Can I add 1 Part of Randys 2 Part Mix?

Shnabbles · 12/15/2006, 04:18 PM

Since I drip lime water my calcium hast been depleting at all.. and when i add as little as 50ml to a 55 gallon tank the calcium jumps up 50ppm and id like to keep my calcium right at 400 and not 450... So iv been adding only the Alkalinity part (50ml/day) and my alk is staying right at 4.0 which is what my target is...

Will adding only the alk part through anything off? Or is there anything i should look out for if i only do this?

bertoni · 12/15/2006, 05:29 PM

If only alkalinity is dosed, calcium should decline slowly, at the rate of about 20 ppm calcium to 1.0 meq/L drop in alkalinity.

Which calcium test kit are you using? The results you are seeing might be close to the noise limits for the test kit.

Shnabbles · 12/15/2006, 06:04 PM

Red Sea i think it is... doesnt the lime water add alittle big of calcium back into the system?

Mike O'Brien · 12/15/2006, 06:46 PM

Limewater add's a balanced mix of calcium and alkalinity in the ratio Jonathan mentioned. The same as randy's recipe when using both part's equally. That ratio makes it seem that alkalinity is depleting faster than calcium, but generally you're better off dosing both part's of the system equally. And don't forget part 3.

bertoni · 12/16/2006, 12:00 AM

The Red Sea test kit has (or had) a resolution of 50 ppm, so I wouldn't worry too much about the Ca reading.

12/15/2006, 04:18 PM	#1
Shnabbles Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Clayton, DE Posts: 1,316	Can I add 1 Part of Randys 2 Part Mix? Since I drip lime water my calcium hast been depleting at all.. and when i add as little as 50ml to a 55 gallon tank the calcium jumps up 50ppm and id like to keep my calcium right at 400 and not 450... So iv been adding only the Alkalinity part (50ml/day) and my alk is staying right at 4.0 which is what my target is... Will adding only the alk part through anything off? Or is there anything i should look out for if i only do this?

12/15/2006, 05:29 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If only alkalinity is dosed, calcium should decline slowly, at the rate of about 20 ppm calcium to 1.0 meq/L drop in alkalinity. Which calcium test kit are you using? The results you are seeing might be close to the noise limits for the test kit. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/16/2006, 12:00 AM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The Red Sea test kit has (or had) a resolution of 50 ppm, so I wouldn't worry too much about the Ca reading. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/15/2006, 06:04 PM	#3
Shnabbles Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Clayton, DE Posts: 1,316	Red Sea i think it is... doesnt the lime water add alittle big of calcium back into the system?

12/15/2006, 06:46 PM	#4
Mike O'Brien Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,356	Limewater add's a balanced mix of calcium and alkalinity in the ratio Jonathan mentioned. The same as randy's recipe when using both part's equally. That ratio makes it seem that alkalinity is depleting faster than calcium, but generally you're better off dosing both part's of the system equally. And don't forget part 3.