what are your parms

[kirby_32]

Looking to dial in my two part dosing.

What values do you shoot for and what do you actually run?

pH
Cal
Alk
Mag

Right now I'm struggling a bit with keeping the pH up

pH = 7.75-8.05
Cal = 420
Alk = 9.25
Mag = 1250

Appreciate you experience.

Kevin

 

[chadfarmer]

thats a good question

the answer is that i dont know

 

[Nanook]

It's all relative Chadfarmer is more of a ZEN REEFER

I have never measured my ph in my new system.

Calcium about 450-480, alk 8.5-9.5, mag 1350-1500.

 

[Nanook]

BTW, if that was my 120g I would just get a reactor. I have a friend that would sell you one for a song if you ever want his contact info.

 

[kirby_32]

pm me his contact info maybe I can switch.

Although I'm not a very good singer

 

[Letmegrow]

pH = 7.9
Cal = 380
Alk = 10
Mag = 1325

Is that your pH readings through out the day ?

 

[kirby_32]

Yes it is through the day. I usually look at it in the evening when I get home and the morning before the lights come on. It has been a little better since I have been dosing the two part. Seems like it only goes down to 7.8 by morning.

 

[rbnice1]

pH = 8.2-8.3
Cal = 420-460
Alk = 9.3-10.2
Mag = 1425-1500
Temp = 77-79
Temp you dont have listed but I think its just as important as the rest.


I think most people go over board on keeping parameters at a specific level. As long as I keep my parameters semi stable everything seems to do well enough. I have tried calc and kH and mag at different levels and seems to me that all my corals and fish did about the same as long as it was semi consistant.

Just my observations.....

 

[Letmegrow]

My sps wont grow unless I am adding fresh ALk.

Rarely do I get pH to go above 8.15

 

[kirby_32]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Others feel free to chime in.

I agree stability is the key but since I'm trying to set a dosing schedule/amount thought I would see how other were running.

My temp runs 78-79 these days (controlled with ACjr). During the summer I was more like 79.5 - 81

Steve, on your pH I assume the 7.9 is some sort of an average. Do you know how low it goes? Seems like when I was in the 7.75 range some of my sand was clumping. The two part I am dosing is from bulk reef supply. Supposed to raise pH but haven't seen it go up much. I know if you have a decent Alk level pH isn't quite as critical but would like like to see it consistently above 8

 

[rbnice1]

2 part doesnt raise pH. It will help keep it stable since pH is based on your alk calc and mag levels. I dose Kalk to keep my pH higher. Most use Calc reactors so there ph is lower.

Also you would not belive what the difference with a window open is. My pH is 7.9-8.1 when the windows are closed.

 

[chadfarmer]

dont worry about the ph

mine did the same when i had a meter on it

just worry about alk, calcium, magnesium, phosphate

 

[Letmegrow]

7.8 - 8.1 Daily.

Everytime I tried to raise it to 8.2 something would drop or become imbalanced

 

[DOTZ]

My PH is 8.3 and has been since I started the tank 2 years ago. Every thing except calcium stays where it is supposed to. Calcium is always dropping to.

 

[Nanook]

Are you dosing continuously or just at night?

 

[jbarone]

PH = 8.15-8.3
Cal = 440
Alk = 10.8
Mag = 1500-1600
Temp = 77-79

 

[kirby_32]

I just started dosing about 1 1/2 weeks ago. I'm currently hand dosing alk in the morning and cal when I get home from work. About 2 weeks ago I purchased two drew's dosers but haven't set them up yet. And may not if I decide to go with the reactor.

 

[Nanook]

Dosing is best if you can dose 24/7 to avoid fluctuations.

 

[DOTZ]

Just curious but what kind of salt are you using?

 

[jbarone]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13620856#post13620856 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kirby_32
I just started dosing about 1 1/2 weeks ago. I'm currently hand dosing alk in the morning and cal when I get home from work. About 2 weeks ago I purchased two drew's dosers but haven't set them up yet. And may not if I decide to go with the reactor.

I have two of Drews dosers controlled with digital timers. I dose AlK every 4hrs 6x a day and the same for Ca with a one hour offset between each. I'm using a combination of Randy's recipe 1 and 2. Cheap and growth is crazy!