how much do i dose to keep alk levels stable

[columbusreef]

Pleas forgive any spelling errors I'm doing this on my phone.
I have been trying to figure out what amount of 2 part BIonic to dose daily. I have been testing my alk levels twice a day. When I have dosed I used the online calculator http://reef.diesyst.com/cf/chemcalccf.html at half the recommened dose. However, I can't seem to figure this out.
Below are the readings I have got from my tests. I've been testing 2 times a day once in the AM. And once in the PM using a Salifert test kit. Also included is how much I dosed (if any) I'm ml.

Date. Dkh. Ph. Dose
1/26am. 7.4. 7.9. Na
1/26pm. 7.3. 8.0. Na
1/27am. 7.3. 7.8. Na
1/27pm. 6.8. 8.0. Na
1/28am. 6.8. 7.8. 7.5ml
1/28pm. 8.1. 8.0. Na
1/29am. 7.3. 7.8. 2.5ml
1/29pm. 6.8. 8.0. Na

As you can see there is no consistancy at all other than my ph. Am I going about this wrong? If so what would you suggest?


Thanks!
Travis

 

[CleveYank]

The things you want ask at onset are?

What is my starting Alk and Ca levels?

Where do I want my Alk to be at? (and if you are zeo or ULNS via V or VSV bacteria additon you want to be lower than the non-dosing folks)

What's my actual NET system volume? (it's best not to be approximate here.)

Is my bioload high or do I only have 2 to 3 SPS frags?

Based upon the load and actual gallons the bottles of B-Ionic have a starting addition rate and how and when and why you may need to adjust it higher. And actual daily administering is best. Slow is fine, but you have to turn on the taps a tad to actually get things rolling.

A net volume of 60 gallons at 1ml per 4 gallons (rate of 1ml per 4 gal is on the Bionic bottle) gives a starting point of 15ml.

Maybe 7.5 of each would have been good for the 1st few days, but you're still trickling. You should be able to go to 15ml.

If things still don't move you want to see if your Mg levels are way too low. This can make keeping a stable pH hard since it will be hard to keep the Alk level high with a low Mg level. (there's an inter-dependent relationship at play that with a low Mg Alk has trouble keeping steady which makes it harder to maintain buffer and therefore your pH is depressed)
After testing using DT's Mg Additive to get to min range of 1200-1300 would help. (better than epsom salts since there's not sulphate ion)