2-Part Dosing Concerns - Huge Doses

[jonboyb]

System is a 93 display with 12 gallon refugium, 24 gallon sump, and associated plumbing/reactors. Total system volume around 140 gallons. Tank has alot of SPS frags/mini colonies and then about 8 SPS colonies from softball to volleyball size. Also has 3 clams rangind from 7" to 12"+. My dosings have gradually increased after adding the last big clam and right now I'm dosing BRS Recipe 1 at the rate of roughly 2.5 mL/gallon/day That's just to maintain ALK of 9 dKh and CA of 425-450. BRS recommends 1 mL/gallon on heavy SPS/clam tanks and I'm dosing 250% of that. Everything is very happy and the heavy dosing has not affected my pH (rock solid at 8.3-8.4). Am I worrying about nothing or are their other things to look out for dosing this heavy.

Anyone else using 2-part with larger systems I'd love to hear your setup and dosing quantities (especially if BRS products).

 

[enderg60]

Tank needs what it needs man. At that rate you might want to look into a calcium reactor though. Im dosing a bit more then that for a 480g system but its not that dense yet. I need to get my calc reactor going...

 

[jonboyb]

Only reason I haven't went back to a reactor (nor will I) is the Alk swings I've encountered in the past with them. Never nuked or anything, but just haven't had good luck maintaining a dead steady Alk/Ca/MG balance. Some people have great results and stability....I didn't (but I was also using a reactor on a smaller cube so that likely had alot to do with it)

Also, I already had the dosers, etc so it literally only costs me dry goods from BRS. I buy large amounts when they run sales/group buys and probably spend well under $100/yr. which is managable. As long as I don't encounter any ill effects from my large doses, I'll be sticking with it.

 

[enderg60]

So use both, I plan to. I am going to use the calc reactor for the bulk and use the 3 part to makeup the rest and fine tune the dosing. Plus that way if one stops working you still have something dosing the system.

 

[gnashty]

I am dosing about .2 ml per gal on a 240 gal system, I am lightly stocked SPS though and still trying to dial in my timers for the BRS dosers. I use all BRS products for dosing. If it takes it up, then dont worry about it. Keep plenty of product on hand and if you ever need some, I have a whole BRS lab in my garage fully stocked with recipe 1 supplies

 

[jonboyb]

Me too At least 50 lbs of each on hand at all times (CA and ALK that is.....never need much MG for some reason). Can't believe they do that free shipping over $175 and flat $8.95 shipping from time to time. My last order came as 4, 70 lb boxes shipped free:thumbs:

 

[ralph atl]

that's huge. 2.5 liters last me 2 weeks on 100 gallons water volume, fwiw.

 

[misu]

gnashty;586646 wrote: I am dosing about .2 ml per gal on a 240 gal system, I am lightly stocked SPS though and still trying to dial in my timers for the BRS dosers. I use all BRS products for dosing. If it takes it up, then dont worry about it. Keep plenty of product on hand and if you ever need some, I have a whole BRS lab in my garage fully stocked with recipe 1 supplies

I'm thinking about getting this BRS 2 part set up for my 135, I'll ask you guys questions

 

[jonboyb]

mysterybox;586660 wrote: that's huge. 2.5 liters last me 2 weeks on 100 gallons water volume, fwiw.

If my math is right that puts you at around 1.8 mL/gallon/day so not a huge amount off from my dosage.

 

[gnashty]

jonboyb;586656 wrote: Me too At least 50 lbs of each on hand at all times (CA and ALK that is.....never need much MG for some reason). Can't believe they do that free shipping over $175 and flat $8.95 shipping from time to time. My last order came as 4, 70 lb boxes shipped free:thumbs:

I love BRS...

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Watch your salinity. Most two part products add a lot of "filler" ions, such as Sodium and Chlorine.

 

[gnashty]

jmaneyapanda;586718 wrote: Watch your salinity. Most two part products add a lot of "filler" ions, such as Sodium and Chlorine.

Thank you Jeremy, I did not know that

 

[eandrews]

gnashty;586734 wrote: Thank you Jeremy, I did not know that

Yep, when I was doing the bulk reef supply calcium dosing on the 125 it definitely affected the gravity levels...

 

[gnashty]

EANDREWS;586753 wrote: Yep, when I was doing the bulk reef supply calcium dosing on the 125 it definitely affected the gravity levels...

I have been struggling with high SG lately myself...

 

[eandrews]

gnashty;586764 wrote: I have been struggling with high SG lately myself...

you got a lot of flow and evap in that 240

 

[gnashty]

EANDREWS;586771 wrote: you got a lot of flow and evap in that 240

it actually doesnt evap as much as you would think, about 2 gal per day. I accidently used SW for top off a couple times so I bet that is the cause

 

[jonboyb]

That's a good point about the salinity rise. I actually remove a gallon or 2 of tank water per week and drip in fresh water to keep mine at 1.026. It'll creep up a point a week or so and at least I now know why. In fact dripping in 2 gallons as I type to level SG for a PWC tonight.