Let's talk about Alkalinity, Calcium and Magnesium in an SPS Tank - Page 21

SantaMonica · 03/09/2015, 04:45 PM

Also for people who grow lots of macro, it will absorb some alk too.

las · 03/11/2015, 07:29 PM

So just to be clear, is the proper DKH level 7-8 for an ULNS?

If I am not dosing vodka, bio pellets etc. should I aim for a higher range for DKH?

Is there a best method to dosing ( 2 part with doser,kalk,calcium reactor)?

I've have learned very much from this thread. Thanks to all who contributed.

JB NY · 03/12/2015, 07:58 AM

I have run my alk at 8 with just a DSB, also when carbon dosing, and also when using GFO. So I think that 7-8 would be fine with a variety of methods that you choose. I don't keep it at 7 mainly because if something were to happen and my dosing is off or the needs of the tank change, the alk can fall lower than I would like without me knowing.

Dose any way you want, the method doesn't matter as long as you can keep up with the demands and keep the tank stable.

NeverlosT · 03/12/2015, 08:04 AM

I am having a hell of a time with ALK lately. One small dip in ALK burns the coral tips, they stop their growth, ALK consumption decreases, and the alk fluctuates the other direction.

What a pain in the neck. I am watching months of coral growth die off... hopefully I can get it under control ASAP.

Original issue was the effluent line of the CARX became clogged and since it was plumbed into the skimmer intake, I couldnt see it until ALK had already dipped.

If I can figure out how to get the damn CARX effluent to keep a steady drip rate over a long time period, I'll be in much better shape.

JB NY · 03/12/2015, 09:34 AM

What are you using to control your effluent? My Reactor has an small needle gate valve and is able to keep the flow very steady.

kissman · 03/16/2015, 09:51 AM

This is a great thread! I have just finished reading this entire thread. My salt & tank are running at 10 dKH and have been thinking about letting my Alk drop to 9 and then balance everything there rather than 10

chema · 03/18/2015, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeverlosT

I am having a hell of a time with ALK lately. One small dip in ALK burns the coral tips, they stop their growth, ALK consumption decreases, and the alk fluctuates the other direction.

What a pain in the neck. I am watching months of coral growth die off... hopefully I can get it under control ASAP.

Original issue was the effluent line of the CARX became clogged and since it was plumbed into the skimmer intake, I couldnt see it until ALK had already dipped.

If I can figure out how to get the damn CARX effluent to keep a steady drip rate over a long time period, I'll be in much better shape.

The best way to keep a steady drip over time is to use a peristaltic pump which pulls the water from the calcium reactor (much better than pushing the water into it). However, such a pump must work 24 h a day, 7 days a week. Just a few peristaltic pumps are designed for continuous work, and they are not cheap. The cheapest option I have found is to use two (not the expensive Masterflex) alternating in periods of two hours. In that way you prevent them from going bad and start doing noises.

NeverlosT · 03/23/2015, 08:51 AM

I was worried about a peristaltic pump, that it may burn out with constant use, then I looked at the ones meant to run constantly, and they have some hefty price tags. What I am shooting for is to raise the reactor pH so that the effluent is less concentrated, and increase it's flow rate a bunch. This makes the needle valves less likely to plug, since the fluid is flowing through a larger opening.

JB to answer your question I am using a special custom 45 degree gate valve that reef dynamics sells with their calcium reactors. It works well at higher flow rates (what I am doing now), but if you want a slower, or even a steady drip, it plugs over the course of a day.

machodik · 03/23/2015, 06:39 PM

I have been thinking to use my Jebao DP-4 ( bought for a while have not using it yet) , all the 4 pumps hooked together pulling the water out from my calcium reactor , I have to run 15 ml / min or 900 ml / hour and or 21,600 ml per 24 hours , so it is impossible for a single pump of this cheap chinese dosing pump to do the Job but if I run 4 pumps alternately for this purposes perhaps It will somehow lengthening the life span and giving me to save money to buy a expensive one (may be 5 years later? I doubt it hahaha) . Now I am figuring how much ml per "X"mins for this 4 pumps to runs simultaneously in a day ??? I am not good in math , any math genius help me out on this ?

