educate me on 2 part buffer ESV B-Ionic

[Cheezefrog]

To start out I have a 36g gal system(29g biocube w/ 7 gal sump) using RC w/ 15-20% water changes weekly.

Tank parameters I try to maintain:
Cal - 420ppm
Alk - 7.9-8.0dKH
Mag 1320-1350ppm


I have added quite a few frags and other corals as of the last few months sps, lps, and other softies w/ data logging for almost the last month constantly. My values show that Alk is dropping .5-.7k dKH (from 7.9-7.4dKH - every 3 days), Mag drops around 20-30ppm every week or so, and Cal is dropping 20ppm randomly??? Seems like it'll drop probably based on my water changes but it'll be at 420ppm one day, hold stable for days to weeks, then drop to 400ppm another day.

I've used Seachem products for Cal and Alk with Kent Mag for quite a while, but I just switched to ESV B-Ionic products just recently.

What I don't understand about the dosing and buffer process is...so if my Alk is dropping based on a value of .5dKH(3.2mL) every 3 days, I know I need to dose the Part A(Alk) of this, but how exactly do I figure out the correct amount of Part B (Cal) to complement it with since it is varying so much? I am planning on going with a Jebao doser as well so I'd like to get this finally understood and sorted out.

thanks for any information

 

[disc1]

It can be hard to measure calcium drops. The problem is that they can be small and the test kit resolution is 20ppm or 10ppm at the best. Once you figure the noise in the test kit, you've got to have a 20 or 30ppm drop in calcium before you ever know the difference.

The best plan is to just match the calcium dose to the alkalinity dose. If you notice it climbs by 20ppm in a week, see if it does 40ppm in 2 weeks. That little change won't hurt anthing. Once you've got a good long term trend on calcium you might switch up the dose.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I agree, that's the best way. The beauty of a two part is the balance that lets you run quite a while without measuring calcium and not getting too far off track.

 

[Cheezefrog]

Thanks for the information.

I guess one of the things I'm confused with and perhaps this has been one of my trending issues that I've never understood with the water chemistry is lets say my tank parameters that I want to maintain daily are the following:

Cal - 420ppm
Alk - 7.9-8.0dKH
Mag 1320-1350ppm

If i'm loosing around .9 dKH every 3 days, which equates to roughly 3.2mL needed(1mL daily dosing) of Alk needed in my 36 gal system and I match that with the same Cal dosing. 2 weeks pass by and I do a 20% water change with RC @ 1.025 460ppm Cal, 11-13dKH, and 1440ppm Mag.

Wont this cause the tank parameters to elevate and throw everything off once again that I'm trying to keep stable?

Looked around the net for everything on this subject in a simplified form.

The impression that I've understood to figure out what your tank consumes and what to dose, is get it up to par with a water change/dosing. Leave it be for 3 days to a week and test again periodically, take the differences of what its consuming and divide that by the amount needed on a daily basis to dose...But then again as stated above once a water change is performed and it has elevated parameters with the new salt mix thats the part that I don't understand. "How to stay" balanced with a dosing routine and when weekly/bi weekly water changes are performed to maintain steady levels across the board when the new water was higher levels than compared to my tank.

 

[disc1]

If your water changes are large and the parameters are significantly different then you may need to adjust your dosing on the day you do the water change.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The water changes will tend to push the tank toward the new salt water levels from where it is, but the push is very small and not usually a problem.

The only people who really worry about that are the ULNS SPS folks who are very concerned with alk not rising above 7-8 dKH.

 

[Reefer07]

I love the esv stuff and have always used it. Highly recommended. Tho I am having some other problems rite now with calc. levels in my tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I love the esv stuff and have always used it. Highly recommended. Tho I am having some other problems rite now with calc. levels in my tank.

If calcium is low and alkalinity is OK, then use either just the calcium part or calcium chloride for a one time boost to get back to target. Then resume equal parts dosing.

 

[tommyphones]

I mix up {really messed up} my part 1 with part 2 by accident in my holding reservoirs. Is the product still usable or should I dump it out and start over with fresh ESV? The alk settled at the bottom. Please advise

 

[bertoni]

It's not just alkalinity at the bottom: it's the calcium and the alkalinity in the form of calcium carbonate, and that's effective fine sand. You'll need to start over.

 

[tommyphones]

thank you.

 

[bertoni]

You're welcome. Sorry about your issue.