How do you add ca/alk/mg to your tank?

[tsellers]

Thanh386;725914 wrote: Tsell, if i remember u have an reef keeper elite. That can dose it dailey for u

Thanh, you are correct. Which method would be better, 2 part using dosing pumps or Calc Reactor and why?

 

[ripped tide]

Does any one use tom's aqua lifters for a dosing pump? That seems like a pretty cheap way to do it.

 

[tsellers]

Ripped Tide;725956 wrote: Does any one use tom's aqua lifters for a dosing pump? That seems like a pretty cheap way to do it.

I would like to know this as well. I believe a couple of drawbacks to Tom's Aqualifters would be the max lift height of 30" and I think you might run into back siphon issues.

I have been looking into getting two BRS dosing pumps. They have a max lift height of 20' and are not supposed to back siphon due to the two rollers.

 

[ripped tide]

Makes sense. But I bet the aqua lifters are a lot cheaper. I wouldn't need it to go more than 10-15 inches

 

[tsellers]

You're right. Two Tom's pumps are about 1/4 the cost of two BRS dosing pumps.

 

[cbj25]

I think I have made my decision, but please continue discussing! I ordered 2 BRS pumps (currently on sale) today and the BRS 2part pack today. I am going to control the pumps with my apex. Now i just gotta figure out where to fit all this stuff! looks like the ro resoviour will be coming out from under the tank and to the side. I am thinking about going with a larger brute and running kalk in my ato as well by making an eggcrate stand for my ato pump to sit on so I dont pump kalk paste into the system. I wish I had room for a CR! but will be putting gfo and biopelet reactors up in the next few months and need to leave a little room for them!

 

[tsellers]

I'm leaning towards the BRS dosing pumps as well. Please post your thoughts once installed.

Also, you mentioned space was an issue. BRS makes slim 1 gallon jugs that may come in handy. See link below.

 

[liverock27]

I run 3 BRS dosing pumps for 2 part and Mg and really like them. I have been using 2 of the pumps for over a year with no problem.
I bought 3 of those space saver jugs from BRS, but they are too big for the space I have.

 

[superclown]

I have never dosed anything I just run salinity and doing a weekly 5g wc seems to keep everything in check although I only have a 30g so I doubt there is a real need to dose. It has been a while since I checked parameters but so far its always been spot on

 

[fishlips]

purpleGORILLA;725835 wrote: 20 lbs co2 and reef octopus calcium reactor.

What size tank do you have.

 

[cbj25]

tsellers;726084 wrote: I'm leaning towards the BRS dosing pumps as well. Please post your thoughts once installed.

Also, you mentioned space was an issue. BRS makes slim 1 gallon jugs that may come in handy. See link below.


http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/calcium-alkalinity-magnesium/two-part-accessories/thin-4-liter-1-05-gallon-space-saving-ju.html">http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/calcium-alkalinity-magnesium/two-part-accessories/thin-4-liter-1-05-gallon-space-saving-ju.html</a>[/QUOTE]

So ive been running the BRS dosing pumps for a little while now and everything about the install was very smooth, directions are easy and works very effectively. I just plugged each pump into my apex, set it to run for about 10 min a day (after calculating how much calcium my tank uses daily) alk drips when the system goes completely dark and calcium during daylight hours, I dose mg manually weekly. Growth on my sps has been the best I've ever gotten, so i am happy with my decision.

As far as space goes, moved my ro outside of the stand everything fit in with some extra room, still wish i would have seen those before i purchased... oh well

 

[tsellers]

cbj25;752684 wrote: So ive been running the BRS dosing pumps for a little while now and everything about the install was very smooth, directions are easy and works very effectively. I just plugged each pump into my apex, set it to run for about 10 min a day (after calculating how much calcium my tank uses daily) alk drips when the system goes completely dark and calcium during daylight hours, I dose mg manually weekly. Growth on my sps has been the best I've ever gotten, so i am happy with my decision.

As far as space goes, moved my ro outside of the stand everything fit in with some extra room, still wish i would have seen those before i purchased... oh well

Great! Thanks for the update. I purchased two BRS dosers as well. They have been online for about a week now. Just as you mentioned, install and set up were both smooth for me. For now I am using digital timers but will eventually hook them up to my RKE when I get another PC4.

 

[ripped tide]

I've switched to a calcium reactor. So far I'm liking it a lot more than 2 part! Corals seem to like it as well.

 

[cbj25]

what cr did u go with?

 

[ripped tide]

Mrc dual nano. It's very nice and works great for my smaller(~100g) set up. The second chamber buffs the ph back up to about 7.00 before it goes back into the tank. That's a little better than dumping 6.5 or 6.6 in the smaller water volume. The Ph in my tank is staying around 7.9-8.1. That's pretty much where it stayed before the reactor.

 

[wally]

With a spoon.

 

[cbj25]

Wally;758460 wrote: With a spoon.

What do you dose with a spoon?

 

[realfish]

purpleGORILLA;725669 wrote: Ever since I convert from dosing pumps to calcium reactor..My SPS took off like weeds. I just could kick myself for not doing it sooner.

Do you think your adding trace elements with a reactor rather than just alk and calc?

Edit:

LiveRock27;726099 wrote: I run 3 BRS dosing pumps for 2 part and Mg and really like them. I have been using 2 of the pumps for over a year with no problem.
I bought 3 of those space saver jugs from BRS, but they are too big for the space I have.

Do you use enough Mag to make the pump worthwhile. I have the two now, but never had to dose Mag that often.

 

[cbj25]

RealFish;759881 wrote: Do you think your adding trace elements with a reactor rather than just alk and calc?

Edit:

Do you use enough Mag to make the pump worthwhile. I have the two now, but never had to dose Mag that often.

I am not trying to answer his opinion but from my research, your tank does not respond to consistent mag like it does for calcium and alk. I just give my tank 20ml a week of mag and i seem to be doing fine. if you watch the brs video he will hit on that same point. Please let me know i am wrong as I could add a third dosing pump if it would benefit

 

[smoothound]

BRS dosing pumps