Two part dosing question

[Hockeynut]

I just received my brs dosers in the mail yesterday and I was wondering if I could get some advice on a starting point.
My cal is low at 360 and my alk is at 9 my mag is also little low at 1240
I don't want to move the levels to fast but I do want them to go up let me know what you think

 

[Hockeynut]

Sorry it's a 90 gal with both lps and sps mostly smaller stuff not really loaded up I do have a clam thanks

 

[mnat]

If you are using the BRS two part they will give you a calculation of the amount of liquid you will need to dose to get to the desired number. Take that dose and divide it over 7 days (as long as it in not like a full 1dkh dose in one day) and take it slow. Test everyday to see what your system uses up on a daily basis and that will help you get to your dose. It takes probably 2-3 weeks of daily dosing and tweaking and testing to get it right.

 

[downbeach]

I would get your levels where you want them first, then test and record your readings each day to determine your load. Once you know how much your system uses, then determine how much you need to add each day, and divide it up by the number of times you want to dose.

 

[Hockeynut]

So a 7 day period should be enough time to ramp them up? I did the brs calculator last night but didn't want to dump all that in to fast.

 

[jgraz]

IMO you Alk is solid where it is. If you raise you cal now that will drop. Do the mag first then cal. The calculator on BRS will tell you how much you can add at once.

 

[downbeach]

Where do you keep your salinity? What are you using to test?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Disclaimer: Every tank is different in its carbonate demand. The brand of salt you us, the volume and frequency of water changes, and the amount of hard corals and clams will impact the amount of alk and calc needed to keep everyone happy.


I’m also assuming these are the 1.1 ml per minute pumps from BRS.

I too have a 90 gallon DT with a 40 breeder sump and here are the times I run my BRS pumps (per day):

ALK: 40 minutes
CALC: 28 minutes

Note that I test every couple days and typically add or subtract a minute, dependent on the testing results.

However, I first agree with John, get you mag in line as well…..it won’t take much. (You didn’t mention, are you going to be dosing mag as well with a BRS pump?)

 

[Hockeynut]

No Mag pump I will dose manually,
salinity is at 1026, ( refractor)
I'm using salifert tests for everything except Hanna for phosphate.
The pumps are 1.1 per min.
I dosed mag last night to try to bring it up but didn't use full amount can I dose all mag at once ? I wasn't sure so I dosed a quarter of recommended amount.

 

[Hockeynut]

No I was wrong I dosed less then a quarter of recommended mag

 

[downbeach]

Keep your dose of Mg no greater than 100 ppm per day.

 

[Hockeynut]

Ok that's what I dosed last night, ill do the same tonight around the same time. I think ill get that in line first that sounds like good advice only one problem ill be away for the weekend so everything will be suspended for two days unless I can get my live in mother in law to dump it in for me I know that's mean so no comments please.
Being I'm away maybe ill stop it till I can be home to test. I felt I continue at that rate through the weekend being I have to add a lot I will test before I leave tomorrow and decide then if its close ill wait if its still way off ill leave Dixie cups for her to dump in what do u think???

 

[downbeach]

If your Mg was 1240, and you increased it by 100 ppm to 1340, you're good to go. The uptake of Mg is really small, so I don't think you'll see any significant reduction while you're away. I'd probably just leave the tank, until you return. What about your Ca? Do you have a solution/supplement to use?

 

[Hockeynut]

No Jim, I think you misunderstood me. When I use the BRS calculator for magnesium it says I have to Dose 685 mL or 23 ounces to bring my magnesium to 1350, I dosed 100 mL yesterday and I will another 100 ml today, And so on and so forth Till I reach 1350.. Am I correct in this?
I do have calcium Supplement. I have BRS Calcium chloride Same one you showed me At your place. should i start it or should I wait till my magnesium hits 1300 or 1350 ?

 

[Hockeynut]

Man I should have paid more attention in chemistry class lol.
I grasped a little when last week when I picked those frags up (and by the way they look great thanks again) but I'm still lost. Ill keep on listening and asking and I'm sure ill get it hopefully sooner then later

 

[Zippy69]

BRS site says not to dose more than 100 units a day. You could divide the desired dose over 2 days. I also recommend raising the mag first as once it is in place your alk and calcium will be more fixed and not fluctuate as much. By this I mean when you dose your 2 part it will hold steady at that level longer. Looking at your tank you have some sps corals but it is not too saturated. I myself dose manually in the AM and in the PM before bed. I like automation....but unchecked and too reliant I have seen disasters!

 

[downbeach]

"Whatever supplement you choose, I'd suggest targeting the natural seawater concentration: 1285 ppm. For practical purposes, 1250-1350 ppm is fine. I would not suggest raising magnesium by more than 100 ppm per day. If you need to raise it by several hundred ppm, splitting the addition over several days will allow you to better home in on the target concentration, and might possibly allow the aquarium to deal with impurities that may come in with the supplement.", R H-F, Ph.D.

From this article:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/10/chemistry#section-8

I don't see a problem with starting to raise your Ca now, keep it under 50ppm per day, so if it's 360, you can take it to 410, which would be a good number.

 

[Hockeynut]

Good article thanks, I'm getting a better handle now, I will keep moving slow and steady. Everything in the tank looks pretty good even though my numbers aren't perfect.
The two main things that I've learned from all of the help I have received from you guys that I know to be true is move all levels up or down slowly, and the other watch your tank and it will tell you how things are doing.. Pretty sound advice I would say. Tomorrow I will test again and go from there.