I am really confused

[JTL]

I have been using RC and will now be going back to IO. I add Kalk from my top off container and occasionally epson salt for mg and baking soda for alk. Lately my calc, mg and alk have been dropping although I have to say I may not be adding enough. I do the the alk and mg manually is this considered 2 part or am I missing something? My params today before I do a wc are:

Salinity 35pts
Alk 6
Mg 1280
Calc 400
PH 8.5

 

[bertoni]

Well, a 2-part refers to a supplement system that has an alkalinity solution and a calcium solution, such that the two parts can be dosed in equal volume. Doing it manually with separate supplements is equivalent and will work just as well if done carefully, although it can be more work. I suspect you just need to add more supplement.

 

[JTL]

Thanks, I think my confusion comes from the fact that I currently dose kalk, which I thought was the calc and then I add mg and alk as needed. So apparently there is yet another calc part to the equation.

 

[bertoni]

Yes, Kalk adds both calcium and alkalinity, at the same ratio at which corals consume them, so if you need to add more alkalinity, you'll need to add calcium chloride, or something similar.

 

[JTL]

So if I understand this I would add my baking soda mixture for alk and calcium choride(which I don't have) for calcium. Sounds like the kalk just maintains these when they are at the proper levels but will not raise them much. Am i getting it yet?

 

[hedgedrew]

Yes. 2 part is one pat for alk mostly carbonates and one part calcium. Ca chloride. Ie turbo calcium from kent. Esv makes a good 2 part. They have to be dosed separately

 

[bertoni]

Kalk can raise the alkalinity and calcium levels very slowly, if the tank has low demand. The high pH makes it fairly useless for practical use in raising parameters.

 

[Jenzifer]

Yes. 2 part is one pat for alk mostly carbonates and one part calcium. Ca chloride. Ie turbo calcium from kent. Esv makes a good 2 part. They have to be dosed separately

Esv does not need to be dosed sepratley they are ionicly balanced and can be added at the same time

 

[hedgedrew]

Jenzifer. They can not mix. They can be dosed at same time if on seprate sections ie tank vs sump. But otherwise keep the mix away

 

[JTL]

I got my alk up to 9.5 and the mg to 1400+ but the calcium is still only 400. I am placing an order with BRS so I will pick up some calcium chloride. I have been using baking soda for alk and epson salts for mg, maybe they have something better for those.
Another thing I found out is that my PH meter is not working correctly. I cannot even calibrate it any longer so who knows what my PH really is.

 

[hedgedrew]

The res nothing really wrong with those results. But if you keep trying to raise one side of ca and alk youvwill have a sea saw battle. Get it where you want then stick with a 2 part

 

[JTL]

Do I just add those in equal parts at the same time and not mess with one or the other being too low?

 

[hedgedrew]

Yes. Just need to find right dose really for alkalinity. It goes down faster than calcium. As i said, they should be dosed either minutes apart or in separte sections in tank or sump. I dose mine automatically 3x daily via air pump doser with airline tubing on opposite ends of the sump. More doses throughout the day in smaller amounts is better than the daily dose just once. Part 1 raises the ph quite a bit

 

[bertoni]

Given the calcium and alkalinity levels in the tank, dosing equal amounts of both parts should be okay. You could skip the calcium for a bit if you'd like, since it's high enough as is, but I likely wouldn't bother.

How far apart (in space or time) the calcium and alkalinity need to be dosed depends on a number of factors. In my systems, I was able to dose them one after the other, with only a few seconds of waiting time.