So how to increase my dosage safely? (1 Viewer)

[Miller]

I am not a wiz at math so be gentle.

My water was testing at 7.0 dkh. I want to get it up to 8.5 so I changed my dosing 045 ml 049 ml which raised my dkh to 7.6. Is that an acceptable rate of increase or should I go slower? The tank is 200 gallons with a 35 gallon sump. I also have around 200 lbs of live rock if this information helps. I am using a bubble magus dosing pump.

Thanks for any input.

 

[GMay]

That is probably fine. You also need to consider your calcium and magnesium levels. Are you also dosing calcium? What are your current calcium and magnesium levels? My final queation is what is the goal for increasing your alkalinity?

 

[Miller]

Since my last adjustment my Ca is at 410, my Alk is 8.4 and my Mg is 1280. Looks like I need to raise my Mg a little bit more. I've added a clam to my system so thinking the Ca may need to be raised as well. Clam is about 3". Oh yea, I am just trying to get the parameters as close as I can to ideal reading for mix reef that is quickly moving closer to SPS.

 

[d2mini]

If you are trying to correct your readings with your doser, you are then going to have to back off to let it hold at the new readings.
What I like to do instead is use another method to raise it using this calculator.
'Reef Chemistry Calculator FV'
Then once it's where I want it to be, make a small adjustment to your dosing to see if you can hold that reading.

 

[Miller]

What other method? I may be having a "duh" moment. Can you elaborate a bit?

If you are trying to correct your readings with your doser, you are then going to have to back off to let it hold at the new readings.
What I like to do instead is use another method to raise it using this calculator.
'Reef Chemistry Calculator FV'
Then once it's where I want it to be, make a small adjustment to your dosing to see if you can hold that reading.

 

[d2mini]

What other method? I may be having a "duh" moment. Can you elaborate a bit?

In the link provided there are pull down menus for each of the three elements.
So if you are trying to raise Alk, choose Baking Soda or whatever you wish to use.
Input the other info and it will tell you how much to dose and a recommended daily max.

 

[DaAznGuy]

You can also just raise your dosing time a few minutes to see if it raises your parameters. Raise. Test same time each day to see how your numbers look. Once it stables out. You know how much to dose to keep your parameters there. Then you can increase your dosing to raise to value you want. Then set back to your stable dose time when you are happy with your numbers. Or dose a separate amount like Dennis mentioned to raise.

 

[Miller]

Thanks for clarifying. That's how I determined my current dosage, I thought you were implying there was another way outside of using the dosing pumps. I used a similar tool to get my current dosing amounts. Most sources say to increase my dosing evenly so If my Alk or Ca is correct should I still adjust evenly between the CA, Alk and Mg?

In the link provided there are pull down menus for each of the three elements.
So if you are trying to raise Alk, choose Baking Soda or whatever you wish to use.
Input the other info and it will tell you how much to dose and a recommended daily max.

 

[Miller]

The more I think I understand this process the more confused I become! lolol

You can also just raise your dosing time a few minutes to see if it raises your parameters. Raise. Test same time each day to see how your numbers look. Once it stables out. You know how much to dose to keep your parameters there. Then you can increase your dosing to raise to value you want. Then set back to your stable dose time when you are happy with your numbers. Or dose a separate amount like Dennis mentioned to raise.

 

[d2mini]

No, what I was implying was that I find it easier to get it where you want without the dosing pumps, so you don't have to adjust multiple times.
Manually dose to get it where you want, and then make the slight adjustment.
So if it says you need 6 tsp of baking soda, just do that be done with it.
Now up your dosing pump a little and see if it holds it there over the next several days.