
cal 480
alk 9.0
mag 1480

Should I drop it down to 20ml and see if that will keep it steady?

 

[bertoni]

The alkalinity has dropped a bit, although that amount might be in the noise. I'd probably leave the dosing as is. The calcium and magnesium numbers aren't making sense, unless there was a water change in there.

 

[gnu]

The alkalinity has dropped a bit, although that amount might be in the noise. I'd probably leave the dosing as is. The calcium and magnesium numbers aren't making sense, unless there was a water change in there.

We did the water change on Sunday and tested everything on Monday. Our water changed are on Sundays (25 gallons)

Why wouldn't they make sense?

 

[bertoni]

The alkalinity, which should be the most precise test of the dosage, seems to have gone down only, while the calcium and magnesium have dropped a fair amount. I suppose it could be testing noise, but the magnesium shouldn't change much in such a short time, and the calcium should drop in sync with the alkalinity at the rate of 20 ppm per 28 dKH.

 

[ReeferGil]

What times are you dosing the Alk and the Cal? Are you doing them at different times of the day or at the same time?

 

[gnu]

The alkalinity, which should be the most precise test of the dosage, seems to have gone down only, while the calcium and magnesium have dropped a fair amount. I suppose it could be testing noise, but the magnesium shouldn't change much in such a short time, and the calcium should drop in sync with the alkalinity at the rate of 20 ppm per 28 dKH.

I do agree with this. The reason the calcuim might not be that accurate is its just a api test kit. It could be higher. I will chek everything again ans see where its all at. We did move some rocks around sense the sailfin and vlamini where battling for some time.

 

[gnu]

What times are you dosing the Alk and the Cal? Are you doing them at different times of the day or at the same time?

We always dose at the same time in the evening at 8pm. Its just the best time sense one of us is always home.

 

[bertoni]

Okay, I'm willing to believe there are some testing limitations.