how much 2 part do you guys dose?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Because a reactor simply melts coral skeletons, it is perfect for growing corals. I'll let the experts answer the chemical reasoning behind this.

Once you get the reactor dialed in, you should be fine.

Whatever imbalance concerns with have with a two part, you also have with a CaCO3/CO2 reactor and limewater. And in fact, the problems might be more irritating with those other methods since if you observe it, you'll need something like a two part (or individual calcium and alkalinity additives) to correct it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Like most aquarium reefkeepers use a high Ca salt mix.

"Most" reefers at Reef Central use Instant Ocean or Reef Crystals, as is clearly demonstrated in many polls here, and those do not drive calcium any higher than their usual target values. For them, any balanced two part or other balance method (limewater and CaCO3/CO2 reactors, and several others that are less common) work well.

FWIW, if you do not want calcium as high as is in the salt mix, why do you use it? If you want it at the levels the salt mix provides, then a two part will keep it there, as will the other balanced methods.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

so I dont see why I need to be spoon fed equal doses when I can figure it out using unequal doses.

I agree that what you are claiming can certainly work out. But before two parts were invented, many folks got onto roller coaster rides of calcium and alkalinity values trying to balance things. When they switch to a balanced method of some sort, the parameters smoothed out greatly. One issue is the frequency of faulty test results messing things up. Just see how many threads there are in this forum alone complaining about faulty test results. These are somewhat mitigated by using a balanced method.

Also, your alk supplement must be diluted. Why are you so concerned about the actual concentration?

Finally, your method is not ionically balanced, and can lead to elevated chloride and depleted sulfate over time. Good two parts prevent that.

 

[stanlalee]

Also, your alk supplement must be diluted. Why are you so concerned about the actual concentration?

Finally, your method is not ionically balanced, and can lead to elevated chloride and depleted sulfate over time. Good two parts prevent that.

I'm not really concerned about concentration in there being any difference to the aquarium, my main concern is cost. off the shelf two part calcium typically have 2-3x less calcium but a 500ml bottle of most two parts cost about the same as a 500ml bottle of a dedicated calcium chloride. I dont want to pay for less just to dose equally.


I have frequently read around here regular water changes remedied excessive chlorides from dosing (havent heard much mention of depleted sulfates). what kind of side effects result from elevated chloride and depleted sulfate and how would you know if you have this?

 

[HighlandReefer]

I'm not really concerned about concentration in there being any difference to the aquarium, my main concern is cost.

If your concern is cost, I would use kalk water to supplement both calcium and alkalinity. Plus you will not be adding as many heavy metals when using kalk properly. Plus the kalk water will eliminate some of the imbalance concerns. If needed you use two-part to make up the difference.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The DIY two part will not cost any more than what you are doing now, maybe less.

what kind of side effects result from elevated chloride and depleted sulfate and how would you know if you have this?

The effects are not known at all. There may be none, or they may subtly stress organisms and make them suscpetible to other problems that then get blamed. I've never seen any sort of study, because it never varies in the ocean. Water changes certainly help, yes.

 

[HighlandReefer]

This article hints at what imbalances in sulfate can cause.

Effects of high sulfate in a marine environment:
Molybdenum Availability, Nitrogen Limitation, and Phytoplankton Growth in Natural Waters
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/229/4714/653

From this article:

"Sulfate inhibits molybdate assimilation by phytoplankton, making molybdate less available in seawater than it is in freshwater. As a result, nitrogen fixation and nitrate assimilation, both processes that require molybdenum, may require a greater expenditure of energy in seawater than in freshwater. This may explain in part why coastal marine ecosystems are usually nitrogen limited whereas lakes usually are not. Experimentally increasing the ratio of sulfate to molybdate (i) inhibits molybdate uptake, (ii) slows nitrogen fixation rates, and (iii) slows the growth of organisms that use nitrate as their nitrogen source."

