is 2 part dosing bad for sps?

[AcroButcher]

Howdy all,
I have a 180g sps dominated tank and im currently using a 2part and mag system. im thinking about switching to a reactor and wanted to know your thoughts on 2 part rather it be good or bad. when i read threads about the balling method they always recommend the balling salt as eventually there will be a build up of excess chloride and throw off the ion balance. or atleast thats what i get out of the threads. so here is the question. would a 2part system eventually hurt a sps tank without using the balling salt?

thanks

 

[dmorel]

Don't think so, no. Two part dosing to keep alk and calc inline has been around for a long time and has been used successfully by loads of folks. I would guess the key is to pay attention to your water quality regardless of the method you use to keep things like alk and calc inline and adjust as necessary. I don't know enough of the nuances of the balling method to suggest why their may be a necessary difference between the salts used, but to suggest that dosing 2 part is bad would be very difficult for me to do.

 

[partsguy247]

I use 2 part dosing and have done so for about 2 years. No problems here.

 

[Amphiprion]

Not at all. Actually, there is an equal rise in sodium and chloride, effectively raising the salinity. This can be countered by simply changing small amounts of water and replacing with fresh water. It is no more ionically imbalanced than a tank with a slightly higher salinity .

 

[vegaskid11]

Yep, water changes would prevent any serious ionic imbalance from occuring

 

[seminolecpa]

I use it too for going on my second year. Only thing you need to keep an eye on is your salinity as it will creep up on you a bit if you aren't careful. FWIW I had a reactor before and would never back.

180G SPS dominated tank here too BTW.

 

[AcroButcher]

perfect. thanks everyone

 

[Rodrigo_BG]

just do wc and be happy

 

[reefsic]

Nothing bad with 2-Part at all. This would be the alternative for a Calcium Reactor in maintaining Ca/Alk params. Unless hooked up via dosing pumps, its a more manual process to dosing...as opposed to cruise control with a Ca Reactor!

 

[seminolecpa]

I venture to say that in my opinion dosing 2 part using dosing pumps and a controller (vs. daily dump dosing) is as good, if not in some parts better, then using a reactor.

 

[dmorel]

I venture to say that in my opinion dosing 2 part using dosing pumps and a controller (vs. daily dump dosing) is as good, if not in some parts better, then using a reactor.

Agreed, my PH is WAY more stable now and always above 8.

 

[sfexplicit]

Dosing 2part and dripping kalkwasser over here. So far so good.

 

[seminolecpa]

Just curious if you are dosing 2 part, why you would need to drip kalk too?

 

[dvanacker]

Just curious if you are dosing 2 part, why you would need to drip kalk too?

You dont need to dose kalk when using 2 part. pH is already good but if you do use kalk for some of the calcium and alkalinity addition you will need less two part and thus are adding less sodium and chloride to your tank.....if your worried about such a thing.

 

[seminolecpa]

I am not, nor do I dose kalk. I was trying to figure out why the previous poster was doing so for the same reason that you stated.

 

[sfexplicit]

Sorry. Yea, I actually use less two part than normal. PH really low in the winter when the house is closed up. Just using the kalk to keep my PH normal at night when its really low.

 

[sfexplicit]

It works and keeps my CA, ALK, and PH in line. Is this not ok?

 

[Amphiprion]

That method is fine and works just as well.

 

[kerem]

How about the Magnesium level? Any of you dose Magnesium while doing 2 part?

 

[dmorel]

How about the Magnesium level? Any of you dose Magnesium while doing 2 part?

I do weekly additions of Mag personally.
Some others dose their Mag in the same fashion as their alk and calc using a dosing pump on a controller/timer.