Mrs Wages dosing question

[tennesseebob]

so here is a quick rundown of my numbers
ph- 8.2
Alk- 9
Cal- 360-380 (around there, Api kit)
No idea on magnesium

The rest are normal, and I know these aren't abnormal, just pertinent to the question lol.

I don't have many corals yet, Duncan, star polyps, zoa, 1 small monti frag, and some LR hitchhiker corals.
So should I add some lime or not, and I don't have ATO yet so how do I dose it? Just in my top off or is that too much too fast?

 

[CStrickland]

What I did is first start checking my ca and alk regularly before and after I changed the water (mg is super good to know as well). Once I was satisfied that my salt was pretty much getting me where I wanted to be, but not quite keeping up with demand, like ca and all were dipping a little too low toward the end of the week, I started topping off with half-strength kalkywater.
For me it has only been necessary so far for a few weeks after I add a new frag, I don't have very demanding coral but they always seem to arrive "hungry." After a month or so I relaxed on all the testing. You get a feel for your tank. I like to keep some lime on hand for spot treating aiptaisia too.

I think the trick is to use it to keep your levels stable where you want them, not to make real changes. This article explains it really well if you haven't read it yet
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/

 

[tennesseebob]

Ok thx, most of my tests are API, and I know they aren't expensive, but imma use them up before I switch to something better, I know I need a magnesium kit but I don't want to buy a one that I want to replace, but I also don't know what Red Sea kits I need for basic reef health, not worried about color yet, I'd like to get the multi test Red Sea kits, so I've been pretty Wimbledon about the whole matter lol.

 

[BillNye]

I have the red sea ca, alk, mg test kit and it works great. It takes me about 10 minutes and is easy to use and read. $60 on BRS.

 

[tennesseebob]

Yeah, that is one I have been looking at, I have API kits for 2 of those, was hoping to use them up before replacing, but I may have to just suck it up lol

 

[downbeach]

Where do you keep your SG? What are you using to measure it with?

 

[toothybugs]

For your load I wouldn't worry about kalk. You don't have much in the line of stonies so I wouldn't expect you have much calcium demand.

Also, dumping kalk once a day (or worse, every other or every few) will really jump your pH up. For your needs I would suggest 2-part at least until you get the ATO.

 

[CStrickland]

Nate makes a good point. When I was doing it I spaced out my top offs to a few times a day

 

[tennesseebob]

Ok thanks, as far as storage it is in one of those kitchen containers that have a seal with a lever, not measuring at all ATM, I have measuring spoons, but I also have a digital scale that measures in grams if need be.

 

[Mcgeezer]

I dose limewater through my auto top off. It is the simplest way of doing it.

Understand however that the more coral additions you make to your tank, the limewater but will become less effective because it can't keep up with your Ca/Dkh demand. It will essentially just be used to maintain pH in the tank, but will of course keep parameters stable for longer then they normally would.