Dosing Question: Is it smart to mix your Ca,dKH,and Mag together?

I was wondering if it is okay for me to mix my Ca, Mag, and dKH additives together in a 2-liter of RO/DI water and then drip it into my system very slowly?

When I do mix it together it turns a very white, chalky color. Is this normal?

Some of the substance tends to fall to the bottom, I should be mixing it up to make sure this gets into my system correct?

 

I don't know if this is normal, but I got a nice endothermic reaction when I tried mixing everything all together. I got a kick out of the smoke too. i haven't tried to again yet.

It is milky because of the dKH dosing.

 

Yes normal IME.

If you are going to do it that way I would do Kalk instead on a very slow drip and monitor the levels especially pH closely. Well either way monitor them closely while you get it dialed in.

 

Why Kalk instead Corailline?

I've mixed all three before in experimentation but you have to be there to stir it up every few minutes which defeated the purpose of trying to save time in Dosing all three at once. If not the air hose would clog. Perhaps mixing them in Fresh R.O. Water instead of saltwater as my Alk dose always mixes easier in that.

 

I think what is happening is the high concentration of these minerals together are forming calcium carbonate and precipitating, and likely will not dissolve back into the tank water when added.

If that's the case, then it's a waste to dose this way.

Most of the time, when dosing 2-part you will dose these separately and only add magnesium once or twice a month, as it is depleted. Magnesium gets used up in your tank so slowly, that there is no need to constantly dose it, and you'd be adding such a small amount per dosage that it would be difficult to measure and keep up with.

I agree with Coralline that if you are dripping in additives, you can do kalk, but it really depends on your tank's consumption of calcium and alk. If you have a lot of SPS, clams, etc, then your tank's consumption rate may be higher than you can keep up with using only kalk.

 

You can mix Ca and Mg because they are cations. Alkalinity is an anion and will react with cations. You need to do two solutions.

 

My preferred methods in order. Soley my experience with all three.

1st. Ca reactor.

2nd. Kalk: because in the long run ( months ) IME you get better results. It maintains a higher pH and ca and alk levels with consistant levels. Parts A/B which I love are excellent but not as consistant.

3rd. And lastly Parts A/B and always mag when appropriate.

 

That is most likely Mg. Mg does not stay in solution and needs to be mixed all the time... Other reasons aside, I would always do Mg separately bc of this.

This is the biggest thing. You don't want your alk in with your Ca.

Mixing Ca and Mg is doable, but a pain bc Mg doesn't stay in solution like we mentioned.

 

I'm not sure that I agree that Mg doesn't stay in solution. I mixed Mg using 7 1/4 cups Mg Chloride to 3/4 cup Mg Sulfate (8:1 ratio) around a month ago in a gallon container with RODI water. Just checked it and there is no precipitate that has fallen out of solution. It's all liquid.

Calcium and Alkalinity supplements CANNOT be mixed together alone. The high pH of the Alk additive and supersaturation of calcium and carbonate ions causes abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate dissolves most effectively at a pH of around 6.5, which is the function of a calcium reactor. A pH of above 7.5 or so, and the calcium carbonate precipitate will not dissolve significantly at all.

 

Quick add on question to this thread. I have a 5 gallon RO/DI bucket that I use with a Tunze ATO and have recently placed a small amount of mix in there CA? Would it send to too much solution into the tank? I have a small power head in bucket to keep water moving and avoid the solution from settling. So far it seems to be working but I am always paranoid it will OD. A 5 gallon bucket takes about 3 weeks to empty.