Dosing advice - 15 gallon tank - Testing log included

[PowChickaPowPow]

Hello, I am looking for some advice on dosing my 15 gallon HelloReef tank. The only fish I have are two clownfish. I have two bubble tip anemones. Cleanup crew is a pencil urchin, pin urchin, and a variety of snails. I have an auto feeder that feeds TDO chroma boost pellets in the morning. Mid-day I feed seaweed extreme and mysis shrimp.

Coral:

• 1 acan
• 2 zoas
• 1 frog spawn
• 1 gsp on back wall
• 1 favia
• 1 pulsing xenia that recently got taken for a ride by the pin urchin. It is not doing well.

I've attached my full test log but here is a screenshot of the latest testing. I've been doing a lot to better understand daily changes.

I would like to come up with a daily or weekly dosing method to keep PH, Calcium, and Alk in check. I have been struggling lately to maintain Nitrate above 0ppm. I have been slowly raising my calcium to get it between 400-450.

This is my first saltwater tank so any advice is much appreciated.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’d ignore magnesium. It exactly matches your salt mix.

One cannot dose to maintain pH, and in any case, your pH values are ok.

How are you measuring salinity and what do you think it is?
.

 

[PowChickaPowPow]

I’d ignore magnesium. It exactly matches your salt mix.

One cannot dose to maintain pH, and in any case, your pH values are ok.

How are you measuring salinity and what do you think it is?
.

I am using a refractometer from BRS. I think it is reading ta 1.025

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Raising the salinity to 35 ppt (sg = 1.0264) would boost calcium from 411 to 425 ppm.

I’d also suggest making a quality diy standard for the refractometer and not rely on either ro/di (a flawed method unless it is a true seawater refractometer) or commercial standard, which are often inaccurate.

 

[PowChickaPowPow]

Raising the salinity to 35 ppt (sg = 1.0264) would boost calcium from 411 to 425 ppm.

I’d also suggest making a quality diy standard for the refractometer and not rely on either ro/di (a flawed method unless it is a true seawater refractometer) or commercial standard, which are often inaccurate.

Would you do anything about my Nitrate levels? I'm considering adding one more fish (tail spot blenny) thinking that might help. Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sorry, yes I would. I'd either feed more, or dose N, such as via ammonium bicarbonate or sodium or calcium nitrate. All are available food grade.