What's the appropriate RO amount for this calculator

[Reef Wizard]

I was wondering the appropriate volume of RO water needed when using this calculator.

Reef Chemistry Calculator

For example say my Dkh is 8.8 and I want to move it to 9.2 using aqua forest kh buffer powder with around 170gal of volume

It states the need is 7.8 grams. Per directions on the container its 80mg per 1000ml

So do I need to mix 7.8g with 1000ml or Divide it out 1000ml/80g=12.5 ml per gram then 12.5ml/g x 7.8 grams would equal 97.5ml of RO?

Or am I completely in left field?

 

[Formulator]

Honestly it really doesn’t matter. You just need to get 7.8 grams of the powder into the tank. How much RO to mix it in is really just limited by the solubility of the powder. I bet you could get 7.8 grams to dissolve in 100-200 mL. You could just experiment and add the 7.8 grams to 100 mL water. If it doesn’t want to dissolve, just keep adding water until it does and then add all of it to the tank.

 

[Reef Wizard]

Honestly it really doesn’t matter. You just need to get 7.8 grams of the powder into the tank. How much RO to mix it in is really just limited by the solubility of the powder. I bet you could get 7.8 grams to dissolve in 100-200 mL. You could just experiment and add the 7.8 grams to 100 mL water. If it doesn’t want to dissolve, just keep adding water until it does and then add all of it to the tank.

Thanks for the reply. I would normally just do a water change but Nutrients are low and trying not to bottom out.

 

[Miami Reef]

Honestly it really doesn’t matter. You just need to get 7.8 grams of the powder into the tank.

Exactly. The calculator is very simple. Dose 7.8g to raise 170gal from 8.8dKH to 9.2dKH.

You can dissolve in however much water to dissolve in, then add it to the tank.

My sump and aquarium is very large with high flow, so I’m the kind of person to just add it to the sump directly without dissolving it. Especially since that product seems to be mostly bicarbonate.

 

[Formulator]

Divide it out 1000ml/80g=12.5 ml per gram then 12.5ml/g x 7.8 grams would equal 97.5ml of RO?

FWIW, this is probably the second best option and then you would have a stock solution leftover that you could use again

 

[Miami Reef]

FWIW, this is probably the second best option and then you would have a stock solution leftover that you could use again

I agree. Making a stock solution and hooking it to a dosing pump after calculating your daily consumption is significantly easier. You won’t need to make daily corrections after each test.

Assuming you’re using a complete system, calcium and magnesium will also be in range since corals and coralline consume all three (alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium) in a fixed ratio.

Follow the bottle instructions for making a stock solution, and purchase all the needed parts. If you only dose the alkalinity part, then calcium and magnesium will slowly deplete.

 

[Reef Wizard]

I agree. Making a stock solution and hooking it to a dosing pump after calculating your daily consumption is significantly easier. You won’t need to make daily corrections after each test.

Assuming you’re using a complete system, calcium and magnesium will also be in range since corals and coralline consume all three (alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium) in a fixed ratio.

Follow the bottle instructions for making a stock solution, and purchase all the needed parts. If you only dose the alkalinity part, then calcium and magnesium will slowly deplete.

Thank you for the reply. I have the others as well. My corals tend to be okay at that alk but I like it up to atleast 9.2 for a little of a safe zone if that makes sense.

 

[Formulator]

I agree. Making a stock solution and hooking it to a dosing pump after calculating your daily consumption is significantly easier. You won’t need to make daily corrections after each test.

Assuming you’re using a complete system, calcium and magnesium will also be in range since corals and coralline consume all three (alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium) in a fixed ratio.

Follow the bottle instructions for making a stock solution, and purchase all the needed parts. If you only dose the alkalinity part, then calcium and magnesium will slowly deplete.

Even if not with a dosing pump, a stock is nice to have. When my tank was young, before I started daily dosing, I was doing a manual adjustment every 3-4 days. Stock solution still useful for that.

 

[Miami Reef]

Even if not with a dosing pump, a stock is nice to have. When my tank was young, before I started daily dosing, I was doing a manual adjustment every 3-4 days. Stock solution still useful for that.

Yes, you can manually dose, too. I was simply emphasizing how having a set dosage is much easier than testing and making specific adjustments with a calculator every time.


I have my three parts, and I base the dosages on the alkalinity part (my three-part is meant for 1:1:1 dosing, but not every system is designed for that, which is ridiculous, IMO). It keeps my magnesium and calcium in line with never needing to test magnesium. I rarely test calcium.


If I see my alkalinity trending down, I raise the dose of all the parts equally or vice versa. It takes several weeks to a month for my alkalinity to start trending up or down. It's super easy and stable.

That’s how I do it.

 

[Formulator]

my three-part is meant for 1:1:1 dosing, but not every system is designed for that, which is ridiculous, IMO

Agreed. Then to complicate things further you have seachem fusion which instructs 1:1 dosing despite being an unbalanced formulation…