BRS Two-Part Dosing Help Needed / Questions

[davehead86]

So I am going to be starting dosing. I have increased the amount of coral in the tank and its time to keep these numbers in line. So I have been tracking my ALK and CALCIUM usage for a week and these are the numbers I have come up with ...

Using .1dkh of ALK a day
Using 15mg\L of Calcium a day

So when I go into the BRS calculator website it tells me to use 6.4 mL of their 2 Part ALK system to bring up my level .1 dkh. And then it says to use 138 mL of their 2 part system to bring up my calcium 15 mg\L.

When I go to their directions for using the two part system tho it tells me to use .2 mL of their solutions per day per gallon which equals 18 mL a day for my system for each solution.

My questions stem around these numbers. How can the first set of two numbers be so different from each other to raise my levels if I was calculating it daily but then when it goes to the dosing measurements it recommends adding them in equal parts?

It feels like Im looking too hard into this but now Im slightly confused as to what numbers to use in my doser. :facepalm: Im really not wanting to just wing it and have corals die off because the numbers fluctuate so dramatically from adding too much of a solution, or in the wrong proportions.

 

[thegrun]

Your test results are not close to where I would expect them to be. Ordinarily a tank that consumes 15ppm (or 15mg\L) of calcium usage would consume 2.1dKh of alkalinity. You don't indicate what your actual levels are but your consumption should not vary much from the ratio of 10 ppm of calcium combine with 1.4 dKh of alkalinity in normal coral growth. What is your magnesium level? Did you make a water change during the week which would have thrown off your numbers? Have you been manually dosing recently? If your calcium was supersaturated it may be possible to see results like you list, but you would also be seeing a lot of calcium precipitation on the glass of your aquarium. I tend to lean towards a bad test kit with the numbers you posted.

 

[shingo43]

wong post...deleted

wong post...deleted

thanks

 

[davehead86]

BRS Two-Part Dosing Help Needed / Questions

Your test results are not close to where I would expect them to be. Ordinarily a tank that consumes 15ppm (or 15mg\L) of calcium usage would consume 2.1dKh of alkalinity. You don't indicate what your actual levels are but your consumption should not vary much from the ratio of 10 ppm of calcium combine with 1.4 dKh of alkalinity in normal coral growth. What is your magnesium level? Did you make a water change during the week which would have thrown off your numbers? Have you been manually dosing recently? If your calcium was supersaturated it may be possible to see results like you list, but you would also be seeing a lot of calcium precipitation on the glass of your aquarium. I tend to lean towards a bad test kit with the numbers you posted.

Current levels are
Alk 6.8
Calcium 400
Magnesium is 1350

I must have done something wrong with the tests this week. I will go back and continue testing. I'll manually raise the levels to the correct numbers, test and watch them fall and redo the calculations.

Thanks for the help. Using those numbers will help in retesting and making sure I'm on the right track.

Edit: I suspect my calcium test readings. I use a Hanna checker for alk. It's a salifert and the color change was giving me trouble.

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[thegrun]

FYI, after the initial color change with the Salifert test, it usually takes one more drop after the initial color change to achieve the final color which is where you get the most accurate reading.

 

[davehead86]

Ok so as a follow up for anyone else who may search this ...

I was not being careful enough with the testing and that was causing results that were inaccurate. Upon several days of retesting correctly I am now at what I consider normal amounts of dosing liquids to keep my levels. Im still testing everyday and dosing by hand everyday to dial in the correct amounts.

Levels are now
Alk - 7.6
Calcium - 465
Magnesium - 1480

(Dosed too much calcium on the last test)



Thanks for the help provided and clearing up the issues i was having.

 

[TYC]

So I am going to be starting dosing. I have increased the amount of coral in the tank and its time to keep these numbers in line. So I have been tracking my ALK and CALCIUM usage for a week and these are the numbers I have come up with ...

Using .1dkh of ALK a day
Using 15mg\L of Calcium a day

It feels like Im looking too hard into this but now Im slightly confused as to what numbers to use in my doser. :facepalm: Im really not wanting to just wing it and have corals die off because the numbers fluctuate so dramatically from adding too much of a solution, or in the wrong proportions.

To obtain the correct amount of Alk & Cal ur tank is using, u should first measure the Alk & Cal level of freshly made saltwater and compare this to the Alk & Cal level of your existing tank water with fish/corals in them. The difference in these levels is the amount of Alk & Cal your tank is using and needs to be replenished via 2-part dosing. The freshly made saltwater Alk & Cal #'s are your target levels.

2-part dosing should be done in equal amounts of Alk & Cal or else parameters will get out of whack and Alk & Cal levels will not stabilize. Joe Jaworski has a very good article about how to dose and u can ask him questions on his blog (he's very prompt in responding) https://joejaworski.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/the-right-way-to-use-2-part-additives/ He discusses how to calculate the right dose and initial method of dosing.

 

[ClownMan727]

You do not have to dose in the same amounts. Some tanks may use more calcium or alkalinity solution. My tank uses more Calcium than alk. You need to forget about the equal parts and dose what your tank is using.

 

[homer1475]

You do not have to dose in the same amounts. Some tanks may use more calcium or alkalinity solution. My tank uses more Calcium than alk. You need to forget about the equal parts and dose what your tank is using.

+1

When I first started dosing I could not figure out why my test results came back with unequal amounts. I posted on here about it and was told that some tanks don't require equal amounts and its completely normal(thanks again Bertoni!)

I now dose 120ml of ALK daily, and 100ml of CAL daily, along with roughly 20oz of mag roughly once a month(when needed but its roughly once a month). I test every 10 days and my parameters are always spot on.

 

[TYC]

Just remember, in this hobby what works for others may not work for you. There are so many diff ways to keep a successful marine aquarium, u should research and learn through experience and make an informed decision for your tank.

Each tank will have different Alk & Cal needs based on tank inhabitants. What's important is to know what the initial BALANCED Alk & Cal parameter is from your freshly mixed sea water. This should be your target BALANCED parameter, not what people are saying it should be. You have to recognize the amount of Alk & Cal levels being consumed by your tank and replenish it via equal 2-part dosing to balance your water to it's initial parameter.

I subscribe to Joe Jawarski's method of equal 2-part doing bc it makes sense as far as water chemistry and it's worked for me. He is one of those reef geeks with over 30 yrs of hobby experience keeping some very exotic livestock. Whatever you do please remember that both parts (Alk & Cal) are always consumed equally and converted into calcium carbonate and nothing else. When Cal goes up, Alk goes down and vice versa. If you try dosing unequal parts, you will just knock your tank out of balance.

 

[davehead86]

Wow. This got some great responses for just an update! Thank you for the information and debate and blog to read. I am eager to put off some chores and to look into that this weekend.



One question ...
I use a salt that does not have the levels I desire initially. Should I add two part to the water when making it to bring it to level and adding it to the tank? Wouldn't that solve the disparity issue?


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[ClownMan727]

Yep. Just add until you reach your desired level. BRS has a calculator to figure the math for you. Good luck.