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09-19-2007, 02:38 PM
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#1
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Shark
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Andover, KS
Posts: 3,499
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dosing homemade 2 part
I am going to dose homemade 2 part stuff in my new tank.... I have read all of Randy, the chemistry gurus, articles about it and understand it pretty well..... right now my calc is staying at 450 using oceanic salt and my ALK is about 8...do I need to bring up my alk first or can I just start a daily regimen of maintenance? I am waiting on a mag test kit that I ordered, I can't find one here in Wichita..so don't know what my mag level is.
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__________________
Jenni AKA "Reefmama"
180 gallon AGA RR mixed reef inwall, 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank sump, 10 gallon hex fuge, Quiet one 5000 return pump, PCI PS-3000 skimmer with Octopus needlewheel pump, 72" Constellation from Aquactinics, 2 Triton Aquatics GS2 maxijet mods, 2 250 watt heaters, 200 lbs live rock, 200 lbs pulverized limestone
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09-19-2007, 02:52 PM
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#2
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Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West of Dimples
Posts: 18,460
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Your mag level is probably a touch high.
The first thing you need to do is figure out where you would prefer to maintain your levels. I prefer 9Dkh and 420 PPM CA but your prefrences may be differnt. I like mag at 1275 BTW.
Once you figure out where you like to keep your levels, you can deturmon how much of the chemicals you need to dose on a regular basis to maintain that using the RCC.
Don't worry about being "out of ballance" BTW,.. You probably will be since Oceaniac has such a high CA and such a low Alk.
Whiskey
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Mr. Jive/Dr. Heckyll
Life is never more fun, then when your the Underdog
Competing against the Giants.
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09-19-2007, 02:56 PM
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#3
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Shark
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Andover, KS
Posts: 3,499
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well, how do I lower my mag and yes, I wold rather have my ALK at 9 and my calcium lower...
__________________
Jenni AKA "Reefmama"
180 gallon AGA RR mixed reef inwall, 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank sump, 10 gallon hex fuge, Quiet one 5000 return pump, PCI PS-3000 skimmer with Octopus needlewheel pump, 72" Constellation from Aquactinics, 2 Triton Aquatics GS2 maxijet mods, 2 250 watt heaters, 200 lbs live rock, 200 lbs pulverized limestone
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09-19-2007, 03:01 PM
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#4
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Carpe Noctem
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Western Colorado
Posts: 5,462
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To lower mag, when you know what it is, you don't supplment it. It will go down to target levels on it's own. Once it's there, you maintain the level the same as ca and alk. Very important to do the testing and math for the first few weeks and figure the average. After that, you should have a good idea what is being used up and reduce testing. I still try to test ca and alk about every two weeks, but usually I have a "huh" moment and do it about every 6-8 weeks 
__________________
"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." - Albert Einstein
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09-19-2007, 03:07 PM
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#5
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Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West of Dimples
Posts: 18,460
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I agree with Hop!
Ya,.. When you do water changes it will probably boost your CA reducing the ammount of CA you'll need to add,.. and I doubt you'll need to dose Mag at all. I'm betting you'll chew up Alk though,.. But it's the easyst to come by suppliment so that's probably a good thing 
Whiskey
__________________
Mr. Jive/Dr. Heckyll
Life is never more fun, then when your the Underdog
Competing against the Giants.
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09-19-2007, 03:10 PM
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#6
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Shark
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Andover, KS
Posts: 3,499
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So it may be that I will only be dosing the Alk portion the most and the others only if I see them drop? hmmm....
__________________
Jenni AKA "Reefmama"
180 gallon AGA RR mixed reef inwall, 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank sump, 10 gallon hex fuge, Quiet one 5000 return pump, PCI PS-3000 skimmer with Octopus needlewheel pump, 72" Constellation from Aquactinics, 2 Triton Aquatics GS2 maxijet mods, 2 250 watt heaters, 200 lbs live rock, 200 lbs pulverized limestone
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09-19-2007, 03:41 PM
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#7
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Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West of Dimples
Posts: 18,460
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Well,... You'll be dosing all of them only if you see them drop Technically. I just think you'll be using a bunch more Alk than anything else because your water changes should add a fair wack of CA/Mag,.. and if I remember right this is primarly ment to be an LPS tank which really don't take much CA up.
Whiskey
__________________
Mr. Jive/Dr. Heckyll
Life is never more fun, then when your the Underdog
Competing against the Giants.
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