fwiw, in my reef (sps) i use b ionic and weak kalk, i have never used anything but b ionic so i dont know what the concentration of the brs solutions are, but 150 ml /day in a 90 seems pretty high. im running aprox 65 gals and am using aroun 20-25ml/day b ionic and aprox 1.5 gals/day of 1 tsp/gal kalk mix. again good luck zsu
Calcium and Alk Consumption problem is driving me nuts, please help!
- Thread starter greg683x
- Start date
ksicard
New member
How are you mixing the dosing solutions? I haven't seen any info on how your mixing the dosing liquids for preparation to be used in the tank. Is it DIY or are you using the powders from BRS? If your using the BRS dosing packages are you positive your mixing them correctly? It is possible your mixing incorrectly and thus giving you such high dosing amounts. IMO you shouldnt be needing to dose more then 20-35ml a day based on your coral load.
hogfanreefer
Active member
Tell us how you're mixing the bicarbonate solution. Is there any residue in the container?
I'm using BRS supplements. When mixing them I'm following the directions on the BRS website. So for the bicarbonate solution I'm using 1 level cup + 4tsp and mixing into 1 gallon of RODI water.
I always have stuff left at the bottom of the jug but I just heat it up in a pot of water on the stove and that dissolves it.
The 142ml I'm talking about dosing isn't a number I've come to by trial and error, it's the number given to me by the BRS calculator for bicarbonate solution in a net 100g of water volume for a 1dkh increase. The numbers do match up too, if I dosed that amount before the system got out of whack I would see a 1 dkh increase after dosing that amount so I do think I'm mixing their solutions up correctly
According to their calculator if I just use a carbonate solution I only have to dose 70ml to achieve the same increase which is right about where my calcium chloride dosing amount is so then I'd be able to dose at a balanced 1:1 ratio
I always have stuff left at the bottom of the jug but I just heat it up in a pot of water on the stove and that dissolves it.
The 142ml I'm talking about dosing isn't a number I've come to by trial and error, it's the number given to me by the BRS calculator for bicarbonate solution in a net 100g of water volume for a 1dkh increase. The numbers do match up too, if I dosed that amount before the system got out of whack I would see a 1 dkh increase after dosing that amount so I do think I'm mixing their solutions up correctly
According to their calculator if I just use a carbonate solution I only have to dose 70ml to achieve the same increase which is right about where my calcium chloride dosing amount is so then I'd be able to dose at a balanced 1:1 ratio
ok so this problem is still kicking my butt. ugh.
if im watching my Alk solution drip into the sump water and Im seeing it turn into a white smokey like substance that dissipates into the water is that normal? This is being dosed into the bubble trap of the sump and i have a powerhead right after. Ive noticed though that if Im making a larger dose from my standby ALK container (we're talking like 50ml all at once)to get my levels where id like them that I see no such smokey changeover when the solution hits the water. You'd think id get a little of this with such a larger dose than the little one by one drips from the dosing pump. its just strange that I have no problem getting an ALK bump up to the desired level that I like with these large independant doses but when I let the dosing pump go to work thats when the problems seem to start
is it somehow possible the solution is precipitating from something going on in my dosing pump or lines? and no im not dosing both calcium and alk at the same time
if im watching my Alk solution drip into the sump water and Im seeing it turn into a white smokey like substance that dissipates into the water is that normal? This is being dosed into the bubble trap of the sump and i have a powerhead right after. Ive noticed though that if Im making a larger dose from my standby ALK container (we're talking like 50ml all at once)to get my levels where id like them that I see no such smokey changeover when the solution hits the water. You'd think id get a little of this with such a larger dose than the little one by one drips from the dosing pump. its just strange that I have no problem getting an ALK bump up to the desired level that I like with these large independant doses but when I let the dosing pump go to work thats when the problems seem to start
is it somehow possible the solution is precipitating from something going on in my dosing pump or lines? and no im not dosing both calcium and alk at the same time
so i wanted to post a resolution to this because I know its frustrating searching through posts about a problem similar to yours and you never know if the suggestions ever ended up fixing anything.
The problem in my tank was GFO. I turned my dual reactor off for a day and my consumption went from a 1 dkh a day all the way down to .3 Leaving me with dosing 42ml a day of sodium bicarbonate if this holds up, which is a whole lot lower than the 142ml I was dosing previously.
The thing Im gonna have to work out now is potentially life without GFO. I had a 1 1/2 cups in my reactor that I was changing monthly which is what BRS recommends for my tank. I'm wondering if I can experiment and find a happy medium, like maybe just use 1/2 cup and see what that does to the ALK levels in my tank
The problem in my tank was GFO. I turned my dual reactor off for a day and my consumption went from a 1 dkh a day all the way down to .3 Leaving me with dosing 42ml a day of sodium bicarbonate if this holds up, which is a whole lot lower than the 142ml I was dosing previously.
The thing Im gonna have to work out now is potentially life without GFO. I had a 1 1/2 cups in my reactor that I was changing monthly which is what BRS recommends for my tank. I'm wondering if I can experiment and find a happy medium, like maybe just use 1/2 cup and see what that does to the ALK levels in my tank
