dosing help

makana · #1 08-07-2010, 09:36 PM

I have read that article actually. Do you think that this is a normal alk drop given my tank inhabitants? Why would my alk have been stable for two years and only become stable when I raised my calcium, mag, and alk?

whatcaneyedo · #2 08-07-2010, 09:51 PM

Adjusting one level effects the others.
A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php

I personally don't bother testing the water chemisty on my 20gal nano. Small tanks are too prone to rapid change so its not worth the hassle in my opinion. So I stock lightly, do large weekly water changes and just observe.

makana · #3 08-08-2010, 02:30 AM

I appreciate the advice. I had been relying on water changes to keep things in check and everything was fine. But I discovered that IO salt was only giving me a mag level of 1250 and calc of 380. My goal for this tank is a clam and some sps so I was hoping to bring it up to a safer level.

Maybe I should just look at switching salt brands.

makana · #4 08-13-2010, 12:50 AM

Are those of you who use IO salt having to dose daily or are water changes alone enough?

Captainhemo · #5 08-19-2010, 02:30 PM

Go have a read of Chemasters thread (http://canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=26590 on how he accomplishes decent levels with IO salt.

makana · #6 08-20-2010, 01:59 AM

Thanks for the link! I will try it out.

lastlight · #7 08-20-2010, 02:31 AM

I've never really taken the time to read how each param affects the other. I just bring levels up to ideal with my chems and keep guessing with my doses in small increments starting from a very small amount and test at the end of the week. Then I adjust.

Dosing daily should be the most stable method. I currently in my 34g bring mag up to normal in my Reef Crystals (other 2 levels are higher than target) and dose alk and calcium with a syringe in set amounts. Once in the morning (an hour between each) and once in the evening (also an hour inbetween).

I have been slowly increasing levels that I dose every week or two as demand ramps up so usually I'm just a little off with alk and calcium since I'm trying to guess the right dose but that amount changes as demand rises too. I'm very close and some weeks I get the exact targets when I test.