PTang81 · 03/27/2015, 03:52 AM

I'm from the UK and must admit I have learnt some things on here that I've been wanting to find the answers to for ages!!! This is the best forum for reefing in the world!!!! Now to grow some sticks...thanks everyone for yr input.Paulxx

SantaMonica · 03/27/2015, 10:36 PM

My BRS pump (50 ml/min, which I don't think they have anymore) has been dosing kalk for 4 years now, and has never clogged. The outlet is about 2 inches above the water, and drops down into it.

It is not very quiet, however.

kissman · 03/28/2015, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SantaMonica

My BRS pump (50 ml/min, which I don't think they have anymore) has been dosing kalk for 4 years now, and has never clogged. The outlet is about 2 inches above the water, and drops down into it.

It is not very quiet, however.

Mine has been running about 4 years aswell. I did decide to replace the hoses going in and out it. Then after looking at the hose inside it had some wear so i replaced it to.

machodik · 03/28/2015, 06:12 PM

Can you show me what kind of this BRS pump? Do you mean you run 50/ml per minutes non stop 24 hours / day , 7 days / week and whole year round ?

kissman · 03/28/2015, 06:18 PM

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-to...er-minute.html

kissman · 03/28/2015, 06:21 PM

I figured out my tank evaporated about a gallon a day so i divided 50ml into 3785ml and that told me how many minutes i needed to run it a day

machodik · 03/29/2015, 02:25 AM

This is like ordinary dosing pump. I need to supply 21600 litrers per day to maintain my KH / CA balance. I doubt it will withstand this amount needed.

machodik · 03/29/2015, 04:07 AM

Sorry it's 21.6 liters per day

So it's about 5400 ml per pump per day , I believed with this qty , it will be much better to be handle by the cheap Chinese jebao DP 4 dosing pump.

SantaMonica · 03/29/2015, 09:40 PM

Ah they do still sell it. The thing I like about it is that even if the silicone hose breaks, the hoses running into and out of it will not let go. So if you have the pump placed at the highest point, nothing will drain or siphon out.

The REeFFers · 05/01/2015, 12:15 AM

awesome information guys and girls, have a quick question. Right now I'm running a kalk reactor ( two little fishies ) and a jebo doser is there any down fall in doing this or am i just making things harder for myself using 2 devices that do the same thing

SantaMonica · 05/01/2015, 10:28 PM

What is the Jebo dosing?

MidwesternTexan · 05/01/2015, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by machodik

Sorry it's 21.6 liters per day

So it's about 5400 ml per pump per day , I believed with this qty , it will be much better to be handle by the cheap Chinese jebao DP 4 dosing pump.

For a 110g tank? 21.6L/day? That's over 5g of water/day?
You sure about this?

I have a 320g TWV system, and I probably make up 2-3g/day in ATO.
What are you going to do with that extra volume?

And I'm you enjoy Taiwan. I toured the entire island over about a month with a local/native Taiwanese woman, 20yrs ago.
Free and democratic? Probably moreso than the U.S. is these days

The REeFFers · 05/02/2015, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SantaMonica

What is the Jebo dosing?

a stand alone dosing system dosing alk cal mag

JB NY · 05/04/2015, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The REeFFers

awesome information guys and girls, have a quick question. Right now I'm running a kalk reactor ( two little fishies ) and a jebo doser is there any down fall in doing this or am i just making things harder for myself using 2 devices that do the same thing

Nothing wrong with it, many people use two methods. I use a Ca reactor and a kalk doser.

fishtankpete · 08/11/2015, 02:08 AM

I seem to be struggling to get my magnesium past 1200 I have put massive amounts in and it just wont go up has anyone got any idea why please.

martinandsarah2 · 08/11/2015, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishtankpete

I seem to be struggling to get my magnesium past 1200 I have put massive amounts in and it just wont go up has anyone got any idea why please.

What you using to buffer it and how you mixing it ect and what's your other levels.

