2 Part Balancing / Dosing

[CarolinaReefs]

I have been dosing 2 part for about a year. I was using the BRS but didn't get hardly any growth. I friend suggested that I try ME coral 2 part. I started the 2 part around the middle of July. See my log below. Please don't pay too much attention to the dosing columns as I don't do a very good job of keeping them accurate.
I also dose nitrate with a target of 1-2 ppm. although I have a hard time keeping it up.

My problem is: my CA has been decreasing while my ALK has been increasing although I have been dosing equal parts. Since 7/23/16 I was dosing 14ml of ALK and CA 3 times per day. So today I decreased the ALK to 10ml x 3 per day. Should I be concerned that the parts aren't equal and play with my dosing numbers to keep the values where I want them?

My targets are:
CA 425
ALK 8
Mag 1400
NO3 1-2 ppm

I am also battling the problem of the batch of IO I am using is mixing up at:
CA 375
ALK 11
Mag 1070

BTW my result with the ME coral has been positive.
I have noticeable SPS growth since I switched.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Unequal parts dosing is often due to water changes messing with the ratio, and there is no reason to not alter the ratio if long term measurements (not a few days) suggest it is needed.

FWIW, I don't believe the switch from one brand of calcium chloride and sodium carbonate to another makes a difference. But the alk in the tank, as well as many other factors does.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Since you use IO, you should expect to dose more calcium than alk with it unless you add calcium to the new salt water (I did that).

 

[CarolinaReefs]

Thanks Randy. I have started to dose my fresh salt water to get it up to my target parameters however I don't know about the ALK as it is too high for my liking.