Adjusting Alk and Ca

[StacyS]

Okay I mixed up Randy's recipe #1 and I'm ready to adjust my numbers that are currently:
PH 7.8
Ca 360
Alk 7.7
Mg 1260
The calculater requires me to add 21.8 oz of mixture to raise my Ca and 4.5 oz to raise my Alk. My question is can I safely add the Alk over a three day period and drip the Ca at the same time? At what point do I add my required 7.3 oz of Mg? Thanks for any help!

 

[gotfish]

I'm not an expert, but I know with using commercial dosing like C-Balance and the like, you add everything all at the same time so I don't see why you wouldn't be able to add everything together. Only things that I know of is don't increase your Mg by more then 100 in a 24 hour period and don't increase your Alk by more then 1 dg in a 24 hour period. At least that's what I was told. Also, dose your alk in a fast moving area so it doesn't settle on anything.

 

[returnofsid]

If you add it all at the same time, you'll probably end up precipitating Ca and have a "snowstorm." I'd consider dripping all of them, though it's not absolutely necessary. I'd add each amount to a gallon of your RO/DI top off water and drip it. Drip Ca or Alk, either one, today (the full amount). Then drip the other tonight or tomorrow. Once they're added, you can do the same with Mg. When I dose, I usually drip Ca first. I tend to drip Ca during the day, drip Alk that night and add Mg the next morning. If I have a large amount to dose, I'll split it up into two drips over two days.

With your amounts, I'd suggest dripping the Ca over two days, because of the large amount. Drip Ca right now, drip Alk over night, add Mg tomorrow morning and then drip the remainder of the Ca tomorrow afternoon.

If you don't evaporate enough to mix each of these with a gallon of RO/DI top off water, just use less RO/DI water for each mixture.

 

[Boomer]

You can add all the Mg++ the first day, 50 ppm, then all the Ca++ the second day, 50 ppm. It is best to add the Mg++ first, as it will caue less of an issue with any precip of Ca++. The Alk 1/2 the first night and the other 1/2 the second night with a drip. You can safely add 50 ppm Ca++ / day and 100 ppm Mg++ /day. That will bring your Ca++ from 360 to 410 and there is NO need to go any higher. Same for the Mg++ from 1260 to 1310 and no need to go any higher.

 

[returnofsid]

Ahhh very helpful. I'd never considered adding Mg first to help with precipitate!! Learned something new!!

Stacy, Boomer knows what he's talking about. Take it as gospel!!!

 

[StacyS]

Ahhh very helpful. I'd never considered adding Mg first to help with precipitate!! Learned something new!!

Stacy, Boomer knows what he's talking about. Take it as gospel!!!

Thanks to all! Yep, I learned something new. I get a bit uneasy when adding stuff into the tank. I bought the Morton Safe T Power Calcium Chloride at Walmart. They didn't have the brand you use, Michael. Any how...got home and started questioning if I really wanted to put it in my tank I chickened out and used the good ole Kent Turbo Calcium. I figure better safe than REALLY sad. Thanks again for all the help I am dripping Mg as I write.

 

[StacyS]

You can add all the Mg++ the first day, 50 ppm, then all the Ca++ the second day, 50 ppm. It is best to add the Mg++ first, as it will caue less of an issue with any precip of Ca++. The Alk 1/2 the first night and the other 1/2 the second night with a drip. You can safely add 50 ppm Ca++ / day and 100 ppm Mg++ /day. That will bring your Ca++ from 360 to 410 and there is NO need to go any higher. Same for the Mg++ from 1260 to 1310 and no need to go any higher.

Boomer- Can I just add the Mg and Ca mixture to the tank or should I drip?

 

[Boomer]

You can just add it. If you feel uneasy then do it over a 2 day period. There is no big rush to add it all at once That does not mean add both at once. You can do 25 ppm Mg++ in the morning and 25 ppm Mg++ in the early evening. Then 25 ppm in the morning the next day of Ca++ and 25 ppm Ca++ evening, while dripping Alk at night on both days.

 

[jhampton_wsu]

Just out of curiosity...what test kit do you use for Alk. My Elos test turns from blue to yellow slowly and I have a tough time narrowing it down to .50 and you have it down to .10

Okay I mixed up Randy's recipe #1 and I'm ready to adjust my numbers that are currently:
PH 7.8
Ca 360
Alk 7.7
Mg 1260
The calculater requires me to add 21.8 oz of mixture to raise my Ca and 4.5 oz to raise my Alk. My question is can I safely add the Alk over a three day period and drip the Ca at the same time? At what point do I add my required 7.3 oz of Mg? Thanks for any help!

 

[StacyS]

You can just add it. If you feel uneasy then do it over a 2 day period. There is no big rush to add it all at once That does not mean add both at once. You can do 25 ppm Mg++ in the morning and 25 ppm Mg++ in the early evening. Then 25 ppm in the morning the next day of Ca++ and 25 ppm Ca++ evening, while dripping Alk at night on both days.

Thanks for the information, Boomer!

 

[StacyS]

Just out of curiosity...what test kit do you use for Alk. My Elos test turns from blue to yellow slowly and I have a tough time narrowing it down to .50 and you have it down to .10

I use Salifert for all my testing.