03/12/2015, 07:58 AM	#503
JB NY Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 9,207	I have run my alk at 8 with just a DSB, also when carbon dosing, and also when using GFO. So I think that 7-8 would be fine with a variety of methods that you choose. I don't keep it at 7 mainly because if something were to happen and my dosing is off or the needs of the tank change, the alk can fall lower than I would like without me knowing. Dose any way you want, the method doesn't matter as long as you can keep up with the demands and keep the tank stable. __________________ -Joe TOTM Sept 2002 \| Reefland April 2004 \| CORAL Magazine Nov 2007 Featured Tank "Coral Reef Aquarium" 2011 \| Reef Spotlight 2018 Current Tank Info: 270G SPS Tank, 140G sumps, 35G Frag Tank, Ultra Reef Akula UKS-200 Skimmer, Apex, Giesemann Spectra 3x250W MH 4x80W T5, 2xReefbrite Tech 72" Blue LED, Triton Dosing, ARID C30 Algae Reactor, Maxspect Gyre

03/12/2015, 09:34 AM	#505
JB NY Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 9,207	What are you using to control your effluent? My Reactor has an small needle gate valve and is able to keep the flow very steady. __________________ -Joe TOTM Sept 2002 \| Reefland April 2004 \| CORAL Magazine Nov 2007 Featured Tank "Coral Reef Aquarium" 2011 \| Reef Spotlight 2018 Current Tank Info: 270G SPS Tank, 140G sumps, 35G Frag Tank, Ultra Reef Akula UKS-200 Skimmer, Apex, Giesemann Spectra 3x250W MH 4x80W T5, 2xReefbrite Tech 72" Blue LED, Triton Dosing, ARID C30 Algae Reactor, Maxspect Gyre

03/23/2015, 06:39 PM	#509
machodik Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Taipei, Taiwan Posts: 1,225	Let's talk about Alkalinity, Calcium and Magnesium in an SPS Tank I have been thinking to use my Jebao DP-4 ( bought for a while have not using it yet) , all the 4 pumps hooked together pulling the water out from my calcium reactor , I have to run 15 ml / min or 900 ml / hour and or 21,600 ml per 24 hours , so it is impossible for a single pump of this cheap chinese dosing pump to do the Job but if I run 4 pumps alternately for this purposes perhaps It will somehow lengthening the life span and giving me to save money to buy a expensive one (may be 5 years later? I doubt it hahaha) . Now I am figuring how much ml per "X"mins for this 4 pumps to runs simultaneously in a day ??? I am not good in math , any math genius help me out on this ? __________________ MD I love Taiwan, a free democratic independent country. Current Tank Info: 90cmx60cmx60cm (420 liters total volume), 12mm thick tampered glass aquariums , Eheim compact +5000, Jns SK2 protein skimmer, T5 x 4 x39 watt (2 blue , 2 white), MP40WES, SEIO 1000, TLF 150 2 + 550 1

03/28/2015, 06:12 PM	#513
machodik Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Taipei, Taiwan Posts: 1,225	Can you show me what kind of this BRS pump? Do you mean you run 50/ml per minutes non stop 24 hours / day , 7 days / week and whole year round ? __________________ MD I love Taiwan, a free democratic independent country. Current Tank Info: 90cmx60cmx60cm (420 liters total volume), 12mm thick tampered glass aquariums , Eheim compact +5000, Jns SK2 protein skimmer, T5 x 4 x39 watt (2 blue , 2 white), MP40WES, SEIO 1000, TLF 150 2 + 550 1

03/29/2015, 02:25 AM	#516
machodik Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Taipei, Taiwan Posts: 1,225	Let's talk about Alkalinity, Calcium and Magnesium in an SPS Tank This is like ordinary dosing pump. I need to supply 21600 litrers per day to maintain my KH / CA balance. I doubt it will withstand this amount needed. __________________ MD I love Taiwan, a free democratic independent country. Current Tank Info: 90cmx60cmx60cm (420 liters total volume), 12mm thick tampered glass aquariums , Eheim compact +5000, Jns SK2 protein skimmer, T5 x 4 x39 watt (2 blue , 2 white), MP40WES, SEIO 1000, TLF 150 2 + 550 1

03/09/2015, 04:45 PM	#501
SantaMonica Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santa Monica, California, USA Posts: 2,511	Also for people who grow lots of macro, it will absorb some alk too.

03/11/2015, 07:29 PM	#502
las Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: chicago Posts: 1,012	So just to be clear, is the proper DKH level 7-8 for an ULNS? If I am not dosing vodka, bio pellets etc. should I aim for a higher range for DKH? Is there a best method to dosing ( 2 part with doser,kalk,calcium reactor)? I've have learned very much from this thread. Thanks to all who contributed.

