dosing question

[ebojo]

I recently purchased the Bubble Magus 3 channel dosing pump, as well as the 2 part kit from BRS. Of course, I plan to use the pump for dosing Cal and Alk, but should I use the third for Mag. Is Mag needed in daily doses? If not, what else should I use it for? Iodine?

 

[tkeracer619]

Don't add anything you cant test for. Mag doesn't need to be dosed daily.

I would leave it empty or maybe use it for kalkwasser.

 

[ebojo]

I have a magnesium test kit. Plus I read that keeping a quality amount of Mag helps with Cal and Alk.

Ahh, I see you were referring to Iodine when mentioning not being able to test.

 

[alanbates12]

I'm still new at all this also. Should you not find out how much Ca and Alk your tank is using then adjust your dosing pumps accordingly? I've got a 180 with a few SPS and several LPS and my Ca and Alk seem to stay the same. They may need adjusting every other week. I guess I say this thinking your new to the hobby and would not want you to overdo it by using a pump for Ca and Alk. Maybe I'm doing it wrong but things seem to be thriving...
I do know several other people whos tanks are awesome and one person has an Aquarium store with some great looking corals and does not worry with Mg.

 

[tkeracer619]

It all depends on your demand. I don't really pay attention to mag on my tank more then once or twice a month but only because I know how much it uses. I rarely have to correct it.

My ca and dkh will drop rapidly if I don't have my CaRx running. It is all based on demand. Coraline will also increase demand. On a new tank often stuff isn't growing fast so it will take time but if you are successful eventually you will reach a demand that will require automated dosing or daily manual dosing.

 

[dnsfpl]

my dosage for ca & mg is 2 : 1

i dont have mg test kit

 

[frankpayne32]

Some people that have a high load of calcifying organisms will use the third pump to dose small amounts of magnesium daily. Most people probably don't need to do so. I would check your mag level daily for at least a week. If there is no notable change from day to day without dosing then I would just leave it empty.

 

[ebojo]

Ahh ok cool. The BRS kit that I bought came with Mag and highly recommended keeping it around 1350. I guess I will dose it by hand to get it where I want it, and then test to see if it changes over the next week or so and go from there.

 

[frankpayne32]

Ahh ok cool. The BRS kit that I bought came with Mag and highly recommended keeping it around 1350. I guess I will dose it by hand to get it where I want it, and then test to see if it changes over the next week or so and go from there.

Sounds like a good plan. Good luck:thumbsup: