Alkalinity of 7

salttanklife · Sep 17, 2016

I have to admit, I've never checked my alkalinity on the tank. I just went today and got the Red Sea reef foundation pro test kit for cal, kh, and mag. I've always used API test kits and so far I see what I've been missing by not using the Red Sea. My results are

CA 410
Kh 7
MG 1240

I got the Reef Fusion 2 part system to dose the tank to get the parameters where they need to be. All my coral has grown since I've put them in the tank and are happy. The tank was started in February of this year. What got me wondering about my Kh is my coralline. I started seeing it show up around a month ago and I've only got around 20 spots the size of a BB. I figured I have a alkalinity problem since it's not spreading very good and I want it to spread like crazy. I've been checking my calcium and I couldn't get it over 400 (API test kit). That's another reason for me thinking I had a kh problem but It made me think my alkalinity was high. I figured it being high was causing the calcium to stay low.

Now can I only dose the 2nd part of the Reef Fusion that raises alkalinity without dosing the first? Raising the alkalinity will lower the calcium right? I really want my calcium to be around 450. So how do I raise both without 1 affecting the other? I figure when my calcium gets to 450, my MG level should go to 1350 to be correct. I was told it should be 3 times the calcium level. Chemistry isn't my best subject,but I'm trying to educate myself a little better.

My stocking list on the tank

Hollywood stunner (grows like crazy)
Birdsnest (grows very well)
Hammer ( got a new head since I've got it)
Torch ( got a new head since I've got it)
Dragon Soul Favia ( 3 mouths to 6 since I've got it)
Blasto (not done much but healthy)
Green Monti digi ( grows like crazy)
Unknown favia (not done much but healthy)
Green hairy mushroom (spilt since I got it)
Rainbow Acan ( got bigger but no new heads)
Ricordea ( grown but hasn't split)
Gatorade Zoas (20 heads to 30 or more)
Various other zoas that has added more heads
Mystic sunset monti ( just added this week but seems happy)
Maxima clam ( went from about 1 3/4" to around 2.5")

I've only lost 1 coral since tank startup, a Grinch Montipora. I think I gave him way to much light :( My tank is a jbj rimless 30 with Maxspect razor lights.

reeferfoxx · Sep 17, 2016

salttanklife said:
I have to admit, I've never checked my alkalinity on the tank. I just went today and got the Red Sea reef foundation pro test kit for cal, kh, and mag. I've always used API test kits and so far I see what I've been missing by not using the Red Sea. My results are

CA 410
Kh 7
MG 1240

I got the Reef Fusion 2 part system to dose the tank to get the parameters where they need to be. All my coral has grown since I've put them in the tank and are happy. The tank was started in February of this year. What got me wondering about my Kh is my coralline. I started seeing it show up around a month ago and I've only got around 20 spots the size of a BB. I figured I have a alkalinity problem since it's not spreading very good and I want it to spread like crazy. I've been checking my calcium and I couldn't get it over 400 (API test kit). That's another reason for me thinking I had a kh problem but It made me think my alkalinity was high. I figured it being high was causing the calcium to stay low.

Now can I only dose the 2nd part of the Reef Fusion that raises alkalinity without dosing the first? Raising the alkalinity will lower the calcium right? I really want my calcium to be around 450. So how do I raise both without 1 affecting the other? I figure when my calcium gets to 450, my MG level should go to 1350 to be correct. I was told it should be 3 times the calcium level. Chemistry isn't my best subject,but I'm trying to educate myself a little better.

My stocking list on the tank

Hollywood stunner (grows like crazy)
Birdsnest (grows very well)
Hammer ( got a new head since I've got it)
Torch ( got a new head since I've got it)
Dragon Soul Favia ( 3 mouths to 6 since I've got it)
Blasto (not done much but healthy)
Green Monti digi ( grows like crazy)
Unknown favia (not done much but healthy)
Green hairy mushroom (spilt since I got it)
Rainbow Acan ( got bigger but no new heads)
Ricordea ( grown but hasn't split)
Gatorade Zoas (20 heads to 30 or more)
Various other zoas that has added more heads
Mystic sunset monti ( just added this week but seems happy)
Maxima clam ( went from about 1 3/4" to around 2.5")

I've only lost 1 coral since tank startup, a Grinch Montipora. I think I gave him way to much light :( My tank is a jbj rimless 30 with Maxspect razor lights.

