Water Chemistry Guides
Dosing methods, troubleshooting, and the chemistry behind a stable reef tank.
This pillar covers alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium dosing: two-part vs. kalkwasser vs. calcium reactor tradeoffs, how to calibrate a dosing pump for drift, and the actual causes of alkalinity swings. Start with the dosing calculator, then the alkalinity-swings guide if your dKH won't hold steady.
Guides in this pillar
Why Your Alkalinity Keeps Swinging
Common dosing mistakes that cause instability, and the fix.
Two-Part Dosing vs. Calcium Reactor
Real cost, pH, and salinity tradeoffs, plus which one actually fits your tank.
How to Calibrate a Dosing Pump
Catch pump drift before it shows up as unexplained instability.
Two-Part Dosing vs. Kalkwasser
Cheaper and won't raise salinity, but capped by evaporation, plus a real failure risk to know about.
What Is Alkalinity (dKH)?
What dKH actually measures, unit conversions, and why stability beats hitting an exact number.
Dry vs. Liquid Dosing
Dry powder runs a fraction of liquid's cost. Here's what you trade for the convenience.