Calc and Alc, what do you dose?

[ERICinFL]

I'm in the process of raising my calc and alc in preparation for SPS corals. I'm using the Dow Flake and A&H two part process. I'm also awaiting a dosing pump so I can top off with lime water. I have a 112gal tank with 20gal sump. I'm mixing the two parts as described in the reef chem forum and I'm adding about two cups of each mix every three days. I know once I get my SPS corals, I'll probably need to dose more, but what do most of you dose? Thanks.

 

[twon8]

you should dose enough to keep your levels of alk and calcium at what you want to keep them at. you shouldn't be dosing without testing.

 

[ERICinFL]

I have a friend testing my water until I get my own alk and calc kits. Right now, calc is around 320 and alk is around 7-8 (I know both need to come up). To add another question, what test kits do you suggest?

 

[jsweir]

Salifert kits are great. Boy, sure seems like you're dumping alot of the mix in your tank. I dose kalk and only have to add 60ml of Ca+ each day - and my tank is loaded to the gills with sps.

 

[Sk8r]

I second Salifert: 3 tests are useful for sps: magnesium, calcium, and alkalinity---well, and salt. Your alkalinity should be around 2.97 on the other chart, your calcium at least 400, and your magnesium 3x what your calcium is.
Magnesium is what I think of as the 'floor' of the other two: if your magnesium falls, the other two won't be stable. But it shouldn't get above 1400 either. The alkalinity and calcium are interrelated, and getting both to agree will mean your fish and corals are happy. Seriously, I have certain fish and mushrooms and corals I use as mine canaries: if they're not happy, something's off with the chemistry and you need to test immediately. Today it was the yellow watchman not wanting to come out: alkalinity was low. Fixed it and out he came. Don't let your lfs sell you every test and every additive at once: get the ones you actually need.

 

[synlapse]

I wouldn't say I dose anything; I roll with a calcium reactor and topoff with Kalkwasser. If things get weird I dose with AragaMilk.

 

[Wiskey]

I also use randy's 3 part, use this to get a better idea of how much of each part. You do still need test kits though, don't skimp on test kits, this is one of the most important parts of your setup.

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

Whiskey

 

[ReeferMac]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7043124#post7043124 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wiskey
don't skimp on test kits, this is one of the most important parts of your setup.

:thumbsup:
If you don't know where you are, where you've been, or how fast you're moving, how can you determine where you're headed?

- Mac

 

[ERICinFL]

Thank you for the input guys, I appreciate it tremendously. I'm probably jumping in to quickly, but my first order of frags is going to cost me around $300. There are 8 frags I'm getting from Foster and Smith, all are at a moderate care level. If these do well for a year, I'll jump into some more difficult Acros and such. I have a couple of LPS and a bunch of softies that are growing great, not to mention all my fish appear happy as can be. I'm hoping my water is good enough for the LPS, I know my calc needs to come up and my only concern right now is my nitrates are around 20ppm. I'm in the process of using De-Nitrate, feeding less and more frequent water changes. Does it sound like I'm on the right track?