Dosing Guidance

[cscultho]

I need some reefers advise since im new to the whole dosing game. My current setup is a 65g DT & sump combined. I want the option to keep hard and soft coral but i know i need to dose to ensure good results.

What do you recommend is a good 2/3 part dosing system that is easy to use and not going to break the bank??

thanks for your guidance and happy holidays!

 

[VoltzNSalt]

I dose Alk, Calc & Mag and use BRS products with Apex DOS pumps. Hannah Checker for Alk and Red Sea for Calc & Mag.

Here is what I use as my definitive guide for tank chem parameters:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

 

[mal7887]

BRS offers a very cost effective 2 part dosing solution. They have kits with and without pumps. I have been using this for several years now with great success.

 

[billdogg]

BRS offers a very cost effective 2 part dosing solution. They have kits with and without pumps. I have been using this for several years now with great success.

^^^This^^^

The very most important thing about dosing is this: TEST TEST TEST!!!!

Never dose anything that you are not (or cannot) test for. If you are just starting out with stony corals you probably won't have to do more than regular water changes for awhile. Generally speaking, softies don't require any dosing at all.

When the time comes that water changes can't keep up, manual dosing can work but can become a pia. That is when automated dosing comes into play. By then you will have a fairly good idea of just how much of what your tank needs and that will simplify getting things dialed in.

I use a pair of BRS 1.1ml dosing pumps and digital lamp timers on both my
120g DT and on my 60g FT. I buy the Calcium and Alkalinity from BRS in 5g buckets and mix 6-8g of each at a time so that I only have to do it every few months. They are stored in potable water containers with spigots that makes refilling my dosing containers simple. I check parameters about weekly unless something looks amiss (like the time I accidentally switched my Ca timer from "auto" to "on" and dosed 2g of Calcium into my DT. Ca shot up to about 1600, but luckily nothing really seemed to care too much.

So, TEST TEST TEST, then add as needed, then TEST some more!!!
(fwiw - my preference is for Salifert kits - easy to use with repeatable results)

hth

 

[nereefpat]

Good advice above.

Just a couple things to think about:

I don't think, in most cases, tanks need automated dosing of Magnesium. Tanks don't consume it quickly, and it doesn't need to be kept perfectly stable as long as it's high enough. Mg testing and dosing can be done manually every couple weeks or so.

If you want to "not break the bank," kalk will replace Ca and alk, and a setup for that can be REALLY cheap....as in a aqualifter pump and a light timer, or even a DIY drip system.

 

[Uncle99]

Hard corals and softies don't always mix well as their needs are quite different...some hard corals can emit defensive mechanisms.....not to say you cannot....just research.
The test, test, test answer is 100% accurate. What you will need to determine through testing is how much calcium and Alk is being used up on a daily basis. Each tank has a different load based on its habitants and their needs. You should make water changes on a regular basis and dose if required to NSW parameters. Then measure 1 week later. The difference is how much you have to come up by dosing. Then if your dosing is daily, use the manufactures recommendations and divide by 7.
You will need a lot of hards to require dosing outside a regular water change.