starting 2 part and have a ????
- Thread starter frazier
- Start date
Aquarist007
New member
every tank is different on its consumption of of calcium and carbonates but I have a total volume of 180 also
I use 90 ml of Bionics two part daily to maintain a alkalinity of 10.8 dKh and calcium at 430. I haven't had to change that amount in a month now.
You should test your mag level before starting--it should be at 1300 ppm
I use 90 ml of Bionics two part daily to maintain a alkalinity of 10.8 dKh and calcium at 430. I haven't had to change that amount in a month now.
You should test your mag level before starting--it should be at 1300 ppm
It's generally safe to dose up to 100 ppm per day of magnesium. This calculator might help:
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html
It requires a guess as to the water volume, so I might target 50 ppm for the first dose, and check what actually happens. It'll take a lot of supplement.
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html
It requires a guess as to the water volume, so I might target 50 ppm for the first dose, and check what actually happens. It'll take a lot of supplement.
Using Epsom salts alone is better in the case where you are using the DIY two part than in other cases (like folks using limewater), since the chloride from the Dowflake helps to partly offset the excessive sulfate in the Epsom salts. 
Aquarist007
New member
Re: starting 2 part and have a ????
if you are not sure of what you are doing--here is a suggested plan ----
measure your calcium and alkalinity, and mag which you have done
See how far off you are from 400ppm calcium and 9.00 alkalinity
Use the chemistry calculator that Bertoni suggested
Use Kent turbo calcium to bring up your calcium level to 400
Use Kent supper dKh to bring up you alkalinity level
Now start the90 mL of two part for one week--and remeasure the levels.
If you are very close to the starting measurements continue with no adjustment
Second week repeat but this time if it has dropped off alot that you need to dose then start with a little more two part and continue for one more week
repeat the above--over a month it will graaaadully stablize out and you won't experience the seesaw dosing that alot of reefers get into
again this worked for me so it is just an anecdotal suggestions
if you are not sure of what you are doing--here is a suggested plan ----
measure your calcium and alkalinity, and mag which you have done
See how far off you are from 400ppm calcium and 9.00 alkalinity
Use the chemistry calculator that Bertoni suggested
Use Kent turbo calcium to bring up your calcium level to 400
Use Kent supper dKh to bring up you alkalinity level
Now start the90 mL of two part for one week--and remeasure the levels.
If you are very close to the starting measurements continue with no adjustment
Second week repeat but this time if it has dropped off alot that you need to dose then start with a little more two part and continue for one more week
repeat the above--over a month it will graaaadully stablize out and you won't experience the seesaw dosing that alot of reefers get into
again this worked for me so it is just an anecdotal suggestions
Any solid alkalinity supplement is not far off of baking soda for our purposes when using that calculator.
FWIW, I'd prefer baking soda to Kent super buffer, as the buffer has borate in it which you do not need routinely. For a one shot, it is fine, however.
FWIW, I'd prefer baking soda to Kent super buffer, as the buffer has borate in it which you do not need routinely. For a one shot, it is fine, however.
Aquarist007
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11560309#post11560309 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randy Holmes-Farley
Any solid alkalinity supplement is not far off of baking soda for our purposes when using that calculator.
FWIW, I'd prefer baking soda to Kent super buffer, as the buffer has borate in it which you do not need routinely. For a one shot, it is fine, however.
Randy, I asked Bertoni and Boomer a while ago about that and they said it didn't contain borate like alot of the other commercial buffers
The Kent site lists this as the ingredients:
http://www.kentmarine.com/saltwater/buffers/superbuffer-dkh.htm
"Contents:
carbonate, bicarbonate and borate salts of sodium, magnesium, and potassium."
FWIW, I do not know how much of any of the ingredients it contains.
http://www.kentmarine.com/saltwater/buffers/superbuffer-dkh.htm
"Contents:
carbonate, bicarbonate and borate salts of sodium, magnesium, and potassium."
FWIW, I do not know how much of any of the ingredients it contains.
Nanz
Premium Member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11560309#post11560309 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randy Holmes-Farley
Any solid alkalinity supplement is not far off of baking soda for our purposes when using that calculator.
FWIW, I'd prefer baking soda to Kent super buffer, as the buffer has borate in it which you do not need routinely. For a one shot, it is fine, however.
Thanks for the reply
I only used it once and in the future I will use baking soda instead.
Sounds good. I'd probably use it until its gone, then switch to something else.
Happy Reefing.
Happy Reefing.
Chrisrush
New member
Randy,
I have a question regarding the Reef Chem calculator and Mg supplementation.
For my water changes, I will need to add some Mg supplements to the Reef Crystals Salt that I use. I have Magflake and Epsom Salt already mixed. Can I use this to boost the Mg levels in my water change? What category would this fall under? The Randy's Recipe 1 and 2 versions A & B?
Same question applies to my display tank. If I need to boost my Mg levels in the tank, what category does this fall under?
I have a question regarding the Reef Chem calculator and Mg supplementation.
For my water changes, I will need to add some Mg supplements to the Reef Crystals Salt that I use. I have Magflake and Epsom Salt already mixed. Can I use this to boost the Mg levels in my water change? What category would this fall under? The Randy's Recipe 1 and 2 versions A & B?
Same question applies to my display tank. If I need to boost my Mg levels in the tank, what category does this fall under?
Yes, that is a good supplement to use.
If you made a liquid supplement according to my recipe, then use the Randy's DIY entry. The other entries for MAG flake and Epsom are only if you measure them out dry (FWIW, I add dry Dowflake and MAG flake to my new salt water)..
If you made a liquid supplement according to my recipe, then use the Randy's DIY entry. The other entries for MAG flake and Epsom are only if you measure them out dry (FWIW, I add dry Dowflake and MAG flake to my new salt water)..
You're welcome.
Happy Reefing.
Happy Reefing.
