Thoughts on dosing containers

[USN74NMCB]

So im thinking of using red sae reefcans for dosing. 2 40L and 2 18L the 40L for calcium and alkalinity and then 18L one for magnesium and the other for trace. To put in perspective my tank is 360 gallon display with a total system volume of approximately 400 to 440 gallons daily calcium dose is 233ml and alk is 150ml mag i adjust monthly currently till i get a 6 month avarage to set up to dose once monthly and double check the parameter. Im currently running 4 simplicity 2L dosing containers that i have to fill up about every 3 to 4 days. Was thinking this would alow me to atleass get 3 to 4 weeks out of a fill up and a few months on the magnesium. Would appreciate any other insight on this ideal. What everyone else might think on the matter.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

#reefsquad

 

[JGT]

Awfully expensive for a bunch of containers. Is space an issue? I use 5 gallon Hedpacks which are food safe. Like $50 for a pack of 4.

 

[USN74NMCB]

Awfully expensive for a bunch of containers. Is space an issue? I use 5 gallon Hedpacks which are food safe. Like $50 for a pack of 4.

I looked at them as well but need two at 10 gallons and 2 at 5 gallons. Can find the 5 gallons no problrm but not seeing any 10 gallon ones that dont need a ton of space. Yes there exspensive but will fit nicely in the area i would like to put them. I wouldn't buy all at once i would need to get one to start as ill need bulkhead for dosing line and ridgid tube to go to bottom and make sure it wotks well before buying more

 

[Rocks reef]

I was just going to mention to use something besides a "reef" brand. As @JGT , you can food grade 5 gallon containers for much less than paying the "reef tax" on reef branded items. I use 2L tupperwear containers used for cereal/pasta/etc... I think I paid $8 dollars a piece.

 

[Rocks reef]

I looked at them as well but need two at 10 gallons and 2 at 5 gallons. Can find the 5 gallons no problrm but not seeing any 10 gallon ones that dont need a ton of space. Yes there exspensive but will fit nicely in the area i would like to put them. I wouldn't buy all at once i would need to get one to start as ill need bulkhead for dosing line and ridgid tube to go to bottom and make sure it wotks well before buying more

Have you looked on Amazon? You can find them in numerous sizes and shapes.

 

[USN74NMCB]

I was just going to mention to use something besides a "reef" brand. As @JGT , you can food grade 5 gallon containers for much less than paying the "reef tax" on reef branded items. I use 2L tupperwear containers used for cereal/pasta/etc... I think I paid $8 dollars a piece.

I have the simplicity 2L dosing containers and they are too small. I also have approximate 400 to 440 gallon system so dosing takes more additives

 

[USN74NMCB]

I looked at them as well but need two at 10 gallons and 2 at 5 gallons. Can find the 5 gallons no problrm but not seeing any 10 gallon ones that dont need a ton of space. Yes there exspensive but will fit nicely in the area i would like to put them. I wouldn't buy all at once i would need to get one to start as ill need bulkhead for dosing line and ridgid tube to go to bottom and make sure it wotks well before buying more

Have you looked on Amazon? You can find them in numerous sizes and shapes.

Yes 5gallon size no 10 gallon then it jumps to 30 gallon which wont fit

 

[JGT]

I looked at them as well but need two at 10 gallons and 2 at 5 gallons. Can find the 5 gallons no problrm but not seeing any 10 gallon ones that dont need a ton of space. Yes there exspensive but will fit nicely in the area i would like to put them. I wouldn't buy all at once i would need to get one to start as ill need bulkhead for dosing line and ridgid tube to go to bottom and make sure it wotks well before buying more

OK, I never looked for bigger than 5 gals and if space is an issue than they might not be for you. Hate to see you spend all that $ though.

 

[Coody]

That’s a lot of dosing. Have you looked into a calcium reactor?

 

[USN74NMCB]

I looked at them as well but need two at 10 gallons and 2 at 5 gallons. Can find the 5 gallons no problrm but not seeing any 10 gallon ones that dont need a ton of space. Yes there exspensive but will fit nicely in the area i would like to put them. I wouldn't buy all at once i would need to get one to start as ill need bulkhead for dosing line and ridgid tube to go to bottom and make sure it wotks well before buying more

OK, I never looked for bigger than 5 gals and if space is an issue than they might not be for you. Hate to see you spend all that $ though.

