What do you dose?

[bkvreef]

Since my other questions have been stepped around.  I wanted to know what you dose your tank with and why?
I am not asking for judgements on others I'm just trying to get some insight.
I think my tank is fine as it is, but I wonder would dosing add even more?

So lets have it what do you dose and why?

[JoeAyers]

Two part to keep CA, Alk and Mag levels consistant. Othere than that I rely on my water changes to provide other trace elements.

[verper]

Two part to keep CA, Alk and Mag levels consistant. Othere than that I rely on my water changes to provide other trace elements.

same

[bkvreef]

thanks for the input.  How often (do you follow the dosing recommendations?)?

How did you come to choose Two part?

[verper]

Test for all three and then dose accordingly.  You can use one of the online calculators to get dosing amounts.  This is the one I use:

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

Two part because it is the cheapest quality option out there.  At one time when you could get Dow CaChl pellets (prestone heat) from Home Depot and Arm and Hammer and eptson salts from the grocery store, you were making a gallon of the stuff for pennies.  Now that Dow has changed its processing of the CaChl, it is no longer a viable option and you pretty much have to get the stuff from BulkReefSupply - http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/index.html .  Similar thing with the Mag.  Randy Holmes-Farley changed the requirements for the Mag to include Magnesium Chloride to cut down on the sulfate from the eptson salts.  Here is the whole story of two part:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2004/chem.htm

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

[Revaltion131]

What specific 2-part solutions do you all use?  My dKH has been pretty stable throughout, but I'm starting to get some pretty nasty swings and it's been recommended to me that I try using a 2-part to keep it stable.

[ohioreef]

I do not dose anything other than topping off with limewater. I do not have a lot of calcium using corals so the limewater is able to keep up with my Ca and alk levels.

[Amstar]

how do you make limewater?  how do you dose it?  what do you test to determine if you are putting to much or to little in.

[bkvreef]

With respect to the Two part do you make it yourself or order it from bulk reef supply?

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Calcium,-Alkalinity-&-Magnesium-Alkalinity/c1_5/p270/The-Total-Two-Part-Package/product_info.html

[verper]

Order it from Bulk Reef Supply - no one else has the safe CaChl stuff left.  I've never ordered the whole kit like you linked to, just the raw materials in 1, 2, and 5 gallon buckets. Then I use 1 gallon water jugs to make up a solution of each using RO/DI water and the recommended amount of raw materials based on their website.  The kit does look nice for a new setup.

[ohioreef]

how do you make limewater?  how do you dose it?  what do you test to determine if you are putting to much or to little in.

I use Mrs Wages pickling lime to make my limewater. I pick it up at my Kroger's store. I simply add a heaping teaspoon to each gallon of top off water.

I have a float switch that turns an Aqualifter pump on/off as my water level drops and I add it in that way.

I just check my Ca and alk every once in a while to see if the levels are being maintained. My tank does not use a lot of Ca/alk so the limewater is able to maintain the levels.

[MechanicalEngineer]

I do the same thing Scott (verper) has listed. 

[lazylivin]

I do same as well. Mag, Ca and Alk. All from BRS.

[bkvreef]

Wow thanks everyone for your input.
Let me know if what I'm thinking makes sense:
For calcium     Get the Calcium Chloride from Bulk reef supply
For Alk           get baking soda (and follow directions, on websites listed above)
for mag          epsom salt
                    and get magnesium chloride from Bulk reef supply

Does that make sense?

What about pH?

[MechanicalEngineer]

You got it!  I've never had an issue with pH, so I'll pass...

[bkvreef]

You got it!  I've never had an issue with pH, so I'll pass...

Finally!  I think I've done something right 

[Joel]

If you adjust your Alk to the correct value and maintain it there, your ph should co currently be in the desirable target range (8.2-ish). It is not impossible to have the correct Alk and a low Ph but it would be very unusual.