Author Topic: How much two part? (Read 4922 times)

Riderc82 · « **on:** January 31, 2009, 23:24:35 »

For the people who use two-part how much do you use and how big is your system? Also how many frags or colonies do you have? It seems like even though I don't have that many SPS I can't keep my calcium up past 350. I got on Bulk Reef Supplies website and it says I need to add 1100 Ml to get my calcium level where I want it so looks like it will be another week till I can get to where I want to be. I bought a Mag test kit today and it tested at 1300.

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2009, 00:29:51 »

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

^---handy calculator

I think I'm up to around 1/2 cup per day (not sure on the exact measurement...I just have a little cup that I use) of alk & calcium (of the standard 2-part solution recipe)...my magnesium is a bit lower than that. I have a 40g SPS dominant tank + 20g sump. At last count, I had roughly 60+ corals in there. I started with a couple tablespoons & I've worked up to a lot more.

Finding the amount you need to dose daily is a pain initially. I was testing about 2-3 times per day, every day for about 2 weeks. Every few months I readjust.

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #2 on:** February 01, 2009, 00:31:38 »

Oh, I also use baked baking-soda for the alk part...& epsom salts/magnesium chloride for the magnesium part. Using baking soda & epsom salts are a lot cheaper than buying stuff through a website.

Riderc82 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 01, 2009, 00:48:21 »

I have been doing 150 Ml a day and for the few SPS I have that seems like a lot and I usually do a 5 or 10 gallon water change a week. The only thing I can think is the coralline algae is using all the calcium.

lazylivin · « **Reply #4 on:** February 01, 2009, 01:06:42 »

Hey Rider, 150ml seems like a huge amount but not sure how much stuff is in your tank. I am dosing 40ml of Alk and Ca a day and 60ml of Mag. Using 2 cups of Calcium Chloride and 2 cups of Soda Ash per gallon of RO water. Mag is a total of 5 cups per gallon of RO water. My chemicals come from Bulk Reef Supply so not sure if it is an apples to apples comparison.
My water volume is about 90g Net and have SPS dominant reef as well. (about 20 small SPS colonies and over 100 1"-3" frags.
Yes, Coraline algae can be a pretty heavy load of depletion.
As Nicki said finding your daily dose is a real pain in the a$$. Test once a day minimum. But once you do you don't have to test very much anymore.

Just curious Rider whats your water volume? Mag at 1300 is good. That is where I try to keep mine at. Ca 425 and Alk 9

Riderc82 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 01, 2009, 17:47:42 »

I have about 110 gallons of system volume, I use Red Sea Coral Pro for my salt. I tested my systems calcium for two weeks and at that time it took 75 ML a day this was about 5 months ago so I have been using 150 ML for the last month I think I may have had a snow storm some where along the way and that is how my calcium dropped so low.

cyberwollf · « **Reply #6 on:** February 01, 2009, 17:56:26 »

Any low-SPS tanks use kalkwasser or is everyone on 2 part?

UDJustin · « **Reply #7 on:** February 01, 2009, 18:09:14 »

I use kalkwasser

cyberwollf · « **Reply #8 on:** February 01, 2009, 20:45:09 »

Quote from: Reef'd Up on February 01, 2009, 00:31:38

Oh, I also use baked baking-soda for the alk part...& epsom salts/magnesium chloride for the magnesium part. Using baking soda & epsom salts are a lot cheaper than buying stuff through a website.

Do you have a link to how to mix balanced parts with CaCl?

Riderc82 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 01, 2009, 20:56:24 »

I think most people that use their own stuff just use the recipe found on Bulk Reef Supply's website.