Yes trust me im still looking but wanted to see if anyonr haf any diffrent suggestions. Might see if i can find some 10 gallon aquariums and then do two 5 gallon headpacks if i can get that all in there as the reefcans have height and not as much width

 

[USN74NMCB]

That’s a lot of dosing. Have you looked into a calcium reactor?

I ran calcium reactor back long time ago and it was a pain to dial in and constantly having to keep checking on

 

[JTP424]

They make baby brutes if you're ok with... ugly looking???
The guys in the link are like... $10, I use them for my water mixing station since I have "small" gallon tanks....

 

[tbrown]

So im thinking of using red sae reefcans for dosing. 2 40L and 2 18L the 40L for calcium and alkalinity and then 18L one for magnesium and the other for trace. To put in perspective my tank is 360 gallon display with a total system volume of approximately 400 to 440 gallons daily calcium dose is 233ml and alk is 150ml mag i adjust monthly currently till i get a 6 month avarage to set up to dose once monthly and double check the parameter. Im currently running 4 simplicity 2L dosing containers that i have to fill up about every 3 to 4 days. Was thinking this would alow me to atleass get 3 to 4 weeks out of a fill up and a few months on the magnesium. Would appreciate any other insight on this ideal. What everyone else might think on the matter.

Anything to extend the time between refills on dosing containers is definitely helpful. While expensive, those containers do seem to help minimize space required.

As others have mentioned, using 5 or 10 gallon aquariums might be more cost effective but you would have to have the room.

 

[get-salty]

You can hydrate yourself then use the container that hydrates you as a dosing container AKA VOSS glass bottles.

 

[USN74NMCB]

So im thinking of using red sae reefcans for dosing. 2 40L and 2 18L the 40L for calcium and alkalinity and then 18L one for magnesium and the other for trace. To put in perspective my tank is 360 gallon display with a total system volume of approximately 400 to 440 gallons daily calcium dose is 233ml and alk is 150ml mag i adjust monthly currently till i get a 6 month avarage to set up to dose once monthly and double check the parameter. Im currently running 4 simplicity 2L dosing containers that i have to fill up about every 3 to 4 days. Was thinking this would alow me to atleass get 3 to 4 weeks out of a fill up and a few months on the magnesium. Would appreciate any other insight on this ideal. What everyone else might think on the matter.

Anything to extend the time between refills on dosing containers is definitely helpful. While expensive, those containers do seem to help minimize space required.

As others have mentioned, using 5 or 10 gallon aquariums might be more cost effective but you would have to have the room.

Yes and room i have some but not alot where even 10 gallon aquariums might take up to much room ill have to do some measuring to verify as i know i would like 10 gallons for calcium and alkalinity and can get away with 5 for magnesium and trace elements

 

[JGT]

Did a quick Amazon search..4 pack of 7 Gals for $110

Yes and room i have some but not alot where even 10 gallon aquariums might take up to much room ill have to do some measuring to verify as i know i would like 10 gallons for calcium and alkalinity and can get away with 5 for magnesium and trace elements

Any chance you have a closet, basement , garage, etc so you can setup the dosing remotely and not be constrained by container size?

 

[tbrown]

You can hydrate yourself then use the container that hydrates you as a dosing container AKA VOSS glass bottles.

He's looking at 5 and 10 gallon containers. VOSS probably aren't going to be sufficient.

 

[USN74NMCB]

Did a quick Amazon search..4 pack of 7 Gals for $110

Yes and room i have some but not alot where even 10 gallon aquariums might take up to much room ill have to do some measuring to verify as i know i would like 10 gallons for calcium and alkalinity and can get away with 5 for magnesium and trace elements

Any chance you have a closet, basement , garage, etc so you can setup the dosing remotely and not be constrained by container size?

No live in a trailer home and tank sits in middle of room not agains a wall able to walk all the way around it

 

[Red_Beard]

There are other options for containers that size, but they are either going to have trade-offs in shape and application or be about the same price. You may find something stackable from something like usplastics.com or similar, but the square ones are in the $60-80 price range anyhow. If those are what you have space for, i would say go for it.