Bulk additive or premixed solution for dosing?

kylathwe · Nov 21, 2013

Hey guys, I've been dosing kalk for my tank so far and have a doser coming in tomorrow and was wondering if anyone has had any experiences in which additives are the best to maintain alk/calc/etc. I know BRS has bulk alk/calc that I can dose separate or I can get the various premixed solutions that have other elements added in. Currently use between 1/2-3/4 tsp kalk a day if that helps.

Touring · Nov 22, 2013

i dose the BRS stuff but i noticed for whatever reason the strength differs between me and the wife... so i can see how consistency would be better with the premixed stuff and you don't have to worry about adjusting your doser. For the price brs is the way to go.

I bought a 2 dosing unit and i wish i would have gotten a 3, that is my only grip so i could have dosing mag also. even though i dont have to add it as much as alk and cal. i still have to add it........ Good luck

trueblackpercula · Nov 22, 2013

I used Randy's home made two part in it works well. I changed to Bionic and my Sps are getting better colors more PE and there growth rate is good. I add 9 ml a day of there solution with a aqua medic dosing pump and have never looked back.

Dukester · Nov 22, 2013

i use brs 2 part, i have used other bulk additives that are similar in the past with similar results, i dose around 110ml of each cal and alk daily on a 3ch doser, i do not dose mag daily, only when i do a mag test and its low do i add it. I find it to be consistant for me and im not exactly mr perfect when im mixing up new batches, my corals use so much of it that a few % stronger or weaker makes no difference in my setup. i have friends who use bionic with great results too.. i just cant afford it.

trueblackpercula · Nov 25, 2013

Dukester said:
i use brs 2 part, i have used other bulk additives that are similar in the past with similar results, i dose around 110ml of each cal and alk daily on a 3ch doser, i do not dose mag daily, only when i do a mag test and its low do i add it. I find it to be consistant for me and im not exactly mr perfect when im mixing up new batches, my corals use so much of it that a few % stronger or weaker makes no difference in my setup. i have friends who use bionic with great results too.. i just cant afford it.

110ml a day ? How big is your tank and how many Sps or clams. Wow that's a lot I don't blame you as it would get expensive wih that amount dosed a day.

kylathwe · Nov 26, 2013

Thanks everyone. I've got some b-ionic ordered so I'm going to try that.

toothman · Nov 26, 2013

b-ionic is great if you want to pay extra for water vs. calcium chloride and baking soda.

rgfast · Nov 26, 2013

I buy EVS B-Ionic in gallon size then add the 50% ro/di my system takes 187ml alk and 162ml cal daily this is dosed every hour for rock solid levels, BSR makes great products but I'd have to up dosing of there product to maintain same levels as well as not getting the trace elments so I find the extra cost a wash

DavidinGA · Nov 26, 2013

I use Leslie pool supply soda ash (alk) and hardness plus (cal). Corals love it and the $$$ savings is awesome.

trueblackpercula · Nov 26, 2013

toothman said:
b-ionic is great if you want to pay extra for water vs. calcium chloride and baking soda.

I would disagree as I used home made two part for several years and it works but not like Bionic. I can tell you I was dosing 4 to 5 times the amout of home made stuff vs B ionic. I am also getting better PE and color as they have other ingredients in it that the home made doesn't have. In reality Bionc cost 14 to 16 bucks more every 6 months. So for the extra $32 bucks a year is nothing for piece of mind and better looking SPS.

Just my Experiences.

rgfast · Nov 26, 2013

I have a friend who uses the BSR two part and he has to break his pumps down every three months for vinger soak to remove cal build I've been running the EVS for over a year with no build up in pumps

just another + IMO

trueblackpercula · Nov 26, 2013

rgfast said:
I have a friend who uses the BSR two part and he has to break his pumps down every three months for vinger soak to remove cal build I've been running the EVS for over a year with no build up in pumps

just another + IMO

Ha I forgot about that as this is very true

downbeach · Nov 26, 2013

I did the math on this a while ago. I use a little more than a gallon of these supplements each month, so the cost becomes a factor.

1 gallon of dry Calcium Chloride is $17.09 @ BRS. Using recipe #1 it yields about 7 gallons of solution which works out to $2.40 per gallon.

1 gallon of dry Soda Ash is $17.09 @ BRS. Using recipe #1 it yields about 9 gallons of solution which works out to $1.90 per gallon.

So, ESV - buy both @ MD for $ 37.49

DIY - both for $ 4.30

Saving: $ 33.19*
[FONT=&quot]
*The yield for the ESV is 37.5% more than the DIY so the adjusted saving is 62.5% or $20.75.[/FONT]

trueblackpercula · Nov 26, 2013

Yes for larger tanks it gets costly.
No question about it.

kylathwe · Nov 26, 2013

You have to factor in you are buying the bionic from the most expensive place. Premium aquatics sells the gallon size for $13.99 each which would save $10 for both by your calculations. Not to mention they sell buckets of it at even bigger savings and the cost is more negligible.

DavidinGA · Nov 26, 2013

downbeach said:
I did the math on this a while ago. I use a little more than a gallon of these supplements each month, so the cost becomes a factor.

1 gallon of dry Calcium Chloride is $17.09 @ BRS. Using recipe #1 it yields about 7 gallons of solution which works out to $2.40 per gallon.

1 gallon of dry Soda Ash is $17.09 @ BRS. Using recipe #1 it yields about 9 gallons of solution which works out to $1.90 per gallon.

So, ESV - buy both @ MD for $ 37.49

DIY - both for $ 4.30

Saving: $ 33.19*
[FONT=&quot]
*The yield for the ESV is 37.5% more than the DIY so the adjusted saving is 62.5% or $20.75.[/FONT]

For comparison I pay about $1.32/lb for dry Soda Ash.

downbeach · Nov 26, 2013

You can do the supplements for a lot less if you want to use, Peladow for Calcium Chloride, and A&H Baking Soda for Alkalinity. Doing the math, I know they worked out to something just under $.50 for each gallon of solution.

toothman · Nov 26, 2013

trueblackpercula said:
I would disagree as I used home made two part for several years and it works but not like Bionic. I can tell you I was dosing 4 to 5 times the amout of home made stuff vs B ionic. I am also getting better PE and color as they have other ingredients in it that the home made doesn't have. In reality Bionc cost 14 to 16 bucks more every 6 months. So for the extra $32 bucks a year is nothing for piece of mind and better looking SPS.

Just my Experiences.

did not realize b ionic had trace elements in it also. I must say I purchase fauun marin trace elements to add to my 3 part dosing and it is not that cheap, if bionic has it all in it might be a good value. My tank uses over a lb. of baking soda a week, probably not going to try it myself.

MammothReefer · Nov 26, 2013

I use BRS. I almost switched to Leslie pool stuff as well. I was up to the 290/ml a day on my 67. Now I'm around 45ml on my 110. I've never had issues with cleaning my lines because of build up as long I stuck to one doser for one solution. When you swap dosers, or jugs, or lines and mix alk/calc things clog up, or if you let your lines toucho or get splashed by tank water.

I've used BIONIC in the past but I'm not to worried about trace elements I do regular water changes. I can see the value if you are one of the lucky ones who can get away with less frequent water changes.

trueblackpercula · Nov 27, 2013

I don't understand maybe I am doing something wrong but I am dosing 8.64ml a day of each solution and my Alk is 8.3 and calcium is always at 490 to 500 I don't know how you guys are dosing so much are your tanks packed with sps or something?

Bulk additive or premixed solution for dosing?

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