Dosing Help

[915MANG]

Hello fellow Reefers. I bought these the 32oz Bottles to see if I like these or not. But I need help in the whole Dosing of the system. So Im asking for your help.

I was at 320 Ca Alk 7 and Mg ?? since i dont have a test kit for the Mg. I used the API kit, but I have ordered the Red Sea Kit which should be on the way.

I understand you get your levels where you want them, and continue to test for a week. Then use the dosing calculators to figure out how much to put in your system.

I ended up testing over the weekend, and my Ca was at 420 and Alk was 7. And Mg ?? (since I dont have a Kit) So how do you dose and do water changes?

Also, what time of day do you dose, ect... All help is welcomed, comments, ect... I'm still learning. I also started with the recommended dose from B-Ionic. 1 ml per 4 gallons. So that would be 30ml (120gal) I know I have more water volume, but I didn't want to count that in case I'm doing it wrong).

 

[Chaka]

personally, I dose over a long period of time. I have found that if I do it to fast the BRS 2 part likes to precipitate out of the water column. More so with the alk additive. I have a 1.1ml a minute dosing pump, from BRS, and just dose it over 15 min segments throughout the day. Depending on your coral stocking, you could also use kalk, which is a inexpensive method to replace calcium and alkalinity.
Just get your levels to where you want them and dose kalk appropriately. If your levels decrease you could add more calk to a point. I also dose trace minerals but just follow bottles instructions, usually a cap full every 4-5 days.

 

[Chaka]

oh, almost forgot, you will like the red sea test kits. I got them and find them so much more informative (better interpretation) and accurate than API.

 

[915MANG]

Thanks man, I appreciate the information! I haven used the kit yet. Probably will mess with it sunday.

 

[rholguin]

Hello there I use the same product.
I manually dose my tank every night after the lights go off.
I usually dose calcium first, wait about half an hour and then dose alk.

 

[stacy_vennes]

I have the same bt mine are the 1 gallon containers. I also wait till the lights go off and dose. But im thinking about changing to the pumps. I been using the product for about 4 years with no issue (yet) lol. Chaka pm sent to you

 

[pnavarro170]

mike basically i would say follow the directed amount for a week and see how it reacts, but you cant do it without dosing and testing for magnesium. if mag is low then it will throw off the balance, for me usually i dose more calcium than alk cuz it will rise when i dose the same amount. also dosing in the morning is recommended cuz thats when your ph and alk will be at their lowest.

again though dont forget the mag, then follow the amounts recommended then test once a week for about a month, then you can adjust weekly from what you see.

yes the dosing pumps would be best but i havent gotten that far myself yet .

 

[karenvas2]

Mike, brs just got the dosing pump kit back in stock. It come with 2 pumps and the mix to make all three parts and the bottles to boot. The price , I believe, is 199 for the half gallon and 229 for the gallon. Just ordered 30 minutes ago after I got their email.

 

[915MANG]

Alright thank you guys. Are you guys still doing water changes?

 

[rholguin]

Yes. I do weekly water changes. The day of the water change I usually dont dose until the next day. It also depends on your salt water mix. Test newly made saltwater and adjust accordingly.

 

[915MANG]

Yes. I do weekly water changes. The day of the water change I usually dont dose until the next day. It also depends on your salt water mix. Test newly made saltwater and adjust accordingly.

OK thanks, Just one more question. Are you doing weekly water changes, or how often do you do them? Thanks again

 

[pnavarro170]

I'm not doing water changes. When I do or have to then you don't really dose for a day or 2 but have to retest.

 

[915MANG]

Alright then, sounds good. I plan to continue doing water changes. Thanks again

 

[rholguin]

Yes. I do weekly water changes.

 

[pnavarro170]

Mike have you started dosing ? it usually takes a month or 2 of it for you to start noticing benefits.

 

[915MANG]

No not really, the test kit I bought REDSEA (one of the tips broke) I emailed REDSEA to see about getting a replacement. No response, so I havent messed with it. And partly being lazy!