Auto doser.... SPS now dying

[dc4]

Originally Posted by paddyob

Your system seems similar to yours.

So you dose both 12 times each/day?

Yes, just alternating hours.

[Snappy]

Originally Posted by reefermadness

Unless they doser failed, I dont see how this is the dosers fault?

I agree 100%. Can you share the details of what you are dosing? For example I dosed Dowflakes for years but then got a very impure batch & had nothing but trouble, this product is only about 40% calcium chloride on a good day and can nuke a system. I will never use it again and don't recommend it & feel it had a lot to do with my tank crash in 2010/2011. The calcium chloride from BRS, Fauna Marin or Eli in Calgary is all very good purity wise. Not sure if this relevant in your case but I thought I'd throw it out there. Long story short, it's unlikely the problem is the actual doser but more likely what you are dosing and in what quantities.

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by Snappy

I agree 100%. Can you share the details of what you are dosing? For example I dosed Dowflakes for years but then got a very impure batch & had nothing but trouble, this product is only about 40% calcium chloride on a good day and can nuke a system. I will never use it again and don't recommend it & feel it had a lot to do with my tank crash in 2010/2011. The calcium chloride from BRS, Fauna Marin or Eli in Calgary is all very good purity wise. Not sure if this relevant in your case but I thought I'd throw it out there. Long story short, it's unlikely the problem is the actual doser but more likely what you are dosing and in what q

uantities.

I'm using the same chemicals as before. Exact. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm wondering if it's operation is causing ph swings. I know it's not "the doser" ... It is simply tied to the issue and the stoppage of it's use is required until the issue is solved. This addition to my system is the only change. Hopefully we can Move past that.


I use calcium from steve at red coral, seachem mag, and carbonate from BRS. Can't remember which but I believe it's sodium bicarbonate.

Have used them a while now.

System volume is about 100G.

Steve. I'll try get the dosing times and such info posted later.

[reefermadness]

Originally Posted by paddyob

I'm using the same chemicals as before. Exact. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm wondering if it's operation is causing ph swings. I know it's not "the doser" ... It is simply tied to the issue and the stoppage of it's use is required until the issue is solved. This addition to my system is the only change. Hopefully we can Move past that.


I use calcium from steve at red coral, seachem mag, and carbonate from BRS. Can't remember which but I believe it's sodium bicarbonate.

Have used them a while now.

System volume is about 100G.

Steve. I'll try get the dosing times and such info posted later.

My dosers only come on twice a day.....once at night and once early in the morning when pH could use a lift. HTH

[Snappy]

Sorry I missed your post about what you are using.
It always takes a while to get things tweaked just right when changing the way you administer chemicals into any system. Good luck, I think once you get things dialed in you will be glad you bought an auto-doser.

[paddyob]

Temp 78F
1.024

Kh 100 (normal for my tank)
Ca 400
Mg 1360 (normal for my tank)

Ph is coming up yellowish. Lower than chart.

This is my obvious issue. I understand the kh can be the culprit when dosing.


Any tips on best way to correct this? I have never before had ph below 8.0



Steve at RCE..... What product do you have in stock that works with my current chems?

[dc4]

Originally Posted by paddyob

Temp 78F
1.024

Kh 100 (normal for my tank)
Ca 400
Mg 1360 (normal for my tank)

Ph is coming up yellowish. Lower than chart.

This is my obvious issue. I understand the kh can be the culprit when dosing.


Any tips on best way to correct this? I have never before had ph below 8.0



Steve at RCE..... What product do you have in stock that works with my current chems?

You can buy some Reef Buffer to raise your ph to 8.3, I would also suggest to bring your water to be tested at your most trusted lfs as some test kits could be way off.

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by paddyob

Temp 78F
1.024

Kh 100 (normal for my tank)
Ca 400
Mg 1360 (normal for my tank)

Ph is coming up yellowish. Lower than chart.

This is my obvious issue. I understand the kh can be the culprit when dosing.


Any tips on best way to correct this? I have never before had ph below 8.0



Steve at RCE..... What product do you have in stock that works with my current chems?

I wouldn't go messing with your pH yet

When you say KH 100, what do you mean ? 100 mg/l ? 10.0 degrees ?
If it's 100 mg/l, then I'd say Ya, your pH could be low as that comes out at 5.6 degrees
But even that shouldn't allow your pH to be scary low - maybe near 8.0, but not bottoming out

I'd get a second test opinion of your pH, or buy a pH pen/probe

And you may want to allow you and your tank a week or two to settle into the new dosing before you mess with any additional products

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

I wouldn't go messing with your pH yet

When you say KH 100, what do you mean ? 100 mg/l ? 10.0 degrees ?
If it's 100 mg/l, then I'd say Ya, your pH could be low as that comes out at 5.6 degrees
But even that shouldn't allow your pH to be scary low - maybe near 8.0, but not bottoming out

I'd get a second test opinion of your pH, or buy a pH pen/probe

And you may want to allow you and your tank a week or two to settle into the new dosing before you mess with any additional products

I have been using the doser for about a month.

And yes, 100 kh. A tad low but consistent in my tank.

My ph has never been this low before.

I agree messing with ph is the last step, but needs to happen soon as my SPS are not doing well.

[gregzz4]

Take this for what it is ... an attempt from a newb to help

I just re-read this thread and I don't see mentioned what you are dosing
What products are you using ?

Did you test before you started dosing ?

Again, I'll say a second opinion on the pH test would be good and if your KH is really that low, I'd go with either dc4's suggestion of using Reef Builder to get your Alk back up, or bump up your Alk dosing, until it's higher
Either way, do it over a day or 2 so you don't create anymore shock and also Calcium precipitation
This should get your pH back inline