Dosing Questions

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by xtreme

Here is a handy calculator to use to figure how much dosing is necessary.

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html

This is a great calculator, I use it when I need to. I would recommend you entering your parameters and follow the directions for the Dosing you bought.

[xtreme]

It is also a good idea to raise you calcium and kH together ie dose alkalinity in the morning and calcium in the evening daily to keep your levels in check once you reach NSW levels.

[Eb0la11]

What does NSW levels stand for?

Also what is a good product to raise alkalinity? I havent got one yet. Thanks guys, I didnt use that calculator cause the mg product I bought wasnt one of the listed ones on the calculator :/

[hillegom]

NSW= normal salt water
or was that natural salt water?

[xtreme]

Originally Posted by hillegom

NSW= normal salt water
or was that natural salt water?

I call it natural sea water, same idea. Here is a good link that talks about important parameters to watch.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

[Eb0la11]

Ok Im just going to use this thread as a log until I can get my levels in a good range.

So after dosing my tank with 10 capfuls of tailored aquatics magnesium here are my new readings one day later:

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - Very low, near 0
pH - 8.3 --> 8.3
Calcium - <400 > 380 --> < 400
Phosphate - 0 - 0.25 --> >.25 < 0.5
Magnesium - 1150 --> 1250
kH - < 110 mg/L CaCo3 --> < 110 mg/L CaCo3
Iron - I didnt test for this but could if needed.

[Eb0la11]

Ok so I am going to dose in some Baking Soda to raise my Kh closer to 130 ppm.

I ran those numbers into the calculator and it said I need to dose in about 5.4 teaspoons of the stuff, but that I shouldnt add it all at once.

How much do you think I should add tonight, keeping note of my other parameters, also keeping in mind that it will effect my pH?

Also, how exactly will it effect my pH? Will it raise it or lower it? How do I readjust it once it does get effected?

[Marlin65]

In my experience adding lots of baking soda will raise your PH too much.
Just add a bit at a time to get it around 8 or higher. You can bump your magnesium up a bit too 1300-1500 is good.
You want to maintain consistence as that is the most important keep things stable.

[e46er]

Originally Posted by Eb0la11

What does NSW levels stand for?

Also what is a good product to raise alkalinity? I havent got one yet. Thanks guys, I didnt use that calculator cause the mg product I bought wasnt one of the listed ones on the calculator :/

i use seachem reef builder but baking SODA will also work

[Eb0la11]

Ok for now Im going to have to go with Baking Soda since I cant run to the fish store right now, but is there a rule of thumb or anything for how much one table spoon effects x amount of gallons of water or anything?

Also, as I raise my Mg and Ca levels as well, I see it effects my Kh, but what other levels are typically effected by trying to raise these three levels?