Crazy idea? or old news?

[Sophie"s mom]

So I saw the post this morning about water changes, and it got me thinking. I use a doser for both alkalinity and calcium, but I manually add things like magnesium, Iodine, and amino. Would it be crazy to add these into my ATO container? Can I do that? If so, does anyone know how much I should add to my ATO? I use a 10 gallon aquarium.

 

[CHSUB]

I add mag to my ATO.

 

[hoffmeyerz]

I would think that would somewhat depend on your evaporation rate and how consistent it is since those additives will be added as top-off needs change. Otherwise I don't see why not.

 

[Waters]

You can, but the amount of evaporation changes throughout the year (normally) so it might be hard to get a control on how much you are dosing of the various elements?

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I would think that would somewhat depend on your evaporation rate and how consistent it is since those additives will be added as top-off needs change. Otherwise I don't see why not.

YEah, that's what I was thinking too. I believe my tank loses about a gallon a day.

 

[Johnd651]

+1 on the evaporation. If the element/component was evaporating, it would be easy, but since it depends on consumption vs evaporation, you would need to adjust concentration in your top off based on the evaporation rate through out the year.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I add a few ppm of magnesium to my AWC water. I calculated how much I want to add (10% of the calcium dosed), subtracted the amount AFR adds (a bit under 5% of the calcium dosed) and added it to the new sat water based on the amount changed daily and the amount needed to meet that criteria.

IMO, this method has the huge advantage that besides not testing ever, it cannot ever rise Mg too high. It will never be higher than normal IO pus a few ppm of magnesium.

 

[Saltysav96]

So I saw the post this morning about water changes, and it got me thinking. I use a doser for both alkalinity and calcium, but I manually add things like magnesium, Iodine, and amino. Would it be crazy to add these into my ATO container? Can I do that? If so, does anyone know how much I should add to my ATO? I use a 10 gallon aquarium.

I personally would not add that stuff to your ATO.

That stuff is dosed based on consumption rate and not evaporation rate. Also it’s not a good idea to mix stuff up without knowing if you’re able to / knowing what chemical reactions can happen.

About the only thing I would ever add to an ATO is Kalkwasser. But it wrecks havoc on your ATO pump.
I use a kalk stirrer and a doser now to pull water from my ATO into my kalk stirrer.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The problem with dilute amino acids is they will drive bacterial growth in the new salt water if stored that way. That will use the aminos and other trace elements.

The problem with iodide is that when diluted and exposed to air, it can oxidize to iodate. That may be ok, but is not the preferred form for uptake by some organisms and may not be detected by all kits. That said, it is the main form in the ocean.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I add a few ppm of magnesium to my AWC water. I calculated how much I want to add (10% of the calcium dosed), subtracted the amount AFR adds (a bit under 5% of the calcium dosed) and added it to the new sat water based on the amount changed daily and the amount needed to meet that criteria.

IMO, this method has the huge advantage that besides not testing ever, it cannot ever rise Mg too high. It will never be higher than normal IO pus a few ppm of magnesium.

Thank you, Randy!