Personal Dosing Coach

[Afrashz]

Hello everyone, about 7 years in the hobby and believe it or not I have not dosed at all, just do typically a 15 gallon water change on my tank every 2 weeks or so. I have been relatively successful but do lose some corals year to year and in testing my elements I’m way lower than I should be, water changes just can’t keep up anymore.

I’ve decided I’m going to start dosing Kalkwasser to try and improve my tank chemistry and hopefully have better long term success with certain stony corals.

As the title suggests, I was wondering if anyone who’s experienced in dosing kalkwasser would volunteer just a few minutes of their time, maybe a half hour to help me get set up on my dosing journey. I figured perhaps a phone call, FaceTime, etc. would be the best way for me to learn. I would show my rank, review tested parameters, etc. I could go for it myself but I fear I could make catastrophic mistakes. I certainly appreciate the help of questions and answers on the forum but I think a more one on one approach would help me more in this instance. Perhaps I’m asking too much but I just thought I’d throw the idea out there in hopes someone with proven success could get me on the right track.

I will be going out of town for the Fourth of July weekend but after that I’d like to hit the ground running.

Thanks for reading this long winded request.

:)

 

[Fish Fan]

Can you post your tank size and parameters?

Kalkwasser is a good option, but have you considered Tropic Marin's All For Reef? This is a single product that doses your alk, calc, mag and trace elements all from one bottle. It works well for most tanks, though it can be a little expensive, especially if your tank is large.





Good luck!

 

[Afrashz]

Can you post your tank size and parameters?

Kalkwasser is a good option, but have you considered Tropic Marin's All For Reef? This is a single product that doses your alk, calc, mag and trace elements a from one bottle. It works well for most tanks, though it can be a little expensive, especially if your tank is large.





Good luck!

Sorry I’m not available to check all my parameters at the moment but prior to leaving the house, after my 15 gallon water change, I tested my alk and it tested at 4.8 dkh using my hanna checker.

My tank is a 75 gallon with about a 20 g sump

 

[Afrashz]

Here’s a pic of my tank taken after water change (corals not open due to lights just turning on/water change)

 

[braaap]

Please don't fall into the AFR trap. Honestly just BRS 2 part on simple dosers is probably all you need. BRS has calculators on their site to figure out how much to add to get to the proper levels. And then once you get there you test daily for a week or so to figure out how much you need to keep adding.

 

[Afrashz]

Please don't fall into the AFR trap. Honestly just BRS 2 part on simple dosers is probably all you need. BRS has calculators on their site to figure out how much to add to get to the proper levels. And then once you get there you test daily for a week or so to figure out how much you need to keep adding.

You recommend 2 part over kalk?

 

[braaap]

You recommend 2 part over kalk?

Not particularly. BUT 2 part is quite easy. And you rarely hear of issues with 2 part dosing. But I hear of them with Kalk and AFR all the time.

Between kalk or 2 part you can't really go wrong IMO. I find 2 part to be easier to control over adding kalk to ATO. Now a reactor would be a different story as well.

 

[Afrashz]

You recommend 2 part over kalk?

Not particularly. BUT 2 part is quite easy. And you rarely hear of issues with 2 part dosing. But I hear of them with Kalk and AFR all the time.

Between kalk or 2 part you can't really go wrong IMO. I find 2 part to be easier to control over adding kalk to ATO. Now a reactor would be a different story as well.

Okay, interesting.

I planned on setting up an additional reservoir to dose kalk on a dosing pump, not ato.

 

[Garf]

You recommend 2 part over kalk?

I've used Kalk on a dosing pump since Jobe was a boy. My pH is around 8.3 to 8.4 at this time of year (Kalk at night). However there is certainly evidence that wobbly pH, increases calcification. There is also evidence (but I've not detected it) that increased pH also increases calcification.
I expect without a calcium test and calibrated salinity result you will be shooting in the dark. I did shooting in the dark as part of my REME training, it's hilariously pointless, lol.

 

[Ziggy17]

Please don't fall into the AFR trap.

what exactly is the trap, and what happens if you fall into it?