Cal, Alk, Mg in established systems

[Myka]

I figure it might be interesting to compare how much each of us are dosing in some more established reef tanks.

In my 90 gallon reef (+15 gallons in sump) I dose calcium and alkalinity. Magnesium is kept steady around 1375 ppm with weekly 10% water changes with saltwater containing 1400 ppm Mg. The tank is 2 1/2 years old and about 70% SPS (by area).

Calcium math:
3000mL RO/DI
270 grams Fauna Marin Calcium chloride
134.4 mL mix dosed per day
12.1 grams Calcium chloride dosed per day
0.115 grams Calcium chloride dosed per gallon of tank water per day



Alkalinity math:
3000mL RO/DI
300 grams Fauna Marin Sodium bicarbonate
192 mL mix dosed per day
19.2 grams Sodium bicarbonate dosed per day
0.183 grams Sodium bicarbonate per gallon of tank water per day

[Skimmerking]

weird i just run my KAlk Stirrer on a continous drip of 1 drip every sec and it keeps my levels up and i test one per month if that. i have all LPS's clams

[Zoaelite]

My gallon jugs were going a bit too fast on the 165g so I decided to upgrade to a vertex calcium reactor for the 250g. Has been full on set and forget so far maintaining everything exactly where it needs to be, couldn't be happier with the purchase.

That being said I was adding 2.5 cups calcium chloride and 1.75 cups baking soda to a gallon of rodi respectively. Was dosing around 200ml of each daily and was still falling behind (even with a zoa dominant reef).

Best part about the reactor is it also provides trace elements back at approximatly the ratio they are used up so no more worrying about iodine, strontium and potassium.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

[Myka]

Thanks for your replies, but not really the point of the thread! ;)

[whatcaneyedo]

I usually add about 2 cups of 9:1 Mg salts to +20gal of water change water then slowly use it up over 2 weeks. I've only added 1 tbls of baking soda to my tank in the last two years. The last time I needed calcium chloride was probably 3 years ago. The rest is handled quite adequately and hassle free by a kalkwasser and a calcium reactor. 240gal system. Sorry for the hijack.

[fishytime]

I havnt even checked V2 for any of the big three in a year, but before I moved V1 was consuming close to a gallon of Randys recipe of Ca and DKH in a week and Mg was something like a half a cup every two weeks..... Mg dosed manually and Ca and DKH dosed with a profilux ..... Mixed reef, three years old

[Myka]

V1 was consuming close to a gallon of Randys recipe of Ca and DKH in a week and Mg was something like a half a cup every two weeks..... Mg dosed manually and Ca and DKH dosed with a profilux ..... Mixed reef, three years old

Ah ha! Some infos! Now you're going to make me do the math eh? :lol:

[kien]

I havnt even checked V2 for any of the big three im a year, but before I moved V1 was consuming close to a gallon of Randys recipe of Ca and DKH in a week and Mg was something like a half a cup every two weeks..... Mg dosed manually and Ca and DKH dosed with a profilux ..... Mixed reef, three years old

Does this mean you are not dosing in V2???

3 year old 300g system: aprox 250mL alk and 200mL calcium (2 part) per day.

[fishytime]

Ah ha! Some infos! Now you're going to make me do the math eh? :lol:


Well I am at work and on my I-phone.... So ya.... You can do the
math:razz::wink:
Does this mean you are not dosing in V2???

3 year old 300g system: aprox 250mL alk and 200mL calcium (2 part) per day.

Nope..... Havnt tested or dosed a thing in a year.... Aside from some zeo type foods

[Lance]

90g reef: 200ml of BRS soda ash & 200ml of calcium chloride per day

225g reef: 250ml of soda ash & 200 ml of calcium chloride per day

Mg: aprox 150 ml per week per each tank

10% water changes twice a month

[KevinK]

hmm,

why am I using so much,

baking soda 590gr/gallon mix in 5 gallon can (3 gallon mixed up at a time), I dose about 620 ml a day – spread out over 8 dosing's

Calcium:

I was mixing 500 gr/gal mix in 5 gal can (3 gallon mix at a time) dosed about 610 ml a day – spread over 8 dosing’s

but Calcium was rising and had lots of precipitation, so went with 20% less calcium at the same gallon and dose the same ml at this time

I changed and went lower on calcium yesterday so have to se upcoming week – weeks to find out if this is better


I have about 400 gallons of water in my system,

70% SPS and 30% LPS

tank is about 2 years, SPS corals are medium size

[fishytime]

hmm,

why am I using so much?

You do have more gallons than anyone who's posted so far.... And your solution may be more diluted than others

What's your Mg at?

[mark]

for DIY solutions, from the way this post is going, seems the values on the table a little shy of real world

Table 1. Suggested starting daily doses of this supplement in different aquaria.
Tank Description: Suggested Starting Doses:
Recipe #1
Recipe #2
Fish-only with live rock 0.1 mL/gallon
0.2 mL/gallon
New tank, few corals 0.2 mL/gallon
0.4 mL/gallon
Low demand 0.3 mL/gallon
0.6 mL/gallon
Mixed tank 0.5 mL/gallon
1 mL/gallon
Heavy demand (SPS corals) 1 mL/gallon
2 mL/gallon

table cut from here (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php).

[lastlight]

110 gallon system. Growth is slow but steady on most pieces.

Ca - 138mL / day
Alk - 144mL / day

[viperfish]

150 Gal System. Using Randy's Recipe 1.

Calk - 108ml/day
Alk - 108ml/day
Mag - when needed

[KevinK]

You do have more gallons than anyone who's posted so far.... And your solution may be more diluted than others

What's your Mg at?

mag in around the 1350 to 1400

I gust use the standard recipe:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#5

I do feel I use alot as well, but I dont know, it is what it is I think, thats why it is interesting to se what others use.

I think I'm about 2x as much as others,

and I even find that I defenatly dont have a over crouded SPS tank

i do have everything covered in nice purple coral. algea

I do a 40 gal water change each 2 weeks now, and when mixing new salt I bring the Cal up to 450 and the mag to 1400 by adding some calcium chloride and 5 to 3 magnesium mix