Can you dose Brightwell Reef Code B w/o Reef Code A?

[CayoHueso]

Can you dose Brightwell Reef Code B without dosing Brightwell Reef Code A? TIA!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

One can, but what is the scenario where you want to?

 

[CayoHueso]

One can, but what is the scenario where you want to?

I'm looking to get my Alkalinity up to an appropriate level. I'm looking to use Reef Code B. Seems like there are lots of options. Reef Code B seems to be the easiest in my mind. It's already mixed and in a liquid form and BRS has an easy to use calculator on their site that has Reef Code B as an option. So I'm thinking that's the route I'm going to go. I haven't settled yet on what I'll use to maintain ALK, whether it's Reef Code B, Kalkwasser or All For Reef.

My Alk is currently at 6.2 dKH. If I'm looking to get it up to 8 dKH for now, any advice on dosing amounts and time period I should take to get up to that level?

I have a 20G tank. The BRS Calculator is recommending at dose 16.07ml as an "adjustment dose". I'm think I should raise the Alk to the desired 8 dKH over a period of 2-4 weeks. So I'm not really sure what amount to start out with.

16.07ml divided by 14 days comes out to ~1.2ml/day, over 30 days ~0.5ml. I'm not sure if that's the best way to work it out, as the Alk will be consumed and such a small daily dose may not result in raising the dKH levels to the desired amount over time.

This is from Brightwell's website;

"Each ml of Brightwell Aquatics Reef Cōde B will increase the alkalinity in 1 US-gallon (3.785 L) of water by approximately 2.22 dKH (0.79 meq/L). If the initial alkalinity in the aquarium is below 7 dKH (2.5 meq/L), add this product at the maximum rate of 5 ml per 10 US-gallons daily until the desired alkalinity is attained, then dose daily or weekly as needed (see below). Note that each aquarium has different requirements for calcium and carbonates (which largely constitute Alkalinity or Buffering Capacity, hence pH-stability); therefore, it is not uncommon for unequal amounts of Reef Cōde A and B to be required for obtaining and maintaining the desired calcium concentration and alkalinity. To determine the daily dosing rate for alkalinity maintenance: estimate the volume of water in the entire aquarium system; divide the daily decrease in alkalinity by 2.22 (when measuring alkalinity by dKH; divide by 0.79 when measuring by meq/L); multiply this number by the volume of water in the system to get the daily dosage required (ml) to maintain a stable alkalinity."

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You could just use baking soda. Cheap and easy and no worse that reef alk supplements. Calculators readily available and you probably already own it.

 

[CayoHueso]

You could just use baking soda. Cheap and easy and no worse that reef alk supplements. Calculators readily available and you probably already own it.

Using this calculator, it recommends 4 grams of baking soda dissolved into RODI water. It doesn't mention how much RODI water. Any tips on the math or how to figure out how to divide this dose over a period of 2-4 weeks so I don't shock the corals?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Using this calculator, it recommends 4 grams of baking soda dissolved into RODI water. It doesn't mention how much RODI water. Any tips on the math or how to figure out how to divide this dose over a period of 2-4 weeks so I don't shock the corals?

The amount of water does not matter as long as it dissolves. At 6.2 dKH aiming for 8 dKH, I’d split it into 8 doses, so 2 per day for 4 days.

 

[CayoHueso]

The amount of water does not matter as long as it dissolves. At 6.2 dKH aiming for 8 dKH, I’d split it into 8 doses, so 2 per day for 4 days.

Any advantage/disadvantage to doing it this way versus BRS Liquid Sodium Bicarbonate method using 1 gallon of RODI water? Other than not needing a dosing pump. Will it be easier on the tank (less spikes/drops) if I dose it continuously over 8 days using a dosing pump and the calculations below?

From BRS Calculator for liquid Sodium Bicarbonate;

"

RESULTS:​

51.43 ml or 1.74 fl oz or 10.29 tsp

With any clean 1 gallon container add 2/3 gallon of RO/DI or distilled water and then add 1 1/8 cups of BRS Sodium Bicarbonate. Shake the container well, then top the gallon container off with RO/DI or distilled water and allow it to dissolve fully."

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Any advantage/disadvantage to doing it this way versus BRS Liquid Sodium Bicarbonate method using 1 gallon of RODI water? Other than not needing a dosing pump. Will it be easier on the tank (less spikes/drops) if I dose it continuously over 8 days using a dosing pump and the calculations below?

From BRS Calculator for liquid Sodium Bicarbonate;

"

RESULTS:​

51.43 ml or 1.74 fl oz or 10.29 tsp

With any clean 1 gallon container add 2/3 gallon of RO/DI or distilled water and then add 1 1/8 cups of BRS Sodium Bicarbonate. Shake the container well, then top the gallon container off with RO/DI or distilled water and allow it to dissolve fully."

It’s the same thing. FWIW, the BRS recipe is my diy anyway.

None of these methods need a dosing pump for adding 0.5 dKH. But there’s also nothing wrong with doing so.

 

[CayoHueso]

It’s the same thing. FWIW, the BRS recipe is my diy anyway.

None of these methods need a dosing pump for adding 0.5 dKH. But there’s also nothing wrong with doing so.

0.5 dKH? Isn't the increase I'm looking to achieve 1.8 dKH?

I wasn't sure if diluting the sodium bicarbonate into the gallon of water and spreading the ~52ml dose out over 8 days would dilute the effectiveness, turning it into more of a "maintenance dose" rather than a "adjustment dose". I'm not familiar with the mechanics and chemistry, and if the effects of the sodium bicarbonate would accumulate over the 8 days no matter how much/when it's dosed.

I'm just guessing that spreading out the dose over days would be less stressful to the corals. I remember seeing in a video, I think WWC video, that a change like one this large should be over a week or two.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

0.5 dKH? Isn't the increase I'm looking to achieve 1.8 dKH?

I wasn't sure if diluting the sodium bicarbonate into the gallon of water and spreading the ~52ml dose out over 8 days would dilute the effectiveness, turning it into more of a "maintenance dose" rather than a "adjustment dose". I'm not familiar with the mechanics and chemistry, and if the effects of the sodium bicarbonate would accumulate over the 8 days no matter how much/when it's dosed.

I'm just guessing that spreading out the dose over days would be less stressful to the corals. I remember seeing in a video, I think WWC video, that a change like one this large should be over a week or two.

The 0.5 dKH was per day, and is the often quoted level to boost per day when raising levels.

 

[CayoHueso]

@Randy Holmes-Farley does sodium bicarbonate have an effect on Magnesium? My magnesium levels are already a little high at 1540ppm

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

@Randy Holmes-Farley does sodium bicarbonate have an effect on Magnesium? My magnesium levels are already a little high at 1540ppm

No.

 

[CayoHueso]

No.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You’re welcome.

Happy Reefing!