Maintaining ca/alk via 2part dosing?

I just know I'm missing something really simple here. But dang if I can figure this stuff out

How can I maintain my ca/alk via 2part dosing, without the use of a doser? I really would like to stop 2part and use Kalkwasswer in my top off water. But I don't top off the same amount at the same time ever day.

Can someone give me some advice to a simpler way of maintaining these levels. It's not happening with 5g bi-weekly water changes. Am I not changing enough of the water?

 

You need to determine your intake levels of your aquarium for calcium, alkalinity and magnesium.
I did this by testing each, then testing them a week later. I noted the difference and divided by the number of days to get my daily intake level. Using those numbers I punched them into the 3reef additive calculator using the current levels and then the desired level of my original levels. This then told me how much ESV to dose.

In my case it is 7ml of alk and 7 ml of cal. 2 ml of mag. (30 gallon water volume in my nano)

It started out lower but after retesting I had to raise them once so far to adjust to coral growth.

Using this I could manually dose it. But I strongly urge you to save the money for a doser. I use a Bubble Magnus. It saved my tank by taking me out of the equation.

Good luck!

matt

Many more threads on this if you search or look at sticky on this board. I know mods Steve and Larry have covered this well.

 

Thank you

 

No problem. Be sure to watch all three levels and adjust. Mag is key.
I tried the kalk only thing a couple times - worked for my softie tank, does not work for my SPS tank. So now it's both.

 

Matt~Does it really matter all that much what time of the day I test? My schedule is such that I can never really do it at the same time, except for maybe later in the evening. Also when dosing 2 part should there be an a.m/p.m. regimen?

 

I'm clearly not Matt, but in the interest of bumping this for you, I'll give you my answer. It does matter. I've tracked alkalinity thought the day and it clearly drops fastest shortly after lights up and continuously throughout the daylight cycle. I suggest testing at the same time each day if possible.

 

What are you saying? Is it better to dose alk during the day or night?

 

he's talking about testing, not dosing.

For dosing, you want to dose Ca and Alk about 12 hours apart. You want to dose your Alk a bit after lights out (so at night). That's important for pH reasons.

Personally, I dose Alk at midnight and Ca at lunch. I use an autodoser.

I love Matt's comment: save my tank by taking me out of the equation.

Consistency is key and it sounds like you can not maintain consistency manually due to your personal schedule. Highly advise saving for an autodoser (and ATO while you're at it)

 

Sorry I missed your follow-up Nanareefer but it looks like you are in good hands here. Going from Peredhill's comment about calcium during the day I am going to adjust my calcium schedule a bit. That makes sense.

 

Your suggestions are working great. My Alk is now steady at 8.4 dosing 15ml nightly and my ca is steady at 440 dosing 10ml daily. My mag is steady at 1400. A.m ph is 7.8 and climbs to 8.2 throughout the day.

P.s. I've. Now set myself a daily reminder to dose at midnight and noon