Randy's Two Part Additive System Question

[naturebatslast]

I just made the switch to the 2 part system, recipe 2. My alk is testing at 3.2meq(an 8) and I'd like to bop it up to 4.0meq. I stumbled across a calculator at cnidarianreef.com, here's the link
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html
It claims in order to raise my alk to 4.0meq it requires,255.9 ml; 8.6 fl oz; 51.1 tsp. Does this sound kosher?
Also, his article states to be primarily concerned with manipulating dosing of the alk. How much calcium should I dose if I needed to add 8.6oz. I'm most concerned with the alk/calcium relationship, being heavily dosing one will affect the other.
Last one, can I combine and dose as as one?
Thanks,NBL

 

[~Flighty~]

Can't combine, I believe they will percipitate out.

 

[naturebatslast]

Thanks Flighty!
Just plugged in some more numbers, this chemistry claculator (link above) is claiming, to dose in equilivent, balanced alk/ca is 2.95meq/420ppmCa, and I'd have to dose 22 oz. Isn't 2.95 low? But isn't target Ca 420? But...what....ummm, I'm confused.

 

[~Flighty~]

Make sure you are paying attention to the units on alc. there are several different ways to express it

 

[naturebatslast]

Isn't it meq/l for alk and ppm for Ca?

 

[~Flighty~]

alc can also be in dkh or ppm

 

[naturebatslast]

Thanks, for ppm I wasn't aware of that. I've been try to stop using dkh(..something like deciliters c(k)arbonate harness?).

 

[naturebatslast]

Just a bump for the evening crowd.

 

[naturebatslast]

How about a bump for the afternoon crowd.

 

[naturebatslast]

I added 270ml of both and still can't bring the alk past 3.2meq or 8 dkh.

 

[Moe_K]

Have you just tried adding a dissolved baking soda + RO/DI water solution?
Just dissolve 2 tsp of baking soda in 50 or 100 ml of RO/DI water, mix thouroughly, and pour slowly into your tank.
A couple of hours later, check the alk. Check it again 8 hours later.
If the level doesn't jump enough, go to a 3 tsp solution the next day.

 

[reefsmurf]

Moe.. you going to go with this or a calc reactor? I know you didn't like kalk..

 

[Moe_K]

I hava a calc reactor that's never been used.
It's the CR2 from My Reef Creations.
Hopefully I can dial it in easily. I don't have a lot of patience.

 

[naturebatslast]

Thanks Moe! I think I may have realized my issue. I baked the baking soda, where I shouldn't of. I think I misread in the first article that it didn't matter if the Bsoda was baked or not, where I think it does matter . I remade the alk recipe, which is basically what you advised.
I can figure this out it's going to a cheap methood of maintaining alk calcium, but, I can't wait to save up for a calcium reactor.
Thanks again Moe,
Matt