Dosing

[rjp64]

On doing research b4 buying my tank, i see that dosing is always reauired. I've seen posts from 4 part to single doseing. Should a dosing pump be apart of initial purchase or is time needed b4 you start dosing? Also once tests show whats needed how do i determine amt and what product to use? The whole dosing issue is alittle confusing

 

[Evil1]

How big of a tank are you got to get? I have been using AFR for years in a heavily stocked tank with no issues. 1 product one dosing pump. You can always expand as needed

 

[rjp64]

Im planning on 30-40 gal aio. Do individual products come with dosing calculator or should i find something online?

 

[EnterName]

You don't need to get a dosing pump. It's completely optional. You will however need to add solutions manually if you don't get a dosing pump. That part is required to maintain certain parameters.

Once you have chosen a system (e.g. 4-part, all for reef, whatever) you will take two measurements within a known time interval (e.g. 24h). The difference in the measurement results is the consumption rate of your tank over this period of time and you will adjust the dosed amount to compensate this consumption rate. Some products also come with dosing calculators or the community can help you to calculate the correct amount.

In the beginning you will have pretty much no consumption and won't have to dose much at all.

 

[rjp64]

Thks. Makes sense. So once cycles and the addition of livestock are established then monitoring should be done. Is it safe to say around 3 month mark after cycle i should be ready require dosing? My plan is to get hanna complete test kit. I can remember using salifert and it was a pain

 

[Fish Fan]

Dosing isn't always required

If you're planning on keeping the easier soft corals and Zoa's, then simply doing regular, partial water changes will keep your parameters in a good range. Many who keep softie tanks don't dose anything additional at all. Dosing becomes a requirement when you have a tank full of growing stoney corals (LPS and SPS) that may need supplemental alkalinity ions, calcium, magnesium and trace elements.

If you get to where you need to start dosing, All-For-Reef is a popular and easy to use "1-part". You can simply add it manually each day, or you could consider getting a dosing pump and automating that task. But I don't think you need to buy a dosing pump immediately.

I hope that helps, and good luck!

 

[rjp64]

Thks. Im starting with a few zoas and yumas but my goal is acans and possibly gonis. Acans are my favorite

 

[rjp64]

Thks. Im starting with a few zoas and yumas but my goal is acans and possibly gonis. Acans are my favorite

 

[EnterName]

Thks. Makes sense. So once cycles and the addition of livestock are established then monitoring should be done. Is it safe to say around 3 month mark after cycle i should be ready require dosing? My plan is to get hanna complete test kit. I can remember using salifert and it was a pain

Each tank is different and it depends on how you start your tank (dry/live rock/sand). I would recommend a fishless cycle and also at least a fishless diatom phase.

As long as you don't have stony corals you will probably get away with partial water changes and don't need to dose anything for some time.

I would recommend the hanna ULR phosphate checker and maybe alkalinity because it's easy to use. Salifert is fast and easy for Ammonia, nitrate, and also calcium.

 

[Jamie9]

I’ve got a similar tank to what you are considering (40G). I got live rock that had some nice things on it that were dropping my alK more than water changes could keep up with. I started dosing AFR (1 part) by hand, which stabilized things nicely at a low dose. Super easy to do by hand but I later added a dosing pump just to make my life a little easier. I’d say, don’t worry too much about getting a dosing pump ahead of time…but plan on having an extra plug available in case you add one later.

Also, your dosing will change over time depending on what’s in your tank, so don’t worry about that too much on the planning stage. Safe to assume your dose requirements will be pretty low in a small tank until you get lots of coraline algae or some fun SPS going.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Honestly, just starting out, you can get by with water changes. Usually, water changes will be able to keep up with a low bioload demand, but once your water changes can't keep up with the needs of your tank, then I would start dosing.

 

[ColorMeGone]

I only have 7 gallons of water in my 8.3 nano tank and added a doser about 6 months into it. I dose nitrates, phosphates, and baking soda for KH so just keep it in mind once your tank is established with corals. SO much easier. I check all my specs once a week and adjust dosers as needed...............