Two Part

strayvoltage · 11/14/2010, 11:57 PM

How many of you are dosing with any kind of Two-Part Calcium Alkalinity Additives & Supplements? If you are please post here what brand and how much you use of it, as well as where you are buying it. Also please tell me if you dose as per instructions or if you are using a different formula for the amount you use. Thanks in advance.

Gomer · 11/15/2010, 07:34 AM

I've been dosing for a while.
I initially dose by the recommendations at BRS, then monitor my levels and adjust.
By running a controller, I just adjust the time. Drew dosers are about 1.5mL/min in the BRS tubing. I run them spaced out 5x a day to meet my needs

I've used various sources of chemicals depending on my need/location/price etc

Calcium:
calcium dihydrate from BRS
Anhydrous Calcium from Leslie's Pool Supply (Hardness Plus)

Alk:
Soda Ash from Leslies Pool Supply
Arm and Hammer baking soda
Soda Ash from BRS

Mag:
Mag Flake (de-icer)
Eposom salt from market
Magnesium Chloride from BRS

The Juggernaut · 11/15/2010, 01:43 PM

I do not dose because of previous over dosing, but I am looking into doing Kalkwasser from my ATO. I've been doing a lot of research and seeing if this is the best way to start to introduce some form of Ca to my system?

strayvoltage · 11/15/2010, 08:39 PM

Gomer, thanks for the reply. So you do the do it yourself two part? Have you ever used the commercial two part? If so what differences if any do you see in it and the DYI two part.

The Juggernaut, how did you over dose? was it by automated addition or did you over dose by manual addition of the two part? I think you should give it another try and be more careful with the dosing and not over dose.

I have been dosing two part by hand for about three years now and never a problem with it in any way.

Gomer · 11/15/2010, 08:53 PM

I do it myself. Way way cheaper. Chemicals are cheap and it is easy to mix.
premade stuff also works, but imo, it is very uneconomical, especially with bigger tanks. with nanos, it isn't that bad.

I have a controller and use it to run my dosing pumps. makes life easy.

xmenx2dad · 11/15/2010, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strayvoltage

How many of you are dosing with any kind of Two-Part Calcium Alkalinity Additives & Supplements? If you are please post here what brand and how much you use of it, as well as where you are buying it. Also please tell me if you dose as per instructions or if you are using a different formula for the amount you use. Thanks in advance.

I dose B Ionic 2 part by hand. I use their measurement system and it seems to keep my parameters right on.

strayvoltage · 11/15/2010, 09:48 PM

Gomer, thanks again for the post.

xmenx2dad, thanks for the post. Do you test your Ca and Alk? If so what does it stay at by using the recommended dosage for the two part you use? KInd of funny, you guys up north reply more than the guys down here.

pnavarro170 · 11/15/2010, 11:40 PM

i started using kent C buffer 2 part a month or 2 ago. i forget, i wanted mainly to keep my ph at a higher and stable level, and it worked, im about out and the guy at the salty fin mixes it for his tank i guess and will refill you bottles at half price so its more economical. im testing every 2-3 weeks, but everything is doing better now.

Gomer · 11/16/2010, 07:06 AM

you can mix it youself at way lower than 1/2 price. All you need is a jug, RODI and measuring cups.

www.bulkreefsuppply.com

TimGentry · 11/16/2010, 08:19 AM

I started daily dosing about a year ago but it didn't take long to see that was too expensive. bought a kalkstirrer and dosing pump(off ebay) and monitor it with by reefkeeper to make sure it doesn't overdose. Works great, much cheaper in the long run and a lot less daily hassle.

deehz · 11/16/2010, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gomer

you can mix it youself at way lower than 1/2 price. All you need is a jug, RODI and measuring cups.

www.bulkreefsuppply.com

+1

BRS has the chemicals that will last you a lot longer and for half the price then what I am using, Kent Tech CB 2 part alk/calcium. It raises and buffers both alk/ca at the same time. I don't dose as often as I should and have seen pretty good results when I do you use it.

Once I am done with these bottles, def going with BRS. Its cost is outstanding for alk/ca/mg and last a long time. I also need to keep up on h2o changes, that way, I don't have to dose as often.

