Core 7 Dosing

rob safron · Aug 10, 2017

I have a 125 gallon mixed reef and switched to core 7 from another 2 part 2 weeks ago. I did mix 3a and 3b. I started dosing 2 mls per 25 gallons of 1 and 2 and 4 mls per gallon of 3ab. I am now at 40 mls total per day of 3ab and 20 mls of 1 and 2. I can't get Alk to go above 6.6, always kept it at 8.0 on other 2 part. Do I keep going up? Was thinking I would use less of the Core 7 then I would before. Don't want to over do it. My Ca is stable at 425.

Tim@Triton · Aug 10, 2017

rob safron said:
I have a 125 gallon mixed reef and switched to core 7 from another 2 part 2 weeks ago. I did mix 3a and 3b. I started dosing 2 mls per 25 gallons of 1 and 2 and 4 mls per gallon of 3ab. I am now at 40 mls total per day of 3ab and 20 mls of 1 and 2. I can't get Alk to go above 6.6, always kept it at 8.0 on other 2 part. Do I keep going up? Was thinking I would use less of the Core 7 then I would before. Don't want to over do it. My Ca is stable at 425.

You have two options.

Leave everything as it is and run the system at 6.6 as your Alk test may be under reading a bit, or you can buffer the Alk on its own with either CO3 liquid or NaHCO3 salts

rob safron · Aug 10, 2017

I use Hanna to test Alk and it comes in well with Salifert Test kit. Are you saying not to increase further because my Ca is normal? Should I be dosing less and use buffer?

Tim@Triton · Aug 11, 2017

If your other levels are where you want them to be then do not increase the dose of the solutions, buffer the one that is slightly out, in this case Alk and once that is where you want it then moving forward you can then adjust all solutions equally again..

This is normal for the first couple of months until you achieve the balance for your system