DIY drip dosing vs the capful method

[shollis2814]

I am really trying to get my parameters dialed in a stable, because I know that is a key to success. I have not been as diligent in regular water changes, and I am making efforts to be more disciplined in that.

I really only have LPS. I don't have a ton of coraline algae, but I still have a hard time maintaining calcium above 340-380. Tonight I had dKh of 11, magnesium of 1240 and calcium of 320. The last couple of days I have dosed Reef Complete because 2 days ago my dKh was 13, my magnesium was 1040, and my calcium was 340.

I feel like when I "chase" the calcium to try to get it to consistently stay above 400, then magnesium and alkalinity get out of whack. I know they are interrelated. I also know I could be having some magnesium test kit issues (Red Sea). Tonight I cleaned the bottle very well with vinegar and a small bottle brush, then rinsed with hot tap and then RODI and let air dry before testing.

I just dosed calcium tonight instead of the Reef Complete and I am about to test again.

I am wondering about a DIY drip doser to spread out the addition to calcium over time to try to gain some stability. It's a 36 gallon tank with a 4-5 gallon sump.
A dosing pump right now is not an option.

Would I gain anything by drip dosing, or should I just keep steadily testing and adjusting until I find what works?

 

[Alanc425]

What type of salt do you use? quality reef salt (reef crystal, red sea pro salt) with a big initial water change should get your parameters to the levels you are looking for.

I would drop the 2 part and reef complete for now and just maintain your calcium with kalkwasser in your top off, and magnesium/other trace elements with the occasional water change.

 

[hybridazn]

I second the kalk idea. It's really easy to maintain and easy to dose. You can do it either via your ato or you can drip. Years back when I manually dripped kalk I used a 1 gallon jug that is used for dripping water to reptiles. You could make your own with a jug and a adjustable air valve to control the drip.

 

[shollis2814]

Thanks. I was looking at that reptile dripper.
I use salt water from my LFS, so I am not sure of the brand of salt crystals. I will try testing the Ca levels in my water I have from them.
Nashville water is really high in phosphates out of the tap and a RODI unit is not feasible for me to purchase at this time.

I will look into the kalkwasser. I have heard about it, but never really looked into it.

 

[happyhourhero]

I third using Kalk. I have several empty 1 gallon jugs that i fill with RODI and mrs wages pickling lime from the grocery store. I poked 2 holes in a lid and have a 2" piece of airline tubing and then a longer length that extends to 1" off the bottom in the jug and then about 2 feet out. I just start the siphon and then tie a knot to regulate the drip. Looser is a faster drip, tighter is slower. I have been doing this for almost a year. Started with mostly dripping RO water to adding .5 tsp and now I am almost maxed out at 1.75 tsp of pickling lime per gallon. Corals be growing man.

 

[shollis2814]

Thanks. I didn't go the pickling route, but did get some calc powder and a reptile drip tank (I know I could have done DIY cheaper, but I'm a little stretched for time at the moment).

My tank + sump volume is 40 gallons. What would be a good drip rate to start with? 1/sec?

 

[shollis2814]

I tested the water I get from my LFS. Calcium was 410 in the jug. I have kalk powder settling at 1 tsp.gallon in a reptile drip bucket. I will skim off the top layer per the instructions and start a slow drip.

 

[happyhourhero]

In my experience you mix kalk and let it settle for ideally 24 hours before dripping...

 

[shollis2814]

In my experience you mix kalk and let it settle for ideally 24 hours before dripping...

Yes, I haven't started dripping yet. I have it mixed and settling. The instructions say to skim the top. I am thinking the valve is installed above the precipitate layer.

If my suspicion of the rate of Ca usage is correct, I can alternate kalk and RODI in the drip and help keep the line clear.