Need some dosing advice

Odysi · 05/09/2015, 02:42 PM

Hey all i just set up my Brs dosing pumps which will dose Alk and Calc. I have been manully dosing 10ML of both once a day. I will be controlling the pumps with my RKL and wanted to spread it out during the day. Is it better to have the pumps dose all day over a 24hr period or should i split it up like alk during lights out and calc during lights on?

tommyboynj · 05/09/2015, 03:03 PM

I dont think is makes much of a difference really. I have by doser set to spilt the total amount up into 4 over 24hrs. I would just stagger the times that the alk and calc are dosed.

A sea K · 05/10/2015, 04:59 AM

If both outlets are dripping into the same location then I would either seperate them physically or by offsetting the dosing schedule as you mentioned above.

Sk8r · 05/10/2015, 09:00 AM

If you put alk and cal in at the same time you get a snowstorm of precipitate and no good at all.

gone fishin · 05/10/2015, 09:11 AM

I started out dosing once for calcium and a later time for alkalinity. Over time as I have stocked the tank and needed to add more calcium and alkalinity I have started spreading the dosing times throughout the day.

Odysi · 05/10/2015, 12:09 PM

It's not set for the same time. Alk drips first the 30mins later the ca drips. I know if I run both it will precipitate in the tank. I just wanted to know if dosing over a 24hr period is better the splitting it up between 12hrs each.

Mcgeezer · 05/10/2015, 04:22 PM

You are correct. The dosing schedule should be set for calcium throughout the day and alkalinity in the evening. Mixing the two will cause precipitate.

I assume you already know what your tank requirements are on a daily basis. Just set the Doser to meet the needs of your current tank requirements.

Staggering both calcium and alkalinity every hour or so is not a bad idea either so long as you give them sufficient time to be absorbed into the water column.

Odysi · 05/10/2015, 05:34 PM

At the moment the tank takes 10ml Alk and Ca. I would set it 30mins apart and for the amount i dose i figured it would be every 2:40mins. dose 1ml.

05/09/2015, 02:42 PM	#1
Odysi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 401	Need some dosing advice Hey all i just set up my Brs dosing pumps which will dose Alk and Calc. I have been manully dosing 10ML of both once a day. I will be controlling the pumps with my RKL and wanted to spread it out during the day. Is it better to have the pumps dose all day over a 24hr period or should i split it up like alk during lights out and calc during lights on?

05/10/2015, 04:59 AM	#3
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	If both outlets are dripping into the same location then I would either seperate them physically or by offsetting the dosing schedule as you mentioned above. __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

05/10/2015, 09:00 AM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	If you put alk and cal in at the same time you get a snowstorm of precipitate and no good at all. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/10/2015, 09:11 AM	#5
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	I started out dosing once for calcium and a later time for alkalinity. Over time as I have stocked the tank and needed to add more calcium and alkalinity I have started spreading the dosing times throughout the day. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

05/09/2015, 03:03 PM	#2
tommyboynj Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 238	I dont think is makes much of a difference really. I have by doser set to spilt the total amount up into 4 over 24hrs. I would just stagger the times that the alk and calc are dosed.

05/10/2015, 12:09 PM	#6
Odysi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 401	It's not set for the same time. Alk drips first the 30mins later the ca drips. I know if I run both it will precipitate in the tank. I just wanted to know if dosing over a 24hr period is better the splitting it up between 12hrs each.

05/10/2015, 04:22 PM	#7
Mcgeezer Reef gardener Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: DeLand, Florida Posts: 1,205	You are correct. The dosing schedule should be set for calcium throughout the day and alkalinity in the evening. Mixing the two will cause precipitate. I assume you already know what your tank requirements are on a daily basis. Just set the Doser to meet the needs of your current tank requirements. Staggering both calcium and alkalinity every hour or so is not a bad idea either so long as you give them sufficient time to be absorbed into the water column.

05/10/2015, 05:34 PM	#8
Odysi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 401	At the moment the tank takes 10ml Alk and Ca. I would set it 30mins apart and for the amount i dose i figured it would be every 2:40mins. dose 1ml.