 

[nanojg]

I use about 1 gallon of saturated kalk and 30 ml of each two part a day in my 58. I only have a few small frags of sps, a couple medium lps corals and a small clam so it seems like the kalk should do it. But I have always had a problem in all my tanks with excessive coraline algae sucking calcium and alk up.

 

[maynardjames]

90ml each in my 120. clams growing will have to increase soon

 

[Mark 75g]

Cliff or Randy,
I have 175 mixed reef. I am just about out of my ESV 2 part solutions that I had bought from a LFS when just getting started. Not sure what 2 buy now. I have been looking at BRS ALK and CALC or I have found 1gallon jugs of ESV on Marine Depot.

I do not want to get into calcium reactor at this time so i want to continue with the dosing.

Which way would you guys suggest going?

If there is no difference I am wondering which one will last me longer for the money.
Thanks
Mark

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

IMO, the B-ionic is a fine product. The BRS material probably won't give noticeably different results, and is certainly cheaper, but also may not be as completely ionically balanced as the Bionic (or at least not as well balanced as ESV claims).

 

[archie01jan76]

I learned just recently that the concept of consistently adding equal doses of ESV 2 part is not always the way. Without testing parameters periodically in display tank and with the make-up water it is all guess work. I had frequent alk spikes until I got over this idea. I was adding calcium when it wasn't needed! I got tired of testing Ca since my Salifert was at all easy to use. I got the ELOS and it so easy to use. Anyway, does anyone suggest using the ESV on the make-up water? Right now I use the Sea-Chem reef buffer. Thanks.

 

[HighlandReefer]

IMHO, use kalk water. :lol:

It is cheaper and readily accessibly at the grocery store.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Anyway, does anyone suggest using the ESV on the make-up water?

No. You can add one part of it, but not both. The alk part would be my choice if you went that way.

I use limewater in top off, as Cliff indicates.

 

[96vette]

I dose BRS 2-part however I'm having to dose (litermeter III) 900ml/day of Calcium Chloride and 680ml/day of Soda Ash plus I dose Kalk in my ATO. I can't figure out why I'm having to dose so much in order to maintain the bellow levels.

Cal 430 ppm
Alk 8.5 dkh
MAG 1450

Tank spec 160 gal mostly SPS

 

[archie01jan76]

I have 7gal. reservoir for ATO. I run a maxijet-400 that circulates this ro/di water continously at the bottom to prevent any funk growing as I have seen on my other tanks' ATOs. If Kalk is added to this 7gal. ATO I suppose I should rid of this circulation which would shoot all the kalk particulate into the display. I guess I answered my question. I have a separate 5 gal tank currently with aqualifter pump that becomes occluded after 2-3 days. I don't think that is a solution for alk when gone for a week's time though. Maybe its that inline filter needing a mod. So my real question is==how much kalk powder could be safely added to the 7gal. ATO on my 34gal. sps tank. The switch is a typical float/relay set-up that is on a timer to go on four times daily. It is pretty much dumping large volume at intervals. Is this sudden dump too risky with kalk? Should I invest in Tunze osmolator? It cycles too much without the timer and could burn out the relay fast. Thanks again for your advice.

 

[bertoni]

I would get a dosing pump of some type to dose the kalk. Adding large doses at a time is risky.

 

[hogan400]

hey jason7504,
im on pnwmas very rarely but have been in the hobby for yrs... i live in vancouver currently as well. i use a profilux, i use randys diy 2 part with the balanced mag diy. my tank is 200+35 in my sump. i dose 137 cal and 137 alk, along with about 6 ml of mag supplement as well. i mixed up 2 gal of a and b along with a gallon of the mag and can see its gonna last me apprx 2-3 months and that makes me happy. less work, adjustments, and no more regulator!!

you probably already noticed that this question is open to interpretation as product brands are different. i ordered the mag flake, dow flake, from buckeye field supply. it should last me atleast a yr however this method of dosing is new to me. but i really like the results. i have a little more pop in color and believe its just because of the stability. are you have good results?