Changing Tank

[gandolf8]

I am upgrading my tank from Softies to LPS and SPS with the help of ABC Reef. My question is I am dosing now with B-ionic for Alk and Cal . Do I get a Calcium Reactor or do I stay dosing B-ionic. Thx.

 

[Dave VG]

I would stick with the B-ionic sense you are used to dosing with it. If down the road your tank starts sucking up calcium then you should maybe consider a Calcium Reactor.

 

[oneradtek202]

depends on your amount of corals. My tank is pretty packed and i get away with the BRS 2 part stuff about 100ml each a day. Not too bad.

IMO adding ca reactors are just another thing to worry about, and they are expensive. Just get some dosing pumps , and use the 2 part solution. youll be fine!

 

[daveml]

I use the 2 part with bulk reef supply dosing pumps. Easy to dial in and adjust as your system requires more of the 2 part

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I'd definitely off the B-ionic. There's no reason to pay big bucks for that stuff when you can use BRS supplies to make your own.

 

[moatdaddy]

Gary, could you please elaborate for those of us who do not know how to make our own.

Thank you Sir.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

there are two very popular recipes for making your own liquid supplements:

Randy's Recipe and the recipe found on the Bulk Reef Supply website.
Both incorporate an alkalinity, calcium and magnesium supplement.

For alkalinity both use either pH boosting calcium carbonate (baked baking soda) recipe or the pH depressing calcium bicarbonate (baking soda) recipe.
The calcium recipe calls for sodium chloride and for magnesium either magnesium sulfate (epsom salt) and/or magnesium chloride (usually some combination of both).

Test for alkalinity calcium and Mg using a reliable test kit and supplement accordingly using the reef chemistry calculator


Randy's Recipe

BRS recipe (as well as videos on prep) can be found on their website. BRS is a sponsor of RC.

 

[moatdaddy]

Thank you

 

[pascal32]

second Gary's comment. I've read B-Ionic is good stuff, then again I've read the price tag and seen oodles of outstanding tanks that use regular 2-part. You can make it yourself using Randy's recipe, or order the powder from BRS (support ABC and order through them, they should price match BRS).

I like 2 part, a lot of folks use kalkwasser, though in a high demand tank this needs to be supplemented with 2 part. I avoid kalkwasser because of potential damage to pumps.

all you need to do is get your levels correct, THEN dose in EQUAL parts. I check KH regularly and Calcium once a week. since I dose equally I can tell from the KH if things are not dosing properly. that and the KH test is cheap and quick.

if you go this road consider the following setup. It took me a while to put this together, it served me well. I now use dosing pumps and still use the drippers for minor corrections.

use the calculator gary linked to figure out how much to add.

(3) one gallon jugs (calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium) (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/clear-one-gallon-pvc-jug.html)
(3) pumps (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/one-ounce-dispensing-pump.html)
(2) 100 ml graduated cylinders (1) for calcium (1) for alkalinity
(1) 250ml graduated cylinder ( for mg)
(1) 250ml measuring cup
(1) funnel with a large opening from an auto parts store (makes pouring into the bottle easier)
calcium (Calcium Chloride)
alkalinity (soda ash)
magnisium (Magnesium Chloride)
epsom salts (walmart)
(2) drippers to slowly introduce KH and calcium (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/calcium-and-alkalinity-dripper-aqua-breed-200.html)

it's a lot to buy at once, but it will hold you over for a while and the recurring cost is low.

enjoy!

 

[pascal32]

one last thing - if you have mostly LPS water changes could hold you over. Gary is very SPS heavy, and I am also heading there - these tanks require daily dosing.