Am I overdosing on ESV Bionic ?

[SudzFD]

Hi everyone,

I have an established mixed reef. It is a 125g setup for the last year upgraded from a 60g that was 6 years old.

I’ve been dosing ESV Bionic Alkalinity and Calcium for years. I typically would dose 12mls a day without any real variation in that or the corresponding parameters. I started adding a small amount of magnesium as well (4mls) a day for the last six months.

Alkalinity was consistently high 8s to low 9s. Calcium at 470 and magnesium at 1400.

I have added about twenty sps frags over the last month and the coral I have has been growing very well since I started dosing Red Sea AB+ about two months ago. I also started dosing neo nitro to maintain nitrates at 5ppm as they’d often bottom out.

FINALLY MY Question!

I am having trouble maintaining my alk, calcium and magnesium. I have increased my dosing to 60mls a day if each and my alk is hovering at 8.01 Calcium at 379
and magnesium at 1293. I don’t want to keep increasing dosing if I am missing something else. The dosing has been stepped up over the last three weeks and I’m looking to raise it more, but am worried there is some other issue I’m missing.

Readings are from a freshly calibrated Apex. I also confirmed my numbers with Salifert. The apex numbers seem right on but my magnesium might be a bit higher than apex is reporting. Maybe 40ppm higher.

Today’s numbers:

Alk 8.01
Calcium 379
Magnesium 1293
Nitrates 5
Phosphates .17
Temp 79
PH 8.23
Salinity 36.3

ICP test a month ago showed potassium low and phosphates high. No other contaminates

To simplify my question….Does it seem reasonable to be dosing 60mls or 70mls a day in a 125g mixed reef? Should I continue increasing my dosing assuming this is consumption from growth?

Below is a recent photo to give an idea of Coral bio load. I get coralline regularly that I scrape also.

Any input or thoughts appreciated.

 

[Lavey29]

I dose 40ml a day in a 65g tank. So in a fully stocked growing 125g 60ml seems reasonable if your numbers stay consistent.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If the dose maintains alk, it is sufficient. If not, increase the dose. Set the dose for both parts off alk, not calcium.

If you believe calcium needs an occasional corrective boost, add it.

I would not bother to frequently test magnesium. It gets consumed extremely slowly.

 

[SudzFD]

If the dose maintains alk, it is sufficient. If not, increase the dose. Set the dose for both parts off alk, not calcium.

If you believe calcium needs an occasional corrective boost, add it.

I would not bother to frequently test magnesium. It gets consumed extremely slowly.

Thanks Randy,

I just came across a BRS video about precipitation and the possibility of adding too much can cause opposite effects by lowering levels due to precipitation.

My disingscare all separated by an hour, and done every 4 hours.

I’m thinking about turning dosing off for 24 hours and getting a 24hr drop to calculate tank demand.

Do you have any thoughts on this?

 

[SudzFD]

I dose 40ml a day in a 65g tank. So in a fully stocked growing 125g 60ml seems reasonable if your numbers stay consistent.

Thanks for that info that helps me know I might be in the ballpark still.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Thanks Randy,

I just came across a BRS video about precipitation and the possibility of adding too much can cause opposite effects by lowering levels due to precipitation.

My disingscare all separated by an hour, and done every 4 hours.

I’m thinking about turning dosing off for 24 hours and getting a 24hr drop to calculate tank demand.

Do you have any thoughts on this?

It’s a real thing, but don’t assume it’s an issue in your tank unless the needed doses are massive (4+ dKH per day) or if you detect the sand hardening.

 

[SudzFD]

It’s a real thing, but don’t assume it’s an issue in your tank unless the needed doses are massive (4+ dKH per day) or if you detect the sand hardening.

That helps a lot. Neither of those are the case. Thanks!