Dosing order and frequency question

[shollis2814]

So, trying to implement what I have learned from Dr. Farley and this forum. After keeping water stable and no water changes for a few days, I have established that my daily dKH usage in my 20-long with 5 gallon sump is about 1.0 dKH/day. I plan on dosing Salifert A, B, and C (Calcium, Alk, and Magnesium-which I know is the least critical, but I have it) via a dosing pump I am calibrating. The Salifert instructions say to dose Mag first, then alk, and then Ca. Since Alk test kits are more accurate than the other two, I am basing everything in proportion to that 1.0dKH/day usage.

Is it better to dose each supplement every 3 days and dose 3 days worth, or is it better to do the daily dosages 6-8 hours apart, or am I over thinking it? Is there a time of day (lights on or off) that will be more effective to dose?

 

[RobZilla04]

It is more stable to dose over several days, than several days worth in a single dose. That being said, only dose to account for consumption. You need to know consumption of Cal & Mag and dose accordingly. Many tanks start out needing more Alk dosed than Cal, and more Cal dosed than Mag. These balance out over time.

 

[shollis2814]

It is more stable to dose over several days, than several days worth in a single dose. That being said, only dose to account for consumption. You need to know consumption of Cal & Mag and dose accordingly. Many tanks start out needing more Alk dosed than Cal, and more Cal dosed than Mag. These balance out over time.

Thanks. I do plan on daily testing. I do have usage measurements for Ca over that period. I was told in a different thread by Dr. Farley that Alk test kits are more accurate then Ca test kits, and to add proportionately while monitoring and to trust the alk tests over the Ca tests. I do plan on adjusting dosages and doing daily testing until I get things dialed in. I am just saying that for now, the 1.0 dKH daily usage is the most accurate consumption measurement I have, so I plan on starting there. I hope that makes sense. While I understand the nitrogen cycle, and I understand the basics of Ca, alk, usage by corals for growth, I admit I am just now beginning to understand the details, and I am constantly learning. I just got a new Mag kit and my LFS doesn't test for that.

Sorry for not including enough information.

 

[RobZilla04]

Thanks. I do plan on daily testing. I do have usage measurements for Ca over that period. I was told in a different thread by Dr. Farley that Alk test kits are more accurate then Ca test kits, and to add proportionately while monitoring and to trust the alk tests over the Ca tests. I do plan on adjusting dosages and doing daily testing until I get things dialed in. I am just saying that for now, the 1.0 dKH daily usage is the most accurate consumption measurement I have, so I plan on starting there. I hope that makes sense. While I understand the nitrogen cycle, and I understand the basics of Ca, alk, usage by corals for growth, I admit I am just now beginning to understand the details, and I am constantly learning. I just got a new Mag kit and my LFS doesn't test for that.

Sorry for not including enough information.

Correct, your understanding is spot on. It's not wrong to start out dosing equal amounts of 2-part (Alk/Cal/Mg) [a whole nother discussion of why 2-part is actually three or even 4 parts]. Just continue to monitor as you go.

Alk is the most accurate just keep in mind the testing procedure. Ensure you do it the same each and every time and take into account the margin of error of the kit. Shoot for consistency within a range over accuracy. Example if you are looking for an Alkalinity of 8.0 dKH, a good range would be 7.8-8.2. I don't make any adjustments to dosing with a test value in that range. If the next test shows 7.6 for example, I'm trending downward so I might consider what is causing that and take an action.

 

[shollis2814]

Correct, your understanding is spot on. It's not wrong to start out dosing equal amounts of 2-part (Alk/Cal/Mg) [a whole nother discussion of why 2-part is actually three or even 4 parts]. Just continue to monitor as you go.

Alk is the most accurate just keep in mind the testing procedure. Ensure you do it the same each and every time and take into account the margin of error of the kit. Shoot for consistency within a range over accuracy. Example if you are looking for an Alkalinity of 8.0 dKH, a good range would be 7.8-8.2. I don't make any adjustments to dosing with a test value in that range. If the next test shows 7.6 for example, I'm trending downward so I might consider what is causing that and take an action.

Thanks for confirming I am 'getting it' :p. I was a biology major, but chemistry was always a bit of a struggle. I may post some calculations here to make sure I am doing it correctly.