Use this calculator here.. http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

Dose the recommended amount for calcium. Then do the Alkalinity. Wait an hour and test calcium and Alk. But don't dose again after that hour. From there you will know if you need to tweak dosing. I dose twice a day in the morning and evening. You might have to test everyday for a week to get an accurate account for calcium to alkalinity loss.

Also, Seachem reef fusion calcium will raise magnesium. I think you will be fine not worrying about magnesium.

salttanklife · Sep 17, 2016

This is saying I need more of part 1 and less of part 2 over time. 7.5 caps of 1 and 2.6 caps of 2. I'll be manually dosing, so would it divide these numbers up by the number of days I plan to dose to get parameters where they need to be? 7 caps of part 1 for 7 days would be 1 cap a day?

reeferfoxx · Sep 17, 2016

salttanklife said:
This is saying I need more of part 1 and less of part 2 over time. 7.5 caps of 1 and 2.6 caps of 2. I'll be manually dosing, so would it divide these numbers up by the number of days I plan to dose to get parameters where they need to be? 7 caps of part 1 for 7 days would be 1 cap a day?

You should enter 30 gallons instead of 25. I have the JBJ 30 and it is an accurate 30 gallons give or take 1 gallon. Also the immediate need for calcium seems higher but in fact you will lose calcium slower than alkalinity, over time. With the addition of raising alk, growth will increase and the need for calcium carbonate will increase. Basically once you get to your desired levels, calcium will reduce much slower than alk. At the same time once you get to desired levels, dosings should become more equal as longs as you aren't going overboard. All in all keeping alkalinity levels stable, is key.

reeferfoxx · Sep 17, 2016

BTW you entered the wrong alkalinity solution. Should be reef fusion part 2

salttanklife · Sep 17, 2016

I have also never dosed a tank. I change 5 gallons of water weekly on a jbj 30. I figured that's all I need to do to keep levels in check. I'm seeing now that it isn't, especially with coral growing.

salttanklife · Sep 17, 2016

I put 25 because of the lr... I figured I'm probably down around 5 gallons due to it

reeferfoxx · Sep 17, 2016

I would start with 3ml part 1 and 4 ml part 2 twice a day. Everyday test and make sure levels aren't increasing too much. But that is a safe dosing regimen for that size tank.

salttanklife said:
I put 25 because of the lr... I figured I'm probably down around 5 gallons due to it

Ok, well if 25 seems more logic to you then that is fine. I filled 30 gallons in my tank with 20lbs of live rock. No guess work. Either way the results are the same.

salttanklife · Sep 17, 2016

Fingers to big for the phone screen and clicked the wrong one lol

salttanklife · Sep 17, 2016

reeferfoxx said:
I would start with 3ml part 1 and 4 ml part 2 twice a day. Everyday test and make sure levels aren't increasing too much. But that is a safe dosing regimen for that size tank.

Ok, well if 25 seems more logic to you then that is fine. I filled 30 gallons in my tank with 20lbs of live rock. No guess work. Either way the results are the same.

Thanks very much

reeferfoxx · Sep 17, 2016

salttanklife said:
Thanks very much

No problem! Seems foreign at first but becomes simple after while ;)

reeferfoxx · Sep 17, 2016

BTW when dosing Part 2 make sure you dose in high flow areas and do it slowly. Otherwise the alkalinity will precipitate into snow flakes which is no good. If dosing into a low flow spot like in the back chambers, definitely dose slow. Otherwise dosing where the outlet pipes flow, is fine.

salttanklife · Sep 17, 2016

I dosed 4ml of part 2 before posting this without dosing part 1. I figure dosing one without the other is fine and it says 1ml per 6.5 gal. My Rainbow Acan seems to be very mad at me right now. It's pulled itself all the way in. I dosed in front of my powerhead that blows towards the other end of the tank. Maybe it's nothing because all others are doing fine. It just seems weird because it's never done that