Riderc82 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 01, 2009, 21:47:44 »

Ok I have dripped 600 Ml or part A and part B since Saturday morning and my calcium is up to 360. The calculator said I needed to add 1100 Ml or A and B to get my calcium at 450. It seems that if I added more than half or what it suggested I should be at about 400 what gives? I know the tank uses some ever day but the have seen Nicki's tank in person and Lazy's in a picture and you both have 2x as many SPS as I have I am using the same recipe as Lazy and I purchased all the chemicals at Bulk Reef Supply.

lazylivin · « **Reply #11 on:** February 01, 2009, 21:57:38 »

Hey Rider, just want to confirm so I dont say anything that gets you in trouble.
You dissolved 2 cups of High Purity Anhydrous Calcium Chloride into 1 gallon of RO water? Is that correct?
This stuff? http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Calcium,-Alkalinity-&-Magnesium-Calcium-Chloride/c1_2/p5/One-Galllon-(7-Pounds)-High-Purity-Calcium-Chloride/product_info.html

Your current Calcium level is 360 and net water volume is 110 gallons?

If all of that is true then dose about 600ml per day until you are at the desired level. The slower you dose the better. Drip like you have been doing is perfect.

Riderc82 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 01, 2009, 22:00:55 »

thats exactly what I do. I even fill the jug 3/4 the way then add one cup then shake and add the second cup then top of the one gallon jug with ro and shake again, I have a 90 gallon with a 29 gallon sump so around 110 gallons total system volume. It says to go from 350 to 360 it should have taken like 116 Ml.

Riderc82 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 01, 2009, 22:06:42 »

I was worried about having a snow storm (precipitation) but thankfully that didn't happen. I tested twice once with my old test kit (Salifert) and the second time with the Salifert test kit I purchased Saturday. I wish I could give you guys a better alkalinity reading but I have the Red Sea test kit for that but it is well within the normal range.

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #14 on:** February 01, 2009, 22:10:42 »

Rider - I just calculated it out...you calculated correctly. If I was in your shoes, I would just do multiple water changes, say 20% several times. It will probably be less expensive and safer than just dumping a ton of calcium in over several days.

I'll try to measure how many ml I'm dosing tomorrow.

lazylivin · « **Reply #15 on:** February 01, 2009, 22:11:40 »

You dosed 600ml and it only went from 350 to 360 or it went from 300 to 360.

lazylivin · « **Reply #16 on:** February 01, 2009, 22:12:33 »

Yea, maybe massive water changes would be better.

Riderc82 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 01, 2009, 22:13:31 »

Thanks Nicki I guess 350 isn't bad but it isn't where I want to be. I think I may just try to do some hefty water changes as you suggested I just don't understand where the calcium is going.

Riderc82 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 01, 2009, 22:15:22 »

yep I went from 350 to 360 after 600 Ml tested twice yesterday and twice today and waited several hours before testing.

lazylivin · « **Reply #19 on:** February 01, 2009, 22:16:18 »

Yea, that does not seem right, I see why you are puzzled.

Riderc82 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 01, 2009, 22:22:05 »

I felt stupid asking this question but for several months I used 75 Ml and it tested in the low 400's which I was with but every since I had the snow storm it has been stuck at 350 no matter how much calcium I add, I hope the water changes help. I'll try to do 15 gallons a day for the next couple of days...I need one of those water alarms or a house with a basement so I can have a 100 rubbermaid tub for my water changes.

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #21 on:** February 01, 2009, 22:31:24 »

Ugh, yeah, something isn't right. Makes me wonder if your Ca is precipitating out.

Anyway, I measured my dosing. I'm at 125ml per day of alk & ca each. It's reasonable that you're at 150ml for a 110g system (you're double my system but with less sps).

cyberwollf · « **Reply #22 on:** February 01, 2009, 22:35:47 »

What is your pH and mag levels?

Riderc82 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 01, 2009, 22:47:28 »

mag was at 1300 yesterday (This was the first time I had ever tested it but I always dose 20 Oz to each gallon of calcium I use)(Salifert), PH is 8.2 or 8.3 (Red Sea).

Riderc82 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 03, 2009, 16:30:41 »

I must be going crazy, I changed ten gallons of water last night and I just tested the aquarium water about ten minutes ago and now my calcium is at 400. I know the test kits are not perfect but how can a ten gallon water change raise the calcium levels in my aquarium by 50 when 600 Ml of two part only raised it 10?

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Author Topic: How much two part? (Read 4922 times)

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer