Dosing
- Thread starter Arcar
- Start date
nereefpat
New member
Dosing usually specifically refers to the adding of calcium and alkalinity.
Corals and coralline algae use these two things up, and they need to be tested for and dosed so that they are at constant natural seawater levels.
You can either use limewater to replace both, or a two-part program that doses them individually at a set ratio.
You will need to start dosing Ca and alk when water changes can no longer keep up with consumption. You will know by your test results for alk and Ca.
Corals and coralline algae use these two things up, and they need to be tested for and dosed so that they are at constant natural seawater levels.
You can either use limewater to replace both, or a two-part program that doses them individually at a set ratio.
You will need to start dosing Ca and alk when water changes can no longer keep up with consumption. You will know by your test results for alk and Ca.
hkgar
Active member
Exactly
I dose carbon and nothing else. I have a calcium reactor. Typically calcium and alkalinity are the only other things to dose and usually only important in a stony coral environment.
Dosing is likely only required in SPS dominate tanks including many or large clams.
Regular water changes of 10-20% per week is all you will need for soft corals, they do not use up calcium as much. Do a water change, test for calcium, Alk, and Magnism, wait a week, test again, note that changes, then another water change, test, should be back to beginning numbers. if not, this is where dosing becomes relevant.
Regular water changes of 10-20% per week is all you will need for soft corals, they do not use up calcium as much. Do a water change, test for calcium, Alk, and Magnism, wait a week, test again, note that changes, then another water change, test, should be back to beginning numbers. if not, this is where dosing becomes relevant.
nereefpat
New member
I don't have any SPS, and I have to dose my tank. LPS and even coralline algae consume Ca and alk.
With a large softies load and a minor LPS, Clam and SPS load, I rarely have to dose so I can do this by hand.....make sure you need to automate before you by.
Leathers and gorgonians and shrimps require iodide, clams strontium, plus calcium and maybe some Alk...so that's 4.......
Most of the time, regular water changes take care of calcium and Alk but I find iodide and strontium lack in my salt mix...
Leathers and gorgonians and shrimps require iodide, clams strontium, plus calcium and maybe some Alk...so that's 4.......
Most of the time, regular water changes take care of calcium and Alk but I find iodide and strontium lack in my salt mix...
LQT
Active member
As an alternative to 2 part dosing... for softies and LPS, you may be able to just get away with adding Kalkwasser to your ATO reservoir in order to maintain proper Alk and Cal levels in your reef tank. If you want to get fancy, get a Kalk reactor or stirrer and push fresh top off water from your ATO reservoir through it.
LQT
Active member
It certainly has the potential to. Several ways to get around this... you can elevate the pump a few inches off the bottom of the reservoir to keep the Kalk precipitate from getting sucked up into the pump (this will prolong the pump life), you can get the Tunze switched socket adapter, which will allow you to replace the standard Tunze ATO pump with a peristaltic pump or you can use a Kalk stirrer or reactor, which remotely holds a cylinder of saturated Kalk that gets water from your ATO reservoir pushed through it, thereby isolating the pump away from the Kalk solution. As far as Kalk reactors go, I’m a big fan of the Avast stirrers.
https://www.avastmarine.com/products/kalk-stirrer
https://www.avastmarine.com/products/kalk-stirrer
LQT
Active member
If you have dosers, go with 2 part dosing. If you advance to more demanding corals like SPS down the road, 2 part dosing will always keep up. If you want immediate simplicity, add Kalk power to your ATO as directed and keep a spare $23 Tunze ATO pump on hand. However, if you advance to more demanding coral down the road, you may reach a point where Kalk is not enough to keep up with demand. Below are a couple of very helpful videos...
2 part dosing -
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bVI69xOb_JM
Kalkwasser dosing -
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KSsdxuWY0T8
2 part dosing -
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bVI69xOb_JM
Kalkwasser dosing -
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KSsdxuWY0T8
on the spot
Active member
I won't try to dissuade you just point you in the right direction
a limewater "reactor" isn't much of a thing, simple to make. Tunze even has one in their line - it's just a bottle with a few fittings. I'll look in my junk, I might have one you could try out if you are inclined.
I like to add kalk to low load tanks. IO is low, kalk pushes things closer to right.
I won't try to dissuade you just point you in the right direction
a limewater "reactor" isn't much of a thing, simple to make. Tunze even has one in their line - it's just a bottle with a few fittings. I'll look in my junk, I might have one you could try out if you are inclined.
I like to add kalk to low load tanks. IO is low, kalk pushes things closer to right.
Ok, if you got one lmk thanks
just PM me
