Mag and Cal question?

Ok so i started dosing BRS 2part. Its the once that raises ph;D
This is my dosing Log over the course of the last four days.
I dosed after these tests.

March 3rd
Mag 1240-1260
Cal 400
Alk 8-9
Ph 8.1 - 8.2

March 5th
Mag 1275
Cal 440
Alk 9-10
Ph 8.2

March 6th
Mag 1320
Cal 420
Alk 10
Ph 8.13

So my question is should i dose calcium and mag tonight? My mag keeps going up but my calcium is going down a bit. Alk looks good for now.

 

I would dose cal and alk and leave mag where it is. After you have used up the cal and alk jugs dose 20oz of mag. Youll just have to keep checking your cal and alk lvls to fine tune how much to dose to keep your params where you want them, but shouldn't have to touch mag until the 2 jugs are empty.

 

I am planning on growing this tank into a SPS dominated tank. But right now i just have a orange and green Monti Cap. Is that level of magnesium ok if i am planning on adding alot of sps?

 

Hey Crusty, what are you keeping in the tank these days? (sorry you posted at same time as me, so I know answer to this now)

your levels look fine as they are to me already
although my preference is for a higher magnesium level, and I currently maintain mine between 1420 and 1440
I believe this helps me to maintain the other 2 ions in solution for me, so Im not dosing 1 at the expense of the other, when dealing with Calcium and Alkalinity

I might dose to increase mag level to 1380 tonight if it where my tank and those where my parameters
and would probably dose another increase to 1440 tomorrow (simply as that the figure I chose for myself - but 1380 is fine anyway)

Calcium and Alkalinity
I would dose nothing tonight or tomorrow and see where the levels are the day after
that will then tell you whats been used over the 2 days, and then you work out how much that equates to in 1 day. then you dose according to those need

thats what I would do, if it where my tank, with those listed parameters

Steve

 

ok. rad! This wont be a threat to my corals, letting the calcium and/or alkalinity drop to undesirable levels will raising the Mag to 1400?

 

BTW the 2 part dosing system from BRS is the ****. It comes with user friendly tools (jugs, pumps, and measuring cups)! They have a calculator on there sight that tells you how much exactly to add to your system. And the other great thing about this package is that IT WORKS! I tested with a salifert magnesium test today after dosing to raise my level from 1275 to 1325. The test read 1320 I def found my dosing and testing needs at BRS! I love that place.

 

IMHO - no
I have a reef with 20 plus various sized SPS frags and colonies
I am currently dosing to maintain 1/4 degree of DKH per day and approx 5ppm Calcium

the base lines are
7 DKH
380 Calcium

your at 10 and 420 respectively
in 2 days with just your 2 monti frags you could be at 9 and 400 ( but I doubt that it would drop that low based on my experience)

dose only mag today
and by all means check Calc and DKH tomorrow
but IMO if you test every 24 hours, you wont know the difference between user variation on test kit using and genuine demand

if you tested once in a week you would easily spot a drop of 30ppm on a test kit
but if you tested 7 days in that week, you would not have noticed the drop on test result of under 5ppm ( its close to what it was already and you would probably dismiss any difference you noticed as user variation)

thats why many people when they start dosing test once or twice per week in order to work out a dosing amount

its easier to spot a higher difference and that makes it easier to work out how much you need to dose daily to compensate

Steve

 

that sounds great! thanks for your help.