What do you dose and why?

[jeffm59]

+3 - What I like about the Red Sea it is a comprehensive approach. Test with a Red Sea Iodine Kit and dose with the matching Red Sea Color Supplement. When Iodine tests low and you add the Colors A supplement, you are not only dosing the Iodine, but the other associated halogens that are also probably low such as bromine, and fluorine. When dosing Iron, other trace elements normally associated with iron are also in the supplement in the correct balance. There is a certain logic to have a routine that includes test and supplement as a package.

I never feel like I am doing it by seat of the pants - a little of this from this company and a little of that from this other outfit all the while stirring my cauldren of ionic brew.

Might be snake oil, but there is a very clear difference in some of the coral coloration when my levels are at Red Sea recommended values. Not all the corals show a difference but some of the temperamental ones sure do.

We discovered it quite by accident, we had the Red Sea test kits around to test for Iodine as the True Carpet Nems we keep do better with slightly elevated Iodine levels. We had a green encrusting monti that would never keep its color, we would move it to the frag tank and it would color back up in a week or two. Did the move back and forth like 3 or 4 times and finally out of frustration we did one of those lets test everything we can days. Iron was zero and Potassium was way low. Dosed them both several times over the next week and finally got the levels up, within three or four days big change in the monti. Could be the salt we use verses someone else who doesn't need to do this supplementing, prehaps the macroalgae, multiple carpet nems and large clams we have in the tanks pull alot out. I do know it works for us, will it work for you ?? I think the only way to know is to identify if you have an issue, then test, then react.

 

[euod]

Great. Thanks everyone.

 

[Borchers]

I does 2 part as well to maintain levels with the occasional Mag bump on dosing pumps. I also dose Zeo-Coral Vitalizer.

 

[psykobowler]

Some people complain that chaeto won't grow in their system because they are ulns but you can see algae growing in their rocks. I did not realize low iron in the system is the reason why the new chaeto growth is yellow instead of lush green. I learned to dose iron - fergon from that Gary m guy in the reef chemistry forum. Within a day of adding iron, all else being equal, the chaeto turned dark green. Then I noticed the growth spurt on the green montis and how it made all corals that is suppose to be green into dark green. That led me to conclude that I needed to supplement iron in my system. How do I know if I overdose it? The lime in the sky turn really DARK, green slimer like GREEN. That tells me to back off. I look at a red cap too. If it is not bright red, I add potassium. Turns back to bright red in a couple of days. I dose vodka on Fridays and Tuesdays. I remember to dose potassium on those days too to replace what the bacteria takes up. Lugols is just a Friday routine to bump up the iodine in my water change water.

 

[jeffm59]

I does 2 part as well to maintain levels with the occasional Mag bump on dosing pumps. I also dose Zeo-Coral Vitalizer.

You about ready for your mystery sps piece back, has colored up nicely in the frag tank. Crazy polyp extension and bright green

 

[mpoletti]

Thanks everyone for your input and I look forward to hearing more.

As for me, I've spent a lot of money on dosing products in this hobby. After years of "research" lets call it, I now dose absolutely nothing. For the last two years as my interest in the hobby has flickered like an old candle, I stripped back what kind of work I do on my tank.

• Frequent water changes
• Feed my fish a lot and use R.O.E from Reef Nutrition a couple times a week
• Regular tank maintenance (pumps, reactors, lights, etc.)

I'm not saying that dosing does not work, but as Jeff mentioned, if I can't test for it, I might not be advised to dose something. My take on dosing is that we are supplementing what out tank need above what its already getting. My tank gets enough of that through water changes.

Could my tank be nicer? Could that one coral have better color? Would I be happier if I dosed a few drop of this and few drops of that? Maybe. But I'm not chasing every single coral to be at 100% display as I've tried that and it won't happen. There will always be a couple corals that are just off a wee bit.

That old phrase, "go with what works for you" is definitely a great motto in this hobby.

There are so many ways to achieve success as success can be defined in so many ways relative to each tank, reefer or budget.
This hobby has a short shelf life and I'm definitely not an old timer, but I have seen more than my share of FS:___________________ threads.
I just was hoping to share some of my experiences with others and have more content based threads around.

Saying that, I'm jaded and will always be jaded. :beer:

 

[maxdout]

I dose COLD hard cash sometimes visa. No amex or mc though those make my tanks crash.

 

[mpoletti]

I dose COLD hard cash sometimes visa. No amex or mc though those make my tanks crash.

My tank got used to that. I now have to IV the blood of my first born twice a week :uzi:

 

[Diamond Jack]

I fooled around with manual dosing, but my tank is doing better then ever with...

Reef Crystals 20-25% wc weekly... Adding a little seachem ph buffer and a little prime.

I feed tank pretty heavily with roe a few times a day..Tdo a few times a week... Reef chili a few times a week. Mysis every other week or so. Live bbs a few times a month.

Disclaimer... My tank is mostly zoas and lps at this time. Everything is doing great and growth has taken off finally!

Test for ph, cal, alk, mag, salinity.

 

[Jet Black]

A quick google search didnt seem to find any instructions on this method. Ive actually been debating on doing this to achieve the "perfect colors." How many mL/gallon a day should I start the dose at? Thanks

And how would you test for this? I don't want to Bear Grylls it and over do it.

