I have been dosing two part now for about 2 months. I was using Kalkwasser to controll my ph and adding buffer occasionally but I have been getting more and more sps and now that they are getting bigger I can no longer keep my calcium up without two part. My problem is that I am still having to add several teaspoons of baking soda per week to keep my alkalinity up. this is in addition to dosing equal ammounts of two part for 15 minutes 3 times a night using the dosing pumps you can buy from bulk reef supply (two part website) My dkh will go from 12 to 6 in 3 days with no intervention. If I dose more alkalinity this will throw off the ionic balance of the system right? If I dose more of both then my calcium goes up to 500. It just seems like my system consumes way more alkalinity than calcium. I don't feed very much if you are wondering and I only have two small fish in this 60 gallon system. No micro algae anywhere. Does anyone else have this problem?
Dosing two part and limewater?
- Thread starter Highside
- Start date
DMBillies
Active member
I have the opposite problem (despite my pH issues). I'm needing to dose quite a bit more Ca solution by volume to keep that parameter up (I'd say it is usually about 1.5 Ca to 1 Alk). I don't know how that will change when I really get the kalk reactor performing to potential, but that's where I am now.
I've just been dosing more Ca, not really knowing what else to do and assuming that was just fine. Although, in the long run, I guess that could result in imbalances in the tank, WC's should take care of most of that, no? That was always my assumption anyway.
All I know is that this tank seems to be blazing through the Ca and Alk compared to my 90/92, which is probably why I'm sure is a result of the better growth I'm seeing in this tank for most things. They are dropping fast enough that I can definitely see a peristaltic pump in my future.
I've just been dosing more Ca, not really knowing what else to do and assuming that was just fine. Although, in the long run, I guess that could result in imbalances in the tank, WC's should take care of most of that, no? That was always my assumption anyway.
All I know is that this tank seems to be blazing through the Ca and Alk compared to my 90/92, which is probably why I'm sure is a result of the better growth I'm seeing in this tank for most things. They are dropping fast enough that I can definitely see a peristaltic pump in my future.
crumbletop
New member
This is just a guess, but since you mentioned elsewhere that your tank ph runs a bit low if you don't intervene -- my bet is that you have enough CO2 in your air that it is constantly pushing against your alk additive (the carbonate buffers the CO2) and so you lose carbonate in preference to the calcium. Sounds like to get a stable system you'll need to try and figure out the CO2 problem, if that is the case.
DawgDiggity
New member
You use baking soda as apposed to kalk or limewater?
Highside,
I have had the same problem as you noted. I think the CO2 might have something to do with it. However what I have seen in my systems is by using Kalkwasser my Alkalinity readings show a constant drop as I dose the kalk. You my want to try using less kalk and increasing the baking soda to achieve an Ionic balance. HOPE this helps
I have had the same problem as you noted. I think the CO2 might have something to do with it. However what I have seen in my systems is by using Kalkwasser my Alkalinity readings show a constant drop as I dose the kalk. You my want to try using less kalk and increasing the baking soda to achieve an Ionic balance. HOPE this helps
crumbletop
New member
Kalkwasser is balanced with respect to calcium and alkalinity. What that means is if the alk drops and the ca doesn't and you dose baking powder to compensate, then you are in the same situation as previously described (need to add more alk than ca). You can certainly do this, but it takes away still the "easy" part that Highside was looking for, I think.
crumbletop
New member
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