2 part dosing 'whats the deal'

OK, ive been reading up on this a lot lately but theres something i dont quite get. From what im reading, you mix up batch of Ca Alk and Mg if needed. You dose each day to maintain your chemistry.

Now if my thinking is correct for the above, whats the difference between that and me just adding buffer and Ca supplement? At the moment 2 part dosing just seems like a hassle of a way to do it?????

 

You mix up a gallon of each which usually last months. It also gives you better control over each of the parameters And it is allot cheaper.

 

I see, so at the end of it, it is basically the same thing.....

 

Yes assuming you're using the correct kind of buffer. (Some buffers are only designed to raise pH as opposed to raising Carbonate Alkalinity)

 

i must admit, i dont test PH, i just keep alk right and hope for the best

 

Yes, the cheaper part is the key though. Here for ca supplement I would pay between $8 to $14 for 8oz of supplement, now when I buy cal chloride from bulk reef supply for around $16 That will make roughly make 20 gallons of supplement.;D

 

Calcium and alk cheap.
I would get a ph probe if I were you...depending on what you use it can sometimes get too high.

 

Most of the time, it's also at a higher concentration when done with bulk supplies, as I've seen.

 

yes that is true, if my cal is at 400ppm and i want to raise it to say 450 I use 332ml of cal supplement in my 55 gal. now with a over the counter supplement it would take twice that.

 

Cool, well buffers and Ca supplements are expensive. I may look into doing this as my tank doesn't warrant a Ca reactor!!