What should I Dose?

[ptine_6]

Hi everyone! I set up my 180 gallon reef about 3 and 1/2 weeks ago.

Right now I have a Midas blenny and yellow tang in there. As I continue to add more fish and as my lights come in, I wanted to start considering what method of dosing I want to use for this tank. I've been in the hobby for about 8 years and only kept nano reefs up to this point. Because of that I always used all for reef because of how easy it was. I plan on running this as a mixed reef with sps dominance. Does anyone have any good dosing regimens that are relatively simple to follow? Thanks I would really appreciate any input because I keep seeing a lot of conflicting opinions. Thanks!

 

[BlueSkyAT]

enjoy the journey. I don`t dose anything, so can`t help answer that.

 

[ptine_6]

As an aside, I'm not totally opposed to using all-for-reef again but I was not really sure if it was appropriate for a tank of this size with all of the coral I'll eventually have.

 

[ptine_6]

enjoy the journey. I don`t dose anything, so can`t help answer that.

thanks!

 

[Red_Beard]

Nothing, you dont need to dose anything yet. Phyto maybe?

 

[Tinnerito]

Hi everyone! I set up my 180 gallon reef about 3 and 1/2 weeks ago.

Right now I have a Midas blenny and yellow tang in there. As I continue to add more fish and as my lights come in, I wanted to start considering what method of dosing I want to use for this tank. I've been in the hobby for about 8 years and only kept nano reefs up to this point. Because of that I always used all for reef because of how easy it was. I plan on running this as a mixed reef with sps dominance. Does anyone have any good dosing regimens that are relatively simple to follow? Thanks I would really appreciate any input because I keep seeing a lot of conflicting opinions. Thanks!

You usually don't dose anything until your tank sort of says so, so for now you need nothing. Every tank is slightly different and even though I keep my tanks the same and set them up the same, I found they all require different amounts of different kinds of doses. So jusy see how things go for now; if you see something lacks in your tank then you can consider dosing it. For example, my 6 gallon vertical reef has a generally low mineral content, especially iron compared to the average tank, including my other tanks, thereby I dose a capful of chaetogro every week and to find the right amount to dose, start by dosing a really small amount, and gradually increase it until you find a dosing regamine that works. I've been told by some wise reefers, that I you need to "listen to your tank" I'm not any big expert but I have a lot of experience with dosing different things so I hope this helps!

 

[ptine_6]

I guess let me clarify. I know that right now I don't need to dose anything. But I'm trying to figure out what would be a good method of dosing in the future when i add coral.

 

[ptine_6]

You usually don't dose anything until your tank sort of says so, so for now you need nothing. Every tank is slightly different and even though I keep my tanks the same and set them up the same, I found they all require different amounts of different kinds of doses. So jusy see how things go for now; if you see something lacks in your tank then you can consider dosing it. For example, my 6 gallon vertical reef has a generally low mineral content compared to the average tank, including my other tanks, thereby I dose a capful of chaetogro every week and to find the right amount to dose, start by dosing a really small amount, and gradually increase it until you find a dosing regamine that works. I've been told by some wise reefers, that I you need to "listen to your tank" I'm not any big expert but I have a lot of experience with dosing different things so I hope this helps!

Thanks! Yeah i guess i might be overthinking it a little bit. Better to take things slow

 

[Tinnerito]

I guess let me clarify. I know that right now I don't need to dose anything. But I'm trying to figure out what would be a good method of dosing in the future when i add coral.

Yes! Definitely be aware that dosing may become something you want to do, but don't add anything extra to your tank if it doesn't need it. Just test your params regularly and let the tank figure itself out, especially since it's just starting out you can't expect things to be super balanced just yet :)

 

[Red_Beard]

I guess let me clarify. I know that right now I don't need to dose anything. But I'm trying to figure out what would be a good method of dosing in the future when i add coral.

All for reef will keep you until your sticks start to really take over. Then you can keep up with kalkwasser top offs on top of that, if you want to keep using AFR (I also use currently).
Balling method with trace is good too. Or just 2 part/trace and water changes works well. Really a matter of how involved you want to get, all methods have pros and cons. Randy did a write up on them a while back i will have to see if i can find it.

 

[Red_Beard]

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/pros-and-cons-of-alkalinity-and-calcium-dosing-methods.1069/