Reef Supplies Bulk Ca/alk

[calli]

Hey all,

I have been thinking about switching my two part from ESV after the last two gallons are gone. I am at 1 ml a day each into an 80g total water volume system.

I just started dosing Acropower at 1/4 the recommended amount and will slowly move to 1/2 and see how it reacts.

I am looking into the reefsupplies.ca bulk powder.

https://www.reefsupplies.ca/online-store/Bulk-2-part-dosing-system-makes-10-x-1-gallon.html

I noticed there is magnesium in the esv one and have never really worried about adding it because I do 10% water changes weekly. If I have to I can use the bulk mag as well.

is there anything I need to be aware of when I do this and does anyone else use this product?

 

[Matt1997]

I use it. No issues

 

[calli]

My main concern was switching and if there is a process to it or just do it?

 

[Salty Cracker]

I use it, can't say if there's any downside to switching except for a cost savings, you would have to figure out if the bulk stuff is stronger or weaker than your current stuff. Testing is really the only way to know. I dose mag with the 2 part, but only 10ml every time I refill a jug of alk, mag levels are fine, but I also do regular water changes.

 

[calli]

I do 7mls a day or so now with esv. But I think the bulk is a bit more. But still a huge cost savings.

 

[calli]

I use it, can't say if there's any downside to switching except for a cost savings, you would have to figure out if the bulk stuff is stronger or weaker than your current stuff. Testing is really the only way to know. I dose mag with the 2 part, but only 10ml every time I refill a jug of alk, mag levels are fine, but I also do regular water changes.

Do you know if there is a calculator for the reefsupplies.ca bulk product or will the BRS 2 part calculator work for it just the same?

 

[Matt1997]

It will work the same.

 

[Matt1997]

This works as well
http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

 

[calli]

I use it, can't say if there's any downside to switching except for a cost savings, you would have to figure out if the bulk stuff is stronger or weaker than your current stuff. Testing is really the only way to know. I dose mag with the 2 part, but only 10ml every time I refill a jug of alk, mag levels are fine, but I also do regular water changes.

I use it. No issues

do you guys know much about people saying it can cause substrate to go solid and build up like cement in your reef?

 

[Matt1997]

It can do that if you have a mis balance in your tank. Basically causes calcium carbonate to precipitate. It will preferentially precipitate in the sand bed as the pre existing aragonite/crushed coral acts as a nucleation site for the calcium carbonate crystals.

 

[calli]

It can do that if you have a mis balance in your tank. Basically causes calcium carbonate to precipitate. It will preferentially precipitate in the sand bed as the pre existing aragonite/crushed coral acts as a nucleation site for the calcium carbonate crystals.

That is what I heard. And I also hear that if you don’t does magnesium correctly you can speed that process up. Is there anything to watch for? Or prevent it?

 

[Salty Cracker]

I've recently had exactly that issue in my tank. Solid as a rock, and when the top layer was broken up it released a toxic cloud that killed a couple of colonies...
So:
1) keep the sand bed somewhat stirred up with occasional vaccuum action
2) test your water.
3) don't dose both alk and ca in the same spot (not sure if that's a real thing but I heard BRS did a video on it)
4) test your water.

I've been dosing for years, but only recently experienced this phenomenon. I hadn't been testing mag, but will have to start.

 

[calli]

Yeah I am doing 1ml every other hour.

Something was said about improperly mixing bulk magnesium that attributed to it. I use ESV mag so That’s pre mixed. May help. Who knows.
I do stir up the sand once in a while anyway and I have a sand sifting goby (pain in the ass) but maybe good for this. Lol