I have the 2-part ratio down pretty good. I was thinking of mixing a weeks worth or so and have it drip in the tank sump. The 2-part I'm using is from brs. Is this ok to combine? Will the parts separate? I'm trying to avoid the swing in alk, but avoid using kalk. The swing in alk I think is my problem in never being able to keep sps.
Mixing 2-part
- Thread starter tent boy
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mr.maroonsalty
New member
no you can't combine; they should be dosed apart time or location in the tank as well to avoid precipitation.
magdelan
Fish?
Paul, just as a fun science experiment, take an ounce or a half ounce of each and combine them in a glass. Swish them together with a spoon and watch them become a viscous consistency.
Dosing two part is, unfortunately, one of those things that you need to do first hand. Test your Alk and Cal before beginning a dosing regiment, then test them after a week. If they are still too low, adjust it and vice-versa.
Thanks again for the bulbs!
Dosing two part is, unfortunately, one of those things that you need to do first hand. Test your Alk and Cal before beginning a dosing regiment, then test them after a week. If they are still too low, adjust it and vice-versa.
Thanks again for the bulbs!
mr.maroonsalty
New member
I see so many who dose haphazardly, pouring in a little (or a lot) here or there, but it is much more mechanical than that. You can't just add fluids to a car's engine at whim; they need to be kept at a more or less specific level. The same is true of our big three Alk, Ca, Mg, and they are that in that order of importance. Alkalinity is a measure of carbonate and bicarbonates. It is used at a much higher ratio to calcium, so its the measurement I watch most. Calcium has a larger range of acceptable values, and depletes more slowly. Magnesium is one of the most abundant elements in the oceans and appears to be a critical part of calcification, but it has a rather wide range of acceptable values and is used up at a much slower rate than the other two.
Depending on the corals you keep, your coralline growth, and water change schedule you may need to use supplements by the cupful, or not at all. Start by testing your your tank, if levels are in the acceptable range, don't do anything, but test again in a few days to a week; there is a likelihood water changes may be sufficient. More than likely you may need to make corrections; you need to do this cautiously! To begin dosing start with a very conservative amount of supplement DONT GO BY THE BOTTLE. Because Alk goes up and down the fastest check it in couple days, if its up, then you need to cut back and vic versa if it is lower. The same is true of calcium levels, but if your levels are solid already, and by eye you can see your tank doesn't have many calcifying organisms you should be able to hold off adding this element, then when you test it again you can fairly accurately see the tank's calcium usage (depending on the test kit quality), then do a correction, divide the number of days that passed and use a reef calculator to determine the best dosage to begin with. Don't forget caution. If you're not turning into a stony coral fanatic, then you may not even need buying an Mg test kit; I am and still only need to check it every month or so. After a while you'll dial in your dosage, and your testing will become less frequent. Here is a useful reef calculator: http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html If you into playing with such things here are a few more: http://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/index.htm
Depending on the corals you keep, your coralline growth, and water change schedule you may need to use supplements by the cupful, or not at all. Start by testing your your tank, if levels are in the acceptable range, don't do anything, but test again in a few days to a week; there is a likelihood water changes may be sufficient. More than likely you may need to make corrections; you need to do this cautiously! To begin dosing start with a very conservative amount of supplement DONT GO BY THE BOTTLE. Because Alk goes up and down the fastest check it in couple days, if its up, then you need to cut back and vic versa if it is lower. The same is true of calcium levels, but if your levels are solid already, and by eye you can see your tank doesn't have many calcifying organisms you should be able to hold off adding this element, then when you test it again you can fairly accurately see the tank's calcium usage (depending on the test kit quality), then do a correction, divide the number of days that passed and use a reef calculator to determine the best dosage to begin with. Don't forget caution. If you're not turning into a stony coral fanatic, then you may not even need buying an Mg test kit; I am and still only need to check it every month or so. After a while you'll dial in your dosage, and your testing will become less frequent. Here is a useful reef calculator: http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html If you into playing with such things here are a few more: http://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/index.htm
