Dosing solutions

[DmitryB]

I want to get dosing solutions for my newly set up IM 40. (I'll have an IM 170 later on and will be using Apex for that.) I'll be keeping softies and LPS corals there. (I've already ordered a few including a Torch, a Lepto, a Fan). I'll need to start dosing - but dosing what? What are people's favorite dosing solutions? And is All For Reef really good for everything you need in one mix? It'd definitely be a lot simpler to just make one mix and drop that in... So what are people using?

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

You are just starting to add LPS. Just do water changes until your Alk readings say that is no longer enough. Then add AFR as indicated by your Alk. Once the tank is more established you can do an ICP-MS test and supplement whatever else is needed.

 

[DmitryB]

Do you test for Magnesium, Alkaline, etc., independently or just send out an ICP-MS test? How often do you do ICP-MS?

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Do you test for Magnesium, Alkaline, etc., independently or just send out an ICP-MS test? How often do you do ICP-MS?

Against advice, I test Alk, Mg and Ca at home in addition to other parameters (you can see in my build thread). My results have pretty good agreement with ICP-MS. I believe these tests all give close-enough data if you are using good test kits and are diligent with cleanliness, carefully measure everything with as much precision as possible, avoid spillage and stay mindful of what step you are taking as you test, but use Alk as your dosing guide. I test others just to see if, over time, things get out of whack. The others will mostly follow the Alk.
ICP-MS is expensive. I would wait until your tank is stocked for 6-9 months, then perhaps quarterly afterward unless you just made large adjustments to minor and trace elements based on your prior ICP-MS, or if there is a major tank problem that you cannot find a cause for.
I view it this way: Major elements (Alk, Ca, Mg), test frequently at home. Same for nutrients. Re-test a few days after making any changes to your supplementation program. Use ICP-MS as required to get a handle on minor and trace elements, or to look for problem causes.
I don't bother with other, non-MS ICP tests. They cost less but leave more unanswered questions.

 

[mmorrison55]

At home Mg test can be temperamental. You can try and test for it, but I would be skeptical of the results. Mainly want to see if you can get repeatable numbers when testing. If you see that mg is jumping all over the place, don’t panic, I would say it’s likely the test itself.

I also dose AFR.

I personally have a Neptune trident that tests my main 3 (alk, ca, and mg) but im mostly concerned with Alk which is a very easy test to do on a Hannah if you wanted to test it manually. I do like that it’s test alk a few times a day. i mostly use it to track how they trend.

If I were starting new, I’d look into the aquawiz tester that tests alk without any reagents. I would Dose AFR once I knew my Alk needs, and how much I need to dose daily. And then not worry so much about ca and mg. Send off the occasional icp, and as long as they say your ca and mg are in range, you should be good. AFR takes take of all 3, thats the beauty and ease of the product. If you can get the Alk dialed in, the other two should be right there as well.


But as was already posted, if you are just starting out. Find a salt mix that has the alk in the range you want, and just do water changes to control Alk until you start adding more corals and notice the alk is being depleted via a reliable home alk test kit or something automated like the aquawiz or trident.