 

[TOM BLEVINS]

Thanks everyone for your input and I look forward to hearing more.

As for me, I've spent a lot of money on dosing products in this hobby. After years of "research" lets call it, I now dose absolutely nothing. For the last two years as my interest in the hobby has flickered like an old candle, I stripped back what kind of work I do on my tank.

• Frequent water changes
• Feed my fish a lot and use R.O.E from Reef Nutrition a couple times a week
• Regular tank maintenance (pumps, reactors, lights, etc.)

I'm not saying that dosing does not work, but as Jeff mentioned, if I can't test for it, I might not be advised to dose something. My take on dosing is that we are supplementing what out tank need above what its already getting. My tank gets enough of that through water changes.

Could my tank be nicer? Could that one coral have better color? Would I be happier if I dosed a few drop of this and few drops of that? Maybe. But I'm not chasing every single coral to be at 100% display as I've tried that and it won't happen. There will always be a couple corals that are just off a wee bit.

That old phrase, "go with what works for you" is definitely a great motto in this hobby.

There are so many ways to achieve success as success can be defined in so many ways relative to each tank, reefer or budget.
This hobby has a short shelf life and I'm definitely not an old timer, but I have seen more than my share of FS:___________________ threads.
I just was hoping to share some of my experiences with others and have more content based threads around.

Saying that, I'm jaded and will always be jaded. :beer:

All for myself as well!

Frequent water changes
Feed my fish a lot and use R.O.E from Reef Nutrition a couple times a week
Regular tank maintenance (pumps, reactors, lights, etc.)
new reactor does wonders too.

Regards
Tom

 

[palygirl]

I'm very curious to see what we do (or what our testing indicates we need to do) once we get the 360 up and running. It will be primarily sps (as is our 180 that is tested and dosed as Jeff previously described). Same same on so much of the equipment, water, etc... the big variable is the tank (obviously). I do our testing and will continue the practice. Once we get past the initial "break-in", I will be closely documenting our parameters. I'm excited about the "science project".

 

[Lazylivin]

Thanks everyone for your input and I look forward to hearing more.

As for me, I've spent a lot of money on dosing products in this hobby. After years of "research" lets call it, I now dose absolutely nothing. For the last two years as my interest in the hobby has flickered like an old candle, I stripped back what kind of work I do on my tank.

• Frequent water changes
• Feed my fish a lot and use R.O.E from Reef Nutrition a couple times a week
• Regular tank maintenance (pumps, reactors, lights, etc.)

I'm not saying that dosing does not work, but as Jeff mentioned, if I can't test for it, I might not be advised to dose something. My take on dosing is that we are supplementing what out tank need above what its already getting. My tank gets enough of that through water changes.

Could my tank be nicer? Could that one coral have better color? Would I be happier if I dosed a few drop of this and few drops of that? Maybe. But I'm not chasing every single coral to be at 100% display as I've tried that and it won't happen. There will always be a couple corals that are just off a wee bit.

That old phrase, "go with what works for you" is definitely a great motto in this hobby.

There are so many ways to achieve success as success can be defined in so many ways relative to each tank, reefer or budget.
This hobby has a short shelf life and I'm definitely not an old timer, but I have seen more than my share of FS:___________________ threads.
I just was hoping to share some of my experiences with others and have more content based threads around.

Saying that, I'm jaded and will always be jaded. :beer:

You don't dose Calcium, Alk or Mag? No Calcium Reactor? Or are you saying you don't do other additives i.e. other then the big three?

 

[mayjong]

I only dose Randys 2 part to meet CA and KH demands (and MG).

those 3 things are also the only test kits I own. I haven't tested for anything else in years (including po4 and other "bad" stuff)
I don't even run any carbon or ferric oxide any more. I did that for a long time, gave it up , and there have been very few changes that I can see.
just a fuge and a good skimmer now...
sps, lps zoas, etc....

 

[Reefugee]

Thanks for starting this great thread! I am getting ready to get back in and have been debating on what I wanted to do for supplements. I'm glad to hear that 20% weekly water change is working well for Mark. If it's good enough for Mark, it's good enough for me. His tank has always been one of those tanks that I admired!

 

[leadsinker]

So after five years i have started dosing,Bionic 2 part & Seachem reef advantage mag. Reason for dosing mag is :uzi: Bryopsis! Dosing 2 part becuase low nutirent. Basically minium dosing as per instructions. only testing alk, becuase i have a hanna checker, have red sea pro test kit but all test kits suck, i am color blind!
I believe that i am doing it right, coral are looking real nice, colors are poping on my acans
Will continue with raising mag till i see bryopsis start to wither then back off.

Any one have brs or drew pumps that would to sell?

 

[psykobowler]

You are suppose to use Kent magnesium to get rid of bryopsis. I get a whole sack of mgcl at Sierra chemical company in west sac. I literally use a sack every six months or less. The mgso4, I get at cvs pharmacy. It is just Epsom salt. There is no need to purchase mg in brs. It is available locally cheaper.

 

[psykobowler]

Never mind, I misread the comment. You meant brs pump. Rob has one for sale.