2 part dosing / Alk stability

[Tuan’s Reef]

started with 6.9 Alk (Hannah)

Want 8.2 Alk

Bought brightwell code a and b to dose

Alk was rising steadily at .2 per day the last 4 days

Last night it was at 6.9 again, so I dosed just a little bit more . It’s now at 7.1

Calc is good at 420+ last I checked a few days ago.

I did buy a bunch of corals in Wednesday . Sps, lps mixed

Could this be the reason for the drop? I know the additions will make it drop but didn’t expect this much.

My corals are exploding with growth especially my acans. The 3 main polyps has babies all around them. Probably a good 12-15 new heads and they are growing fast. Probably a colony in the making.

The other corals are growing as well

My order of just arrive yesterday

Ato
Kalkwasser
Soda ash

I plan on using the soda ash at night to increase ph and Alk . Increase it to 8.2 then use kalk with ato for daily consumption and 2 part for supplement . Is this a sound plan?

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

FTS IM Nuvo 20

 

[vetteguy53081]

Don't target or chase numbers. Bringing it up ok, but to strive to reach a certain number may be more harm than rewarding. There is always a range which you in already. We will never have perfect numbers. For a week or two - Maybe but not permanently. Its the result of chemistry

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

Update: Been dosing 4.2ml of soda ash nightly.

Alk is stable at 7.7 the last 4 days with this dosage.

Doing the calcium from 2 part . My acans has babies all over

Want to try an acro so bad lol

 

[ZoWhat]

What salt are you using that's giving you an Alk under 7?

You maintaining water changes?

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

What salt are you using that's giving you an Alk under 7?

You maintaining water changes?

Red Sea blue bucket for last 3 months. First 3 months was tropic Marin pro . Tank is 6 months running.

WC every Sunday 20% .

 

[ZoWhat]

Idk man.... every tank is different bc there are 1000s of factors at play

I have to manage hard to keep dKH under 10-11

 

[ZoWhat]

Also....careful with Kalk and/or soda ash (dKH of 40+)

Early introductory use can cause a ying yang swing.... really messing up any progress

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

Tested the Red Sea salt after mixing and it came out to 8.3 Alk per Hannah

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Is this manual or auto dosing.

8 is a good target. IMO.

I had acros growing long before I dosed.

IMO don’t mix dosing. Soda ash and Kalk. One or the other.
Two part correctly done will increase ph and keep steady alk.

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

Also....careful with Kalk and/or soda ash (dKH of 40+)

Early introductory use can cause a ying yang swing.... really messing up any progress

I hear ya! I didn’t dose at all for 5 months . Just did wc every Sunday . Tested my Alk like every 2 weeks and it was always good. Coral load was light at time. Just lps . Then added some sps and tested Alk 2 weeks after and got reading of 6.9 .

So water changes alone is def not keeping up with demand.

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

Is this manual or auto dosing.

8 is a good target. IMO.

I had acros growing long before I dosed.

IMO don’t mix dosing. Soda ash and Kalk. One or the other.
Two part correctly done will increase ph and keep steady alk.

Manual dosed soda ash 4.2ml Ph is at 8.3-8.4 By tomorrow night it will be at 7.7 Alk again is my guess. By the look of the trend , my tank is consuming .3 Alk a day

For calcium I am dosing brightwell code a

I believe dosing like this is ok?

I have kalk but have not used it yet. I plan to mix it at very low dose into my ATO reservoir that is coming in a few days.

I then will test daily to see if it’s keeping up and supplement with 2 part as needed.

I only substituted the soda ash with code B Alk from 2 part

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Seems like a lot of work honestly for such a little drop.

Honestly, the jeabo doser is $65 bucks and two part is cheap from BRS and you’ll use almost none.

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

lol so many different ways to keep the big 3 stable. My head is spinning. Decided to go with kalk thinking I just mix in with rodi water in the ato and I’m off to the races .

I would have to spend $120 plus looking at the new kamoer Bluetooth doser.

Can’t believe how much I have spent on this tiny 20g tank lol

 

[gtrider]

nice looking tank. slow and steady wins the race.

 

[RIreefGuy]

Can’t believe how much I have spent on this tiny 20g tank lol

#thestruggleisreal
#reeflife

 

[gtrider]

Can’t believe how much I have spent on this tiny 20g tank lol

had a 20g a decade ago and spent quite a bit. upgraded to a 65g a year ago and i've spent a small fortune! Enjoyed every minute of it!