how much 2 part are you dosing?

[BrentH]

I'm
At 220 ml a day brs 2 part and rising ....

 

[lastduke]

I did doubt about the Mg, but it is not low. The 2 part solution is dosed at top of the baffle area, but the flow is not fast enough, the side of the glass and baffles are covered by precipitation. how and where do you setup the dosing tubes? it is not easy to find a "fast" flow area in my tiny sump

If your levels are remaining steady you are not overdosing. Plain and simple.

Every tank is different, comparing dosing amounts is irrelevant really. Different corals, different uptake, different growth rates, different brands at different concentrations. Oh, and amount of coraline algae too, that stuff can suck up the cal/alk.

One thing, if you believe you are using too much 2 part, check your magnesium. Low magnesium makes it difficult for alk/cal to remain in solution, you may be getting precipitate and burning through the 2 part that way.

 

[tmc1313]

180 mls a day for me. Keeps me at around 8.5 dkh. A little on the high side, but that's where I like it and my SPS seem to like it too.

 

[2to]

Would a 10 gallon need dosing? I've heard a few people perform frequent water changes in lieu of 2-part additives, but if dosing is the better option then that's the way I'll go.

 

[Osteoclast]

I dose quite a bit. Approximately 528 mls of each CaCl2 and Alk per 24 hours. Concentrations are higher than standard as well. Approximately 1.6X of BRS. I use Kalk in my top off also. My overall volume is around 650 gallons. Alk at 8.4 and Ca at 410. You have to determine the dosage and usage empirically. Agree all tanks are indeed different.

 

[jackson6745]

I noticed that I get quite a bit of precipitation into my sump. I was thinking about dosing directly into my display. Perhaps I would need less 2 part if dosed into a high flow display?
Any thoughts/experiences?

 

[a.browning]

I dose 136 ml/day of BRS 2-part in my 75 gallon sps tank.

 

[MammothReefer]

Would a 10 gallon need dosing? I've heard a few people perform frequent water changes in lieu of 2-part additives, but if dosing is the better option then that's the way I'll go.

Depends on the draw.

You do not dose anything for a week while observing Ca and KH consumption. Take several readings over a seven day period, and then use this calculator to work out the Ca and alk amounts to dose..

I would be VERY leery of this method on an established tank (ie if you were switching over from a reactor) Things can happen quick if you don't dose for a day let alone a week.

 

[jimsplace]

If your levels are remaining steady you are not overdosing. Plain and simple.

Every tank is different, comparing dosing amounts is irrelevant really. Different corals, different uptake, different growth rates, different brands at different concentrations. Oh, and amount of coraline algae too, that stuff can suck up the cal/alk.

One thing, if you believe you are using too much 2 part, check your magnesium. Low magnesium makes it difficult for alk/cal to remain in solution, you may be getting precipitate and burning through the 2 part that way.

I disagree with the statement that "if your levels are remaining steady you are not overdosing" with 2 part, overdosing = precipitation. The cal & alk will precipitate out till they reach equibrilum. I found out the hard way was dosing at 180ml / day and was able to drop back to somewhere around 85.

 

[MammothReefer]

I disagree with the statement that "if your levels are remaining steady you are not overdosing" with 2 part, overdosing = precipitation. The cal & alk will precipitate out till they reach equibrilum. I found out the hard way was dosing at 180ml / day and was able to drop back to somewhere around 85.

Wouldn't that only occur if you are dosing for calcium not for alkalinity? I'm up to 250ml a day now I don't have issues with high calcium that is precipitating. I don't even worry about my calc in that sense I just dose it in equal amounts to what is required to keep my alk steady and one can easily over dose on alk so you are trying to get as close to steady as possible.

 

[tektite]

I disagree with the statement that "if your levels are remaining steady you are not overdosing" with 2 part, overdosing = precipitation. The cal & alk will precipitate out till they reach equibrilum. I found out the hard way was dosing at 180ml / day and was able to drop back to somewhere around 85.

In most situations overdosing will cause alk and cal to rise. Hence my statement that steady levels is not overdosing. It is quite possible to overdose 2 part and raise cal/alk to dangerous levels.

In your situation, most likely your magnesium was too low making it hard for cal/alk to remain in solution and forcing you to dose more 2 part than should be necessary to keep steady levels. That will not be the situation with everyone!

Just trying to clarify for those new to dosing 2 part, it is very easy to overdose and kill your corals! In some situations the overdose will precipitate out and not cause too many problems, but you can't assume that is what will happen in your tank instead of raising cal/alk to unsafely high levels.

 

[jimsplace]

In most situations overdosing will cause alk and cal to rise. Hence my statement that steady levels is not overdosing. It is quite possible to overdose 2 part and raise cal/alk to dangerous levels.

In your situation, most likely your magnesium was too low making it hard for cal/alk to remain in solution and forcing you to dose more 2 part than should be necessary to keep steady levels. That will not be the situation with everyone!

Just trying to clarify for those new to dosing 2 part, it is very easy to overdose and kill your corals! In some situations the overdose will precipitate out and not cause too many problems, but you can't assume that is what will happen in your tank instead of raising cal/alk to unsafely high levels.

At the time my mg levels were actually a little above "normal". I was trying to get my ca up above 400 (runs about 380) never succeeded. Finally dropped back and live with ca at 380-400 no problems. By the way, alk stayed in the high 8's to mid 9's the whole time, 9 months +. PH ran 8.1 to 8.3. Dosing was via dosers once per hour 24/7 alk and ca separated by 30 min on my Apex.

 

[Tuffloud1]

I realize this is an old thread however I am curious after reading through it.

It is my understanding that 2part calcium and alk is to be dosed in reasonably equal parts, however many on this thread are dosing extremely different amounts - 100 ml alk, 50 ml calcium per day for example.

What am I missing here?

Maybe Randy could chime in, please

 

[rovster]

I dose equal amounts. About 60mL each on my sps frag dominant 100 gal. I have around 40 frags and a few mini colonies. I have to increase it every few weeks. At first I thought I was dosing a ton but apparently not, lol!

 

[Greg11]

2 part esv 250 gal total water volume
70 ml each a day plus brs kalkwasser (1 full tsp per 2 gal) in top off
alk-8dkh , ca 440 I keep my mg at 1400
Make sure your mg is in line

 

[Tuffloud1]

I am wondering why some are dosing such different amounts of calcium and alkalinity, when it should be dosed in equal parts.

 

[Tweaked]

I am wondering why some are dosing such different amounts of calcium and alkalinity, when it should be dosed in equal parts.

For me, I think my 4 large clams do a number on my dosing amounts. Like a yoyo sometimes :headwally: