calcium and magnesium additive advice

[SoCalReefer]

So, to maintain acceptable levels of calcium, magnessium and still maintain a good alkalinity, what else should I dose along with kalkwasser? I understand the relationship they all have in common, but I dont understand the chemistry of Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Bicarbonate and how they interact with Calcium Hydroxide? Is there a way to mix these correctly, or should I stick to Calcium Chloride? I'm ordering my test kits, but i'd like to know what I should do.

[CarmieJo]

Before I started dripping kalk I was dosing with Ocean's Blend 2 Part which has Mg. I thought I would probably have to start dosing Mg (via Epsom Salts) since it was running 1250 using the Ocean's Blend. However, about that same time I began using Red Sea Salt and now it is 1300 without dosing. I guess I am saying all of this to say, don't dose what you aren't testing for! The kalk will maintain your Ca & Alk all you may need is Mg.

[JeffDubya]

Originally Posted by lReef lKeeper

i like the seachem product called "Reef advantage calcium" it raises calcium AND maintains magnesium and strontium.

I'm with lReef lKeeper on this one. Plus using their website dosing calculator you know how much to use. I prefer the liquid version over the powder.

Of course, soon I will have a calcium reactor, so I'll be graduating into a whole new method of dosing...

[SoCalReefer]

...yeah your right, that's pretty cool, i can't wait to set up a reactor as well

[Astrivian]

A friend of mine almost nabbed a Ca reactor for free! Someone had put their entire tank setup outside and marked it free. The entire setup: 200 gallon tank (about), MH lights, PC actinics, stand, Ca reactor, phosban reactor, and skimmer.

Nuts! we missed it by a few hours! By the time he went back to grab it, everything was gone.