Alkalinity and calcium dosing times and changes

[BBRT]

So I have been using B-ionic 2-part with BRS dosing pumps for quite some time. My system overview consists of a 57 gal DT and a 25-30 gal sump. mixed reef but SPS dominated. also using oceanic salt. I have been running my dosers for 5min every day at 9:25-9:30pm at the same time, In-till two weeks ago when I got an apex to run the dosers. I now run the dosers at separate times but still for 5min each. I start dosing Alkalinity at 9pm and calcium at 7:15am.
Just tested my parameters and got 6.7 Alkalinity and 500 calcium. As the tank is growing my alkalinity seems to be consumed more then the calcium. (4 months ago I would consistently have 8.0 alkalinity and 460 calcium with same dosing program.)

I would like to run my alkalinity a little higher and the calcium a bit lower, so I was thinking of adding 2mins of dosing time to the alkalinity doser and leaving the calcium time the same. I would now have a total dosing time of 7mins for alkalinity and 5mins for calcium. From what iv learned about calcium and alkalinity over the years is that, when one is higher the other is usually lower. So my thinking is by adding alkalinity to rise it, by theory calcium should lower itself without having to change the dosing time.

Im I taking the right approach? or do I have everyone confused?

Any suggestions on dosing times or the time to dose during the day?

 

[Tangency]

If you wish to keep the alkalinity or calcium higher you need to keep them both higher. Its important to have them balanced.
Using this reef calculator will help you to find the proper amounts needed to achieve your desired alk level and also what is required to keep the calcium solution balanced. http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html Pretty Handy

So... With your given example... 85 gallons with alk currently at 6.7 with a desired alk of 8 (for this example) you will need to add 7.9 grams, approx 1.7 tsp, or 0.2 oz of baked baking soda. Your calcium will be balanced at 417ppm.

If possible, try to dose more frequently at shorter intervals. This will help keep your aquariums water parameters stable; a key to keeping to healthy and happy SPS. Also, I have found when trying to figure out dosing amounts test frequently and record results (maybe once a day for a week) so you can accurately monitor water parameters and consumption. This will help you get a better grasp on your needed levels.

Good Luck!

 

[reeferlover]

Ur pH is going to be important as well. A lot of people forget or don't even test for pH. If ur cal is high and alk is lower what's pH. Probably low. I'm sure u know they work together. U need to have that alk up higher with the Cal to have a good pH. And for hard coral growth. I have noticed my Cal is always around 420 and alk is 8 to 9. Ph 8.0. When my Cal was 420 and I couldn't get my alk down. It was around 11.4 my pH was 8.4. That's the alk pulling up the ph. That's actually a good balance. I wish I could get my ph and alk back up. But as long as they stay were they are I'm cool. Test u ph. See where it is.

I would just increase the alk dosing. It will lower ur Cal. Watch and see. It's pretty cool. I increased my Cal dosing toget my alk down and bam. Went from 380 to 420 and alk from 11 to 8 just dosing cal. I wouldn't want my Cal at 500. I would get that down. That's just me. And my opinion.

 

[BBRT]

Thanks for all the great info, I am starting to get better acclimated to my apex, and hope to start taking advantage of the OSC command so i can dose more frequently. Once I stabilize my parameters I will switch to shorter more frequent dosing times.

Another question I have is where is your Ph probe in relation to your dosing lines? I found that I had a problem with the controller shutting off my Alk doser because I had the PH probe and the dosing line in the same chamber of the sump, A command to turn off if PH was greater than 8.35 was getting triggered every time it would turn on. I now have the Ph probe in the skimmer chamber before the dosing lines. I think that's why I have noticed my alkalinity and calcium off a little.