Dosing Options???

[oigimsar]

I am putting everything together to start a build in a few weeks. I am planning on setting up a 75g mixed reef. I have figured out most of my equipment but I am still undecided on how to dose. I would like to set up something as automated as possible.

Any links to good reads?

Options:

1) 2 or 3 part dosers
2) Reactor
3) Kalkwasser
4) Other

TIA.

 

[kikireef]

I highly recommend 2 part dosing. I have never used a calcium reactor so I can't give you much info on them. I am using the BRS dosing pumps. 1 for Cal and 1 for Alk. It's hooked up to my apex so I just set it for enough time to dose the proper amount each day. Its totally set and forget however I still test weekly just to see if I need to adjust how much I am dosing. If I need to increase I just add another minute or two.

 

[samuelkl]

i dose 2 part as well, but i seem to go through it pretty fast even dosing 30 ml a day. i have over 25 sps minicolonies, mostly golfball size, some bigger. im thinking of supplementing with kalkwasser. ive been eyeing the avast marine DIY kalkstirrer K1, its cheaper than buying two brs dosers. kalk can go a long way in the beginning stages of a sps setup.
for me, Ca reactors are too big of an initial investment

 

[oigimsar]

I am pretty sure I have read about guys who dose kalk through their top off water. Is that right? On the face of it, that seems like the easiest option but I must be missing something?

 

[kikireef]

Yes you can use Kalk in your top off water. I did for almost a year with good results. My downfall with it was that I was using that and my dosers to keep up with my alk/cal demands which was fine. However I went from a 6 bulb T5 setup to 3 250w MH's on my old tank and my evaporation went WAY UP. As my evaporation went up so did my top off (kalk). I almost nuked my system in a matter of a couple days. Now don't get me wrong, it can be done successfully and many do that. I was just an idiot and overlooked that whole topoff thing.

 

[oigimsar]

kikireef, thanks for the response. It seems like the same could have been true of a doser in your case but maybe not as catastrophic.

So, if I already have a top off system with a container of water that could hold kalk, why not use this as my primary method of dosing? It seems like the easiest method, so there must be some reason guys are spending hundreds of dollars on dosers or reactors and not using this? I can see how it might not be as precise because it is more difficult to regulate your top off needs...is that it?

 

[mikejrice]

That is probably the main reason. It's simply not as precise. As your top off needs change due to fluctuations in outside conditions, your dosing will also change. It is however precise enough for most tanks and works well for many people. I would give it a try before spending money you may not need to on a dosing system. Just start slow and work your amounts up over time.

Michael Rice
Marine Engineers
Sent from Tapatalk, so excuse my bad spelling and grammer.

 

[Alex_P]

If you use a fan as a chiller it is easy to overdose on kalk. I now use two part for this reason. I had a very hard time keeping my PH under control using kalk with my ATO.

 

[samuelkl]

I was planning on dosing kalk with a stirrer and aqualifter on a timer. NOT in my ato. More precise and less complications

 

[Colione]

I use a bubble magnus 3 pump doser. Great price comparatively and it's a workhorse.

The only feature I wish you could do is set Alk to be dosed only a night to try to keep the pH more consistent, but honestly I'm nitpicking. It's a great piece of equipment. I've also bought 3 1.5L containers, that really simplify things and keep it clean in the sump. I have pics in my tank thread.

 

[Six2seven]

Unless you plan to add lots of corals immediately, i think you can keep your alk and calcium with regular water changes. once you start adding lots of corals or clams then you can step it up. it will save you lots of money for now.

I now use a GHL Profilux 3pump doser. It is costly but something you will never have to upgrade. Its great not having to calculate and let the doser calculate for you. It is definitely a quality machine.

 

[Alex_P]

I use a Bubble Magus 3 pump doser but the GHL profilux is a better unit. If you go with 2 part get the GHL profilux or set it up with an Apex and multiple BRS pumps. That way you can set it up to dose at night only. That is my only complaint about the Bubble Magus. You can't dose at night only.

 

[oigimsar]

This is helpful. Thanks for the responses. I am leaning toward dosing 2 -part with dosing pumps. I will look at the options listed.

Six2seven, you said with the GHL you don't have to calculate? Does it somehow measure your calc and alk and calculate for you then dose as needed?

 

[oscar.millan]

This is helpful. Thanks for the responses. I am leaning toward dosing 2 -part with dosing pumps. I will look at the options listed.

Six2seven, you said with the GHL you don't have to calculate? Does it somehow measure your calc and alk and calculate for you then dose as needed?

The doser calculates the number of times you want to dose per day and breaks it up evenly and tries not to overlap dosing Ca/Alk additions.

Your two inputs are:

1. ml to dose
2. times per day to dose

It does not calculate your calc and alk. It does however allow for calibration as well for very accurate dosing, there is a calculation there as well.

 

[Six2seven]

The doser calculates the number of times you want to dose per day and breaks it up evenly and tries not to overlap dosing Ca/Alk additions.

Your two inputs are:

1. ml to dose
2. times per day to dose

It does not calculate your calc and alk. It does however allow for calibration as well for very accurate dosing, there is a calculation there as well.

Correct! You just tell it how much to dose and how often. You need to calculate your needs. When testing I tried to set two pumps to dose identical and it automatically added a delay in the dosing. I though that was pretty cool.

 

[oigimsar]

That is pretty cool. Thanks again for the input. I will update when I find something.

Colione, I would love to see you sump pics but I didn't see a link to your tank thread?