Gomer · 11/16/2010, 12:56 PM

you can get a big bag of baking soda from Costco etc for dirt cheap and it will last you years for your alk.
13.5lb for $6. If you feel the need to dose soda ash, toss it on a baking sheet to bake out the CO2.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...23*&lang=en-US

deehz · 11/16/2010, 01:36 PM

I don't dose for alk or ph. I just let the tank do it on its own. But do have a fan on the tank to get the gas exchange working. but you're right Gomer, a huge bag of baking soda will last you years for both alk and ph. You need very little of it to get the alk/ph down/up. Great tip on "baking" baking soda to convert it to soda ash.

I almost forgot about that one.

jmait769 · 11/16/2010, 02:23 PM

I too use the baking soda and I’m using the BRS calcium and magnesium kits. On the old tank I dosed Alk with the Drew doser but did not have to dose calcium. On the new tank I have the calcium reactor but have still had to boost calcium but not Alk! Stays at 380. Still trying to dial it in to keep everything stable. I started using the kalk reactor, stirred once per day, to keep pH up so monitoring Alk and Calcium closely. I’m using Mrs Wages pickling lime.

Jay

acrohead500ppm · 04/11/2011, 10:35 AM

Im using prestone driveway heat 2 cups in 1 gal for calcium, 2 1/2 cups of baking soda on a cookie sheet at 300 degrees in the oven for 1 hr then mixed into 1 gal, then I use brightwell aquatics mag powder (I know the 50/50 mix is cheaper but I already had a 3gal bucket of it) I add about 1 cup fo this in 1 gal.

I know some may frown on the prestone driveway heat but I have been PO4/ silicate free for two years using it.

I also dose kalkwasser via reactor, I got a 50lb bag of calcium hydroxide (mississippi lime company) for $24 at ACE hardware here in kansas city SCORE! been using it for a few years no problems.

TimGentry · 05/28/2011, 08:29 PM

I was using kalkwasser via a kalkstirrer and dosing pump but my stirrer broke so I've had to go back to 2 parting it again. I get my components from BRS for now and mix them myself. Too expensive to buy pre-mixed stuff. gotta get my kalkstirrer fixed as it's hard to remember to dose everyday and a lot less convenient

strayvoltage · 05/28/2011, 10:22 PM

Sorry to hear about the broken stirrer. Hope it works out for you.

11/14/2010, 11:57 PM	#1
strayvoltage Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Deming,N.M. Posts: 1,920	Two Part How many of you are dosing with any kind of Two-Part Calcium Alkalinity Additives & Supplements? If you are please post here what brand and how much you use of it, as well as where you are buying it. Also please tell me if you dose as per instructions or if you are using a different formula for the amount you use. Thanks in advance.

11/15/2010, 11:40 PM	#8
pnavarro170 S.T.A.R.S PRESIDENT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 3,349	i started using kent C buffer 2 part a month or 2 ago. i forget, i wanted mainly to keep my ph at a higher and stable level, and it worked, im about out and the guy at the salty fin mixes it for his tank i guess and will refill you bottles at half price so its more economical. im testing every 2-3 weeks, but everything is doing better now. __________________ 60g CUBE

11/16/2010, 08:19 AM	#10
TimGentry Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 614	Two part I started daily dosing about a year ago but it didn't take long to see that was too expensive. bought a kalkstirrer and dosing pump(off ebay) and monitor it with by reefkeeper to make sure it doesn't overdose. Works great, much cheaper in the long run and a lot less daily hassle. __________________ Tim Current Tank Info: 125 gal Mixed Reef

11/16/2010, 01:36 PM	#13
deehz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 860	I don't dose for alk or ph. I just let the tank do it on its own. But do have a fan on the tank to get the gas exchange working. but you're right Gomer, a huge bag of baking soda will last you years for both alk and ph. You need very little of it to get the alk/ph down/up. Great tip on "baking" baking soda to convert it to soda ash. I almost forgot about that one. __________________ Hans Zamora There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed. ~Mohandas K. Gandhi

11/16/2010, 02:23 PM	#14
jmait769 -CSHFLW Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Las Cruces, NM Posts: 2,693	I too use the baking soda and I’m using the BRS calcium and magnesium kits. On the old tank I dosed Alk with the Drew doser but did not have to dose calcium. On the new tank I have the calcium reactor but have still had to boost calcium but not Alk! Stays at 380. Still trying to dial it in to keep everything stable. I started using the kalk reactor, stirred once per day, to keep pH up so monitoring Alk and Calcium closely. I’m using Mrs Wages pickling lime. Jay __________________ "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work" - Thomas Alva Edison http://www.reeftronics.net/jay-m/reefcam Current Tank Info: 150 Gallon, Marco Rocks, 8x80W ATI Powermodule, Apex, Super Reef Octopus XP-3000 external