How long after one supplement should I dose the next? Should I dose at night?

 

[RobZilla04]

My dosing schedule separates Alk & Cal by 30 min. There is no firm set time, but just as long as they done precipitate out you're fine. You'll notice a white cloud indicative of precipitation if it happens.

I hand dose Mag twice a week.

 

[Hemmdog]

Correct, your understanding is spot on. It's not wrong to start out dosing equal amounts of 2-part (Alk/Cal/Mg) [a whole nother discussion of why 2-part is actually three or even 4 parts]. Just continue to monitor as you go.

Alk is the most accurate just keep in mind the testing procedure. Ensure you do it the same each and every time and take into account the margin of error of the kit. Shoot for consistency within a range over accuracy. Example if you are looking for an Alkalinity of 8.0 dKH, a good range would be 7.8-8.2. I don't make any adjustments to dosing with a test value in that range. If the next test shows 7.6 for example, I'm trending downward so I might consider what is causing that and take an action.

Can you elaborate on this “4 part”? I use 2 part and b-ionic mag. Then Red Sea trace elements and acropower. Sorry OP, sparked my curiosity.

 

[RobZilla04]

Can you elaborate on this “4 part”? I use 2 part and b-ionic mag. Then Red Sea trace elements and acropower. Sorry OP, sparked my curiosity.

2-part is the common reference, but can include Mag, Trace Elements, Iodine, etc.

When starting out I thought the same thing, 2-part but why is everyone mentioning more than just two.

Good watch here

 

[madweazl]

I dose alkalinity and calcium 16 times daily (every 90 minutes). Five minutes after one has been dosed, the other gets dosed. I manually dose magnesium as needed but my weekly water changes are typically enough to keep it in the desired range for now.

 

[shollis2814]

I dose alkalinity and calcium 16 times daily (every 90 minutes). Five minutes after one has been dosed, the other gets dosed. I manually dose magnesium as needed but my weekly water changes are typically enough to keep it in the desired range for now.

Wow. Thanks That's consistent. Unfortunately, with my tank volume (24-25 gallons with sump) It appears I am going to be doing some smaller doses that will push the accuracy specs of my Jebao pump (I have found it to be precise, but inaccurate. I have labeled each pump with a +/- of the number I need to adjust for dosing).

I'll know more when I get the math done. I am used to dKH and not mEq/L, but that's what the directions use.

@Hemmdog , no worries! I am glad to learn this too! Jump on in!

 

[shollis2814]

OK, so I found an online calculator. It looks like I need to dose 9.1 ML of Red Sea B a day to maintain. I also need to dose 4.1 ml of Red Sea A a day. I am still working on Mag usage. I have put that a bit by the wayside as I focused on alk and Ca.

Do these sound roughly right for 24 gallons?

 

[Skydvr]

I know this is a few months old, but I am searching for some dosing order info and came across this thread.

I am working with the Jaebo doser as well. I have the WiFi version, which has the ability to be calibrated. I thought the non-WiFi version had a calibration as well, but I could be mistaken on that. To get around the precision issues with smaller volumes, I am creating diluted solutions.

I have glass bottles that hold about 1.5L.
Breaking the volume up into 10 days worth of doses, which allows me to refill every seven days with a three day buffer incase something comes up, leaves me with 15ml dosed daily. This is split up into 10 doses per day for 1.5ml per dose.(I can adjust the strength, reduce the daily volume, and reduce the number of doses for vacations or traveling for work)

For a new solution, if I am starting with a liquid, I subtract 10 days of doses from the full volume of the dosing container to get the volume of RO to add, then add the dosing chemical to the water.
For powder/flake chemicals, I add the majority of the full RO volume before adding the chemicals (some have an exothermic reaction when added to the water and generate a lot of heat in small volumes of water), then top up to full volume.

For topping up the bottle, I just base it off of the number of days since it was last topped up. You could also mix larger volumes and top off the dosing container from that. The benefit of a smaller dosing container is that a dosing head that fails on runs a lower risk of nuking the tank.
I plan on dumping the solution and starting over every couple of months to adjust for changes in consumption and to make sure the concentration isn’t creeping up from inaccuracies/mistakes with measurements and evaporation.