dosing help..

hey guys, i have a small question.

today i tested my water so that i can begin dosing if needed.. here is what they came out to be.

alk:160
calcium 440-460.
phoshate: 2ppm?

magnesium: i dont have a kit for that yet.. anyone knows a cheap one? I got a complete API test kit but it only came with alk, calcium, phosphate, and nitrite for 28 bucks.. ive seen tests for mag but they are 28.. just for mag alone.. thats too much.. is there any cheaper ones?

the real question here is.. i have mag and calcium supplements at home.. but i cant seem to find an alk supplement online? im i missing something? the ones i found said that they are for PH buffering...?

i havent started dosing yet. im waiting to get a testkit for mag before i begin.

 

Bulk reef supply has a 2 part solution that gives you cal, alk, and mag. You dose the cal and alk daily and the mag you raise slowly to desired lvls then you only dose it once the cal and alk solution has run out. They have the calculations on there main page for you so you know how much to add and maintain. Your going to have to test mag though as its essential to a reef and to the whole process.

 

You'll want to set your Mg first, before you go monkeying with Alk & Ca.

 

thats why i havent dosed anything yet.. just tested what i had.