03/12/2015, 08:04 AM	#504
NeverlosT A bit fishy Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA Posts: 416	I am having a hell of a time with ALK lately. One small dip in ALK burns the coral tips, they stop their growth, ALK consumption decreases, and the alk fluctuates the other direction. What a pain in the neck. I am watching months of coral growth die off... hopefully I can get it under control ASAP. Original issue was the effluent line of the CARX became clogged and since it was plumbed into the skimmer intake, I couldnt see it until ALK had already dipped. If I can figure out how to get the damn CARX effluent to keep a steady drip rate over a long time period, I'll be in much better shape.

03/16/2015, 09:51 AM	#506
kissman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lynchburg, Va Posts: 2,963	This is a great thread! I have just finished reading this entire thread. My salt & tank are running at 10 dKH and have been thinking about letting my Alk drop to 9 and then balance everything there rather than 10

03/23/2015, 08:51 AM	#508
NeverlosT A bit fishy Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA Posts: 416	I was worried about a peristaltic pump, that it may burn out with constant use, then I looked at the ones meant to run constantly, and they have some hefty price tags. What I am shooting for is to raise the reactor pH so that the effluent is less concentrated, and increase it's flow rate a bunch. This makes the needle valves less likely to plug, since the fluid is flowing through a larger opening. JB to answer your question I am using a special custom 45 degree gate valve that reef dynamics sells with their calcium reactors. It works well at higher flow rates (what I am doing now), but if you want a slower, or even a steady drip, it plugs over the course of a day.

03/27/2015, 03:52 AM	#510
PTang81 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK Posts: 7	I'm from the UK and must admit I have learnt some things on here that I've been wanting to find the answers to for ages!!! This is the best forum for reefing in the world!!!! Now to grow some sticks...thanks everyone for yr input.Paulxx

03/27/2015, 10:36 PM	#511
SantaMonica Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santa Monica, California, USA Posts: 2,511	My BRS pump (50 ml/min, which I don't think they have anymore) has been dosing kalk for 4 years now, and has never clogged. The outlet is about 2 inches above the water, and drops down into it. It is not very quiet, however.

03/28/2015, 06:18 PM	#514
kissman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lynchburg, Va Posts: 2,963	http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-to...er-minute.html

03/28/2015, 06:21 PM	#515
kissman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lynchburg, Va Posts: 2,963	I figured out my tank evaporated about a gallon a day so i divided 50ml into 3785ml and that told me how many minutes i needed to run it a day

03/29/2015, 04:07 AM	#517
machodik Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Taipei, Taiwan Posts: 1,225	Let's talk about Alkalinity, Calcium and Magnesium in an SPS Tank Sorry it's 21.6 liters per day So it's about 5400 ml per pump per day , I believed with this qty , it will be much better to be handle by the cheap Chinese jebao DP 4 dosing pump. __________________ MD I love Taiwan, a free democratic independent country. Current Tank Info: 90cmx60cmx60cm (420 liters total volume), 12mm thick tampered glass aquariums , Eheim compact +5000, Jns SK2 protein skimmer, T5 x 4 x39 watt (2 blue , 2 white), MP40WES, SEIO 1000, TLF 150 2 + 550 1

03/29/2015, 09:40 PM	#518
SantaMonica Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santa Monica, California, USA Posts: 2,511	Ah they do still sell it. The thing I like about it is that even if the silicone hose breaks, the hoses running into and out of it will not let go. So if you have the pump placed at the highest point, nothing will drain or siphon out.

05/01/2015, 12:15 AM	#519
The REeFFers Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Pedro Posts: 1,462	awesome information guys and girls, have a quick question. Right now I'm running a kalk reactor ( two little fishies ) and a jebo doser is there any down fall in doing this or am i just making things harder for myself using 2 devices that do the same thing

05/01/2015, 10:28 PM	#520
SantaMonica Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santa Monica, California, USA Posts: 2,511	What is the Jebo dosing?

08/11/2015, 02:08 AM	#524
fishtankpete Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 1	I seem to be struggling to get my magnesium past 1200 I have put massive amounts in and it just wont go up has anyone got any idea why please.