Doser Help Needed (set-up)

[daplatapus]

yeah, you definitely want to start with your Mg. Get it right before trying to adjust the others.

[Seriak]

Originally Posted by daplatapus

yeah, you definitely want to start with your Mg. Get it right before trying to adjust the others.

I believe I was told the opposite, but either way, I just got my doser going to raise my alk a bit and it is working great. Thanks again Eli.

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by Seriak

I believe I was told the opposite

According to those very experienced ....

Magnesium both helps to buffer the pH from falling, and reduces the precipitation of calcium. Think of magnesium as the fulcrum of a teeter totter. Without magnesium at the level it should be, it is difficult to keep calcium and alkalinity at a steady and proper level. Natural seawater generally contains 1280 ppm of magnesium. Low magnesium can be one of the factors of nuisance algae growth, and most reef keepers agree that 1350 ppm works best in our little glass boxes. I prefer to dose magnesium to ~1350 ppm before adjusting calcium and alkalinity.

[Seriak]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

According to those very experienced ....

Magnesium both helps to buffer the pH from falling, and reduces the precipitation of calcium. Think of magnesium as the fulcrum of a teeter totter. Without magnesium at the level it should be, it is difficult to keep calcium and alkalinity at a steady and proper level. Natural seawater generally contains 1280 ppm of magnesium. Low magnesium can be one of the factors of nuisance algae growth, and most reef keepers agree that 1350 ppm works best in our little glass boxes. I prefer to dose magnesium to ~1350 ppm before adjusting calcium and alkalinity.

Good to know. I will keep that in mind once I get my alk up.

[Arok3000]

Originally Posted by Seriak

Good to know. I will keep that in mind once I get my alk up.

Many people say roughly triple you calcium also. This usually ends up around 1300-1350 anyways.

One thing to keep in mind also, is that you may have trouble getting your kh up if your mg is too low. If your mg is extremely low, than anything you add to boost your kh may very well precipitate out right away.

[Seriak]

Where did you put the check valves?

[paddyob]

OK... so going to set this up, tonight. Late tonight.

My instructions never indicated how to hook up the tubes or check valves.

Any advice?

[rhody605]

I have my check valves just above my bottles.

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by daplatapus

yeah, you definitely want to start with your Mg. Get it right before trying to adjust the others.

I use H2Ocean. I never have mag below 1300-1400.

I rarely dose it.

[daplatapus]

Originally Posted by paddyob

I use H2Ocean. I never have mag below 1300-1400.

I rarely dose it.

I've actually only used IO salt so far. Never had any real Mg issues until I stuck in 2 electric flame scallops that a fellow reefer had ordered and couldn't put in their tank due to an untimely hospital visit. It may have been coincidence, but ever since they've been in there I can't keep my Mg over 1290 if I don't dose every other day or so. My alk is spot on at 9.3 dkh. My Ca used to stay consistently at 410 or so, but since a few additions including the clams it seems to hover around 360. I've boosted the Ca dosing and am ordering another dosing pump for the Mg tomorrow from the BRS group buy. I think because I'm not regularly dosing Mg my Ca is having a tough time keeping up.

Originally Posted by Arok3000

Many people say roughly triple you calcium also. This usually ends up around 1300-1350 anyways.

Not sure if this is a typo. I haven't heard that and would think you'd have precipitation issues with Ca so high. But I'm fairly new to the hobby despite reading on RC probably everyday for the last 12 months. Any clarification would be cool - always ready to learn.