2 Part Dosing (Ca and Mg)

[walloutlet]

Definitely what I found. Once there its ok.

My numbers are getting close to what you said. I have about (ca - 415, alk -11 and mg - 1170 and climbing). Definitely starting to find things are balancing out and require less dosing, especially with having the kalk reactor running.

Thank God, maybe instead of testing and dosing every night or second night I can focus my attention to the NHL playoff run. Or, at least at a last ditch effort find something to do with my wife. LOL. j/k

*duck*

[George]

Originally Posted by littlesilvermax

It takes a lot of calium to get your levels up cause your salt (IO) is very low in calcium and magnesium in the first place.

Bring up newly made up water to the appropriate levels (I recommend 10 , 1380, 430) and then you will find things are quite easy to maintain from there, especially with a fairly light load like you have.

From there you can use kalk or two part, it likely will not take much.

Instance ocean salt doesn't have low level of Cal or Mg. Maybe it did, but the levels are normal now. From a sticky in RC, it has the following numbers:
Instant Ocean (new) Ca:400 Alk:11 Mg:1350

My own tests (using ELOS Mg and Ca test kits) confirm the numbers (actually I got a little bit higher numbers but it might be just my testing technique.)

[walloutlet]

Great to know. I believe I have an older bucket as my Salifert results from last night were lower than what you showed. Alk - 8dKH Ca - 345ppm and Mg - 1140ppm (if my memory serves me right)

I'll have to look for that sticky on RC. I looked a long time ago but couldn't find it (mainly couldn't remember which site I had looked on initially). I'll start there again.

Thanks.

[Tom R]

Originally Posted by George

Instance ocean salt doesn't have low level of Cal or Mg. Maybe it did, but the levels are normal now. From a sticky in RC, it has the following numbers:
Instant Ocean (new) Ca:400 Alk:11 Mg:1350

My own tests (using ELOS Mg and Ca test kits) confirm the numbers (actually I got a little bit higher numbers but it might be just my testing technique.)

I have herd this before however my last bucket purchased at J&L on Boxing Day was still showing the lower levels of Ca and Mag.

Is there anything on the bucket indicating the new mix and higher levels?

Tom R

[e46er]

my IO reads 10 DKH 360 Ca and 1150 Mg

[littlesilvermax]

Originally Posted by e46er

my IO reads 10 DKH 360 Ca and 1150 Mg

So did mine.

[walloutlet]

I checked my numbers when I got home. I had 325 for Ca, 1125 for Mg and 7.8dKH. Used JDieck's Chemistry Calculator (http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html) to determine the dosing levels to bring the numbers up to where I want them. Very surprised on how close everything came to the numbers I wanted.

For example, I was shooting for about 1300ppm of Mg and ended up at 1315ppm, my Ca adjustment was even closer. Shot for 430ppm and got 430ppm using the website calculator.

That's pretty cool I thought. At least I know now that the information returned is within reason.