11/15/2010, 07:34 AM	#2
Gomer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: SF Posts: 1,050	I've been dosing for a while. I initially dose by the recommendations at BRS, then monitor my levels and adjust. By running a controller, I just adjust the time. Drew dosers are about 1.5mL/min in the BRS tubing. I run them spaced out 5x a day to meet my needs I've used various sources of chemicals depending on my need/location/price etc Calcium: calcium dihydrate from BRS Anhydrous Calcium from Leslie's Pool Supply (Hardness Plus) Alk: Soda Ash from Leslies Pool Supply Arm and Hammer baking soda Soda Ash from BRS Mag: Mag Flake (de-icer) Eposom salt from market Magnesium Chloride from BRS

11/15/2010, 01:43 PM	#3
The Juggernaut Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 6	I do not dose because of previous over dosing, but I am looking into doing Kalkwasser from my ATO. I've been doing a lot of research and seeing if this is the best way to start to introduce some form of Ca to my system?

11/15/2010, 08:39 PM	#4
strayvoltage Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Deming,N.M. Posts: 1,920	Gomer, thanks for the reply. So you do the do it yourself two part? Have you ever used the commercial two part? If so what differences if any do you see in it and the DYI two part. The Juggernaut, how did you over dose? was it by automated addition or did you over dose by manual addition of the two part? I think you should give it another try and be more careful with the dosing and not over dose. I have been dosing two part by hand for about three years now and never a problem with it in any way.

11/15/2010, 08:53 PM	#5
Gomer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: SF Posts: 1,050	I do it myself. Way way cheaper. Chemicals are cheap and it is easy to mix. premade stuff also works, but imo, it is very uneconomical, especially with bigger tanks. with nanos, it isn't that bad. I have a controller and use it to run my dosing pumps. makes life easy.

11/15/2010, 09:48 PM	#7
strayvoltage Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Deming,N.M. Posts: 1,920	Gomer, thanks again for the post. xmenx2dad, thanks for the post. Do you test your Ca and Alk? If so what does it stay at by using the recommended dosage for the two part you use? KInd of funny, you guys up north reply more than the guys down here.

11/16/2010, 07:06 AM	#9
Gomer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: SF Posts: 1,050	you can mix it youself at way lower than 1/2 price. All you need is a jug, RODI and measuring cups. www.bulkreefsuppply.com

11/16/2010, 12:56 PM	#12
Gomer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: SF Posts: 1,050	you can get a big bag of baking soda from Costco etc for dirt cheap and it will last you years for your alk. 13.5lb for $6. If you feel the need to dose soda ash, toss it on a baking sheet to bake out the CO2. http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...23*&lang=en-US

04/11/2011, 10:35 AM	#15
acrohead500ppm Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: sadly the midwest Posts: 391	Im using prestone driveway heat 2 cups in 1 gal for calcium, 2 1/2 cups of baking soda on a cookie sheet at 300 degrees in the oven for 1 hr then mixed into 1 gal, then I use brightwell aquatics mag powder (I know the 50/50 mix is cheaper but I already had a 3gal bucket of it) I add about 1 cup fo this in 1 gal. I know some may frown on the prestone driveway heat but I have been PO4/ silicate free for two years using it. I also dose kalkwasser via reactor, I got a 50lb bag of calcium hydroxide (mississippi lime company) for $24 at ACE hardware here in kansas city SCORE! been using it for a few years no problems. __________________ 12years reefkeeping 8 years SPS 58 oceanic RR, ALL SPS, 2x 250 radium halides, TUNZE 6101 w/6201 suction housing on single controller, 29 gal sump, super reef octopus Xp2000 cone, TUNZE osmolator, MRC kalk reactor, korallin 3002 calcium reactor, TUNZE ph controller. Current Tank Info: 58gal SPS

05/28/2011, 08:29 PM	#16
TimGentry Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 614	I was using kalkwasser via a kalkstirrer and dosing pump but my stirrer broke so I've had to go back to 2 parting it again. I get my components from BRS for now and mix them myself. Too expensive to buy pre-mixed stuff. gotta get my kalkstirrer fixed as it's hard to remember to dose everyday and a lot less convenient __________________ Tim Current Tank Info: 125 gal Mixed Reef

05/28/2011, 10:22 PM	#17
strayvoltage Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Deming,N.M. Posts: 1,920	Sorry to hear about the broken stirrer. Hope it works out for you.

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