Excessive 2-part consumption - Page 2

bertoni · 03/05/2018, 08:03 PM

Okay, that sounds like good progress!

Ruu · 03/06/2018, 08:40 PM

Calcium was 450 tonight (at the new 40ml per day dosing) - that's within the margin of error for steady state, but alk has dropped to 7.7 dkh in a day (from 8.6 at the same point yesterday), even dosing 80ml. I've increased dosing to account for that, but it looks like I am still consuming quite a bit more alk than calcium.

Hopefully things are just in the process of calming down - at least the calcium side of the equation has stopped going crazy (for now).

Dave

bertoni · 03/06/2018, 09:05 PM

If you are using the same calcium chloride solution as before, the consumption ratio should be two parts alkalinity supplement to 1 part calcium supplement. The baking soda solution is very dilute.

Ruu · 03/06/2018, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

If you are using the same calcium chloride solution as before, the consumption ratio should be two parts alkalinity supplement to 1 part calcium supplement. The baking soda solution is very dilute.

Yup - I think that right now I am dosing the equivalent of 40ml per day of calcium (vs 240 before) and 80ml per day of alk (vs 240 before). It's still somewhat high for a new tank, but we have at least left the "danger zone".

Actions taken so far (in case anyone is going through this later on):

Relocated dosing out of sump and into main tank
Switched from soda ash dosing to sodium bicarbonate
Increased flow through the sump
30% water change
Drunk a lot of beer

I don't know that I am going to do much else just yet beyond daily testing. Everything in the tank is looking pretty happy, so things haven't gone too far off the rails.

Dave

bertoni · 03/06/2018, 09:25 PM

Okay, well, hopefully, the consumption will be reasonable going forward.

Ruu · 03/08/2018, 08:53 PM

Had a 14 hour power outage which threw a bit of a wrench in the careful monitoring plan. Aside from a bit of a ph drop from running gas fireplaces for over 12 hours that bit went pretty smoothly though I think. I'm holding pretty steady at 430 and 8.6 at current dosing levels with my pH between 7.8 and 8.

Current plan of do nothing and drink beer seems to be working.

Dave

bertoni · 03/08/2018, 11:47 PM

I like your plan.

Those numbers all are fine.

03/05/2018, 08:03 PM	#26
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Okay, that sounds like good progress! __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/06/2018, 09:05 PM	#28
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If you are using the same calcium chloride solution as before, the consumption ratio should be two parts alkalinity supplement to 1 part calcium supplement. The baking soda solution is very dilute. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/06/2018, 09:25 PM	#30
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Okay, well, hopefully, the consumption will be reasonable going forward. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/08/2018, 11:47 PM	#32
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I like your plan. Those numbers all are fine. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/06/2018, 08:40 PM	#27
Ruu Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 1,037	Calcium was 450 tonight (at the new 40ml per day dosing) - that's within the margin of error for steady state, but alk has dropped to 7.7 dkh in a day (from 8.6 at the same point yesterday), even dosing 80ml. I've increased dosing to account for that, but it looks like I am still consuming quite a bit more alk than calcium. Hopefully things are just in the process of calming down - at least the calcium side of the equation has stopped going crazy (for now). Dave

03/08/2018, 08:53 PM	#31
Ruu Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 1,037	Had a 14 hour power outage which threw a bit of a wrench in the careful monitoring plan. Aside from a bit of a ph drop from running gas fireplaces for over 12 hours that bit went pretty smoothly though I think. I'm holding pretty steady at 430 and 8.6 at current dosing levels with my pH between 7.8 and 8. Current plan of do nothing and drink beer seems to be working. Dave