Ca/dKH...???

So I have a 144 gallon reef tank with refugium( I estimate actualy 120 gallons of salt water?) with LPS and Mushrooms.

I used to does my Calcium on Mondays & Thursdays and my Buffer on Tuesdays & Fridays.

The past 5 days, I started dosing Calcium & Buffer every day (Calcium in the morning and Buffer at night).

Since I started the daily dosing I have been testing twice a day, and here are the results (I use liquid Seachem Reef Complete (CA & Mg) & Reef Builder (Buffer, dosages are in cap fulls...,??? means I didn't test):

Date--Dosed-AM/PM---Ca-AM/PM---dKH-AM/PM---Ph-AM-PM--Temp.AM/PM
6/24--2-Ca/2-Buffer---400/420-----9.0/8.5--------8.1/8.3-----80.6/81.5
6/25--none/3-Buffer---440/420-----9.5/9.0--------8.1/8.4-----80.5/81.4
6/26--3-Ca/none-------400/420-----10.0/9.5-------8.1/8.3----80.6/81.4
6/27--2-Ca/3-Buff------420/440-----9.0/9.0--------8.1/8.3----80.5/81.5
6/28--4-Ca/TBD--------380/TBD-----10.0/TBD-----8.1/TBD----80.5/TBD

Is this good/bad? Should I go back to what I was doing before? Am I messing with it too much...???

ANY help would be great

 

Johntekin

I use exactly the same additives as you are using
reef complete has not proven adequate enough to maintain my Mag levels
thus I also have to dose reef advantage magnesium once every other week

if you dont have a mag test kit , I would suggest getting one and checking it out for yourself

at present whilst your numbers are fine, and dosing a little everyday rather than more every 3 days is better IME

but the figures to me suggest you are dosing buffer at the expense of your calcium
which again leads me to believe your mag levels are not being maintained with the reef complete

Steve

 

Thank you Steve!!!!!!

Sounds like I need to get an Mg test kit!

What is my target level of MG and when do I dose Mg?

 

Your params look good, altho they are swinging a bit, as steve suggested, check your MG, its important in maintaining the balance between Ca and dkh.

 

Mag in seawater is 1350 give or take. I keep my Mag between 1400-1450

I use Epsom salt for mag right now but wil be using BRS mag/alk/ca for my next tank.

 

how do the bulk reef supply products differ from seachem??

 

I agree completely with Steve!

 

The primary benefit would be cost - buying the bulk options does save money

one thing to bear in mind with the relationship between the big 3
if your magnesium is not adequate to support your target levels
then its possible that for every 1 degree of DKH you dose to increase,
your calcium can fall by 20ppm
thus if you dose calcium to try and get back that 20ppm , your DKH could drop by 1 degree
and many people in the hobby have experienced this and dose on a daily basis but dont get off the above see saw until they address and maintain Mag levels



Steve

 

They are bulk chemicals that make it far more economical to dose regularly. Get the kit the first time and it will come with all the jugs and measuring cups you need. They also have an extremely accurate dosage calculator for use with their kits.
the 3 test kits you must have when dosing are Mag, Cal, Alk/DKH otherwise you have no clue what your really doing to the tank.

 

Thank you all for the help!