Ughhhhh 😩
- Thread starter K3nnyG
- Start date
Dragonvale
New member
Just by this response I'm taking a stab your not dosing? If that's the case lets start from square 1. What salt are you using and what are the parameters that they state. Once you have that then we can figure out what alk and what cal your suppose to be at.
Once you figure that out you can use a dosing calculator (based on your additive) on what to dose to get to 450ppm. After you figure out and get everything at the salt parameter then you can do a water change.
After you figure that out. Test every other day or every three days to see your burn rate of cal/Alk. Then input that to the dosing calculator to see how much needs to be added to get to the right parameter. Once you know that your solid on what to dose every day. Example after 3 days pass and the dosing calc states 30ml of whatever. Dose 10ml per day to retain the parameter that your shooting for.
I'm writing this fast and maybe I'm not making any sense LOL. I'm sure someone else can chime in. I state your salt for a BIG reason.... Salts can differ big time in AlK FYI....
woodnaquanut
Active member
And, just for completeness, what's your pH?
Dragonvale
New member
Just wondering how have you been dosing your two part prior? Just very odd to drop that low especially if your dosing.
zeroinverse
New member
Also measure the same time each day.
Usually at end of your light cycle (when SPS have all their light and consumed the alk from water column.
Usually at end of your light cycle (when SPS have all their light and consumed the alk from water column.
Dapg8gt
New member
I would second what everyone said =) .. You need to see what your consumption is before you commit to dosing said amount every x- amount of days.. IMO blind dosing is not good. That cal level is seriously low and the alk is high. Precipitation? What salt mix are you using and have you checked the levels of the mixed water? That might be contributing to the issue I've had some bad batches over the years especially reef crystals fwiw..
You can use any reef calculator to find what amount you need to get to your desired level. It's as easy as just putting in your volume of water, current level and target level. It will spit out how much a&b you need to dose to get to your level. Then when your level is achieved you can let it go for 1-3 days to see how much cal/alk the tank consumes over that time. If you waited 3 days you avg it out into 3 doses and that's your daily consumption. Get your levels back up to your target then the next day dose the level you came up with for consumption. I'm sure you know but you have to space the a&b doses out and not add them at the same time or else it will precipitate out and your levels will not rise equally or at all..
As for mag it's usually not needed to be dosed that often but if it's low you will have an almost impossible time keeping your cal/alk stable. You should be testing mag at at least 1320ppm to have proper calcification of the other 2.. I honestly don't have to adjust my mag very often due to water changes and especially now as I'm using tech m for the plague =)..
Levels of cal/alk are broad some shoot for the higher end of the spectrum like alk of 10-12dkh and cal 450-500+ and have no issues.. Others with nutrient poor systems may have an issue at those levels like myself. Fwiw I run both my tanks at 8-8.5dkh alk /420-440 cal/1320 mag. I was recently having issues in my frag tank with bleaching of corals and slow growth due to my alk being above 9.5 dkh and almost no nitrate/phosphate reading.
Good luck and I'd suggest if your tanks consuming a lot of bionic to get some dosing pumps it never forgets =).. Also I check my big 3 weekly/bi-weekly or if I notice an issue. The amount you dose will change with growth and addition of new corals.
You can use any reef calculator to find what amount you need to get to your desired level. It's as easy as just putting in your volume of water, current level and target level. It will spit out how much a&b you need to dose to get to your level. Then when your level is achieved you can let it go for 1-3 days to see how much cal/alk the tank consumes over that time. If you waited 3 days you avg it out into 3 doses and that's your daily consumption. Get your levels back up to your target then the next day dose the level you came up with for consumption. I'm sure you know but you have to space the a&b doses out and not add them at the same time or else it will precipitate out and your levels will not rise equally or at all..
As for mag it's usually not needed to be dosed that often but if it's low you will have an almost impossible time keeping your cal/alk stable. You should be testing mag at at least 1320ppm to have proper calcification of the other 2.. I honestly don't have to adjust my mag very often due to water changes and especially now as I'm using tech m for the plague =)..
Levels of cal/alk are broad some shoot for the higher end of the spectrum like alk of 10-12dkh and cal 450-500+ and have no issues.. Others with nutrient poor systems may have an issue at those levels like myself. Fwiw I run both my tanks at 8-8.5dkh alk /420-440 cal/1320 mag. I was recently having issues in my frag tank with bleaching of corals and slow growth due to my alk being above 9.5 dkh and almost no nitrate/phosphate reading.
Good luck and I'd suggest if your tanks consuming a lot of bionic to get some dosing pumps it never forgets =).. Also I check my big 3 weekly/bi-weekly or if I notice an issue. The amount you dose will change with growth and addition of new corals.
coralfarmer
Aquarist
What brand of test kits are you using?
coralfarmer
Aquarist
Maybe buy your own kits . I like salifert kits. I bet your calcium is higher than 250.
lokii_37
New member
I got the Red Sea starter kit. I think it was like $50 but it comes with Ca, Alk, and Mg.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/red-sea-reef-foundation-pro-multi-test-kit-ca-alk-mg.html
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/red-sea-reef-foundation-pro-multi-test-kit-ca-alk-mg.html
Relientkiid
New member
Tank size? Under 20gs a simple weekly water change will keep lvld stable iv found.
coralfarmer
Aquarist
I agree!!
