Dosing Aquaforest help

[Papitto]

Hi MASA,

I would like to get some opinions on dosing Ca, Mg, Kh on a Jebao DP4. I'm not sure where to start.
So, I been using Kalk in my ATO up until now. My consumption seems to be out running the Kalk supply.
I have added about 16 Acropora species in the last 8 months, from tabling to mille's. Hence why I want the dosing method.
I picked up dry Aquaforest Ca, Kh buffer, Mg and mineral salts today.
Tomorrow I'm building my quad dosing reservoir.

Where do I begin to ensure stability and ionic balance in my system?
Your expertise will be appreciated.

 

[2una]

I haven't used it but this is the recipe

Bottle 1:
AF Calcium~ 50 grams per 1 liter
AF Magnesium~ 10 grams per 1 liter
Component A Strong~ 5ml per 1 liter
Component B Strong~ 5ml per 1 liter

Bottle 2:
AF KH Buffer~ 80 grams per 1 liter
Component C Strong~ 5ml per 1 liter

Bottle 3:
AF Reef Mineral Salt~ 25 grams per 1 liter
Component K Strong~ 5ml per 1 later


Believe your supposed to square everything up then dose all parts equally
Must be someone here using it by now that can chip in

 

[irie ivan]

I would carry on with dosing kalk, and see what your drop is of alk ca and mg over a period.
Test alk over two or three days, calcium over a week and mg over a week or two.
This will give you the shortfall of your alk dosing,
No need to replace the kalk enitirely with dosing expensive suppliments. It is balanced for alk and ca consumption, and has a few other benefits.
I am not familiar with their products, but if they arevwlorth their salt, then each container should tell you that a gram or tsp or whatever qty per 100 litres or whichever system volume will raise ca alk or my by however many ppm or dkh or meq.
Now make a solution of each by dissolving in a known qty RO water with a known qty of each piwder and work out how many mls you must dose per day of each to make up your requirement.
Another way to go about it, for example: Your alk drops with 15ppm per week. So you need to replenish 15ppm via dosing. Ie 2.14ppm per day.
If their Ca powder raises Ca by 10ppm for every 5g added per100L for example you will need 7.5g per 100L per week. If you have a 400L system, you will need 30g per week. Now dissolve the 30g in however many litres of RO you can set your doser to dose per week.

 

[Papitto]

@2una Yes I understand the mixing side of it.
@irie ivan - Thank you, that makes some sense... I will test over a week and see what is going on in my tank before I begin dosing.
So I should not stop Kalk dosing in my ATO water?

 

[irie ivan]

Its a matter of choice. Really dont see why you should, other than variable evaporation and consequent kalk addition rate.
From a financial perspective, makes no sense to stop dising. You have been doing it so you are aware of associated risks, and benefits, so if it was me i woukd simply add calcium chloroide, magnesium salts and bicarbonates to make up the shortfall.