Red Sea 4 part dosing

[Michael123]

Does anyone have any experience with the red tea, four-part dosing, and conjunction with the calcium test? Or does anyone have a link to a set up video. I would like to get it all dialed in to be auto dosing.

 

[FernBluffReef]

I’ve been using the Red Sea 4 part for ~ 2 months or so now. My corals are liking it. I was using just Red Sea Foundation A,B, and C since re entering the hobby after a 22 year or so an absence.

Upon starting the program my corals perked up and I was impressed by that. I based my starting calculations by just doing the math as to how much calcium I was adding previously vs the new program. That conversion worked near perfect calcium wise.

That said I do not find the CA only based dosing as working at all. I find I have to manually dose ~40% more ALK then the program allows which kinda makes sense as the prior RedSea formula assumed a 3:1 ratio of Alk to CA which is about what my tank was using yet the 4 part program is closer to 2:1 ratio of Alk to CA. I also find my MG declining and having to manually dose to bring it back up. The RedSea program itself is very inflexible in that you are not allowed to adapt the program as far as I can find. That is a fatal flaw IMO as every tank is different and I’m not sure if I’ll continue to use. If I do I’ll setup a separate head for ALK so I can automate the extra dosing required and I’ll need to start adding additional MG to my water changes.

I’ve since run an ICP and found my Iodine and Manganese were low. I suspect this is due to me just using Foundation A, B, C for a while before starting the new program. I’ve supplemented both of those to bring that levels up and the corals are really really happy now. So we will see. Program works great. If you’re prepared to manually dose and test more than CA. AND make sure your starting parameters are right. I think I will stick with the program. We shall see

 

[Jenyphur]

Great information...thank you for sharing!

 

[EliMelly]

In other words their product doesn’t do what it’s advertised to do. Thanks Red Sea. I’ll go with all for reef.

 

[Bent17]

Is this still an issue? I am tempted to go for 4 part but worried about Alk increasing and the inability to modify the values from the app

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Is this still an issue? I am tempted to go for 4 part but worried about Alk increasing and the inability to modify the values from the app

Why can't you just dose less alk when needed? I'm not a fan of ever dosing alk based on calcium readings.

 

[Bent17]

The application doesnt allow you. Many people have complained that in order to increase Alk you will need to increase your calcium which is for me suicide. Infact many have mentioned that they broke the dosing setup and are dosing separately

 

[Lavey29]

I've been using red sea ABCD trace dosing for almost 3 years. 10ml of each once a week. My ICP test always come back close to perfect. I do the dosing in between monthly water changes and my corals thrive. I do also hand dose Zinc and manganese once a week just 2ml based on last ICP test. My dosing is lower then the calcium consumption calculation.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The application doesnt allow you. Many people have complained that in order to increase Alk you will need to increase your calcium which is for me suicide. Infact many have mentioned that they broke the dosing setup and are dosing separately

Why do you have to use an app to dose? Is it an equipment thing?

Regardless, if there's some required dosing volume imbalance, you can always dilute one of the supplements as needed.

 

[FernBluffReef]

The application doesnt allow you. Many people have complained that in order to increase Alk you will need to increase your calcium which is for me suicide. Infact many have mentioned that they broke the dosing setup and are dosing separately

App has been updated and you can now unlock heads from the recipe. First thing I did was unlock ALK which I was having issues with ALk constantly going down…. Now I’m dosing extra and automatically- finally. RedSea falls this enable/disable ration which you can do by head, although I can’t fathom unlocking more then ALK

 

[SteveLV]

Any updates on this? About to pull the trigger for my new tank. Thanks!

 

[Bent17]

I switched to it and so far havent changed anything. - parameters are all stable!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I personally would not put this method in my top several to pick from. It just seems too complicated with nothing to make it stand out from any of the other options.

Pros and Cons of Alkalinity and Calcium Dosing Methods

Pros and Cons of Alkalinity and Calcium Dosing Methods How to decide which is best for you and your aquarium. By Randy Holmes-Farley Supplementing calcium and alkalinity is one of the most important chemistry requirements for most reef...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[JohnnyMack]

I’ve been using the Red Sea 4 part for ~ 2 months or so now. My corals are liking it. I was using just Red Sea Foundation A,B, and C since re entering the hobby after a 22 year or so an absence.

Upon starting the program my corals perked up and I was impressed by that. I based my starting calculations by just doing the math as to how much calcium I was adding previously vs the new program. That conversion worked near perfect calcium wise.

That said I do not find the CA only based dosing as working at all. I find I have to manually dose ~40% more ALK then the program allows which kinda makes sense as the prior RedSea formula assumed a 3:1 ratio of Alk to CA which is about what my tank was using yet the 4 part program is closer to 2:1 ratio of Alk to CA. I also find my MG declining and having to manually dose to bring it back up. The RedSea program itself is very inflexible in that you are not allowed to adapt the program as far as I can find. That is a fatal flaw IMO as every tank is different and I’m not sure if I’ll continue to use. If I do I’ll setup a separate head for ALK so I can automate the extra dosing required and I’ll need to start adding additional MG to my water changes.

I’ve since run an ICP and found my Iodine and Manganese were low. I suspect this is due to me just using Foundation A, B, C for a while before starting the new program. I’ve supplemented both of those to bring that levels up and the corals are really really happy now. So we will see. Program works great. If you’re prepared to manually dose and test more than CA. AND make sure your starting parameters are right. I think I will stick with the program. We shall see

Do you know how large these containers are ? I have limited space under my tank, I also have a refigium , did you eliminate it?

 

[FernBluffReef]

Do you know how large these containers are ? I have limited space under my tank, I also have a refigium , did you eliminate it?

The containers vary in size depending on which kit you select (aka small, medium, large). I have two tanks. The large tank is a RS525 and has the sliding control panel with the basket. The four large containers fit in the basket leaving no room for other products such as NoPox that RS recommends or anything else you may want to dose which I think is a bit of an oversight - the design should have at least accommodated room for a NoPox bottle given that is their recommended combo. My other tank is a RS170 which I just got a small kit for that but have not put to use as yet. The small containers are quite small save the ALK which is disportionally taller than all the rest. I have zero room in the cabinet for those hence it had to be mounted outside.

I do not have a refugium. RS recommends against using with a refugium as they take up more traces and recommends their seven part where your testing traces and adding them based on refugium consumption.