What's the first thing you start dosing?

Aquaman102

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 13, 2019
Messages
123
Reaction score
43
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'm getting to the point where I am thinking about starting a dosing program to get my softy an LPS corals to grow a little quicker.

If everything is in range per the normal specs, what would you start dosing first to encourage more growth?

I've got a 120 gallon tank, with a 40 gallon breeder sump.

120 lb of rock
Reef Breeders Photon V2 lights
Salinity - 35 ppt
78 degrees
pH - 8.1
phosphate - .05
Nitrate - 2 - 5 ppm

Is Kalkwasser the first step? I do have an ATO.
 

mta_morrow

Of course I have room for 1 more fish!
View Badges
Joined
Sep 15, 2015
Messages
7,234
Reaction score
29,674
Location
Sumter, SC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The first thing you need to do is get good test kits for alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium.

Then, test.

Then test again the next day at the same time to determine how much your tank uses everyday.

Then, use a dosing chart to determine how much to dose to maintain.

You will also have to dose to get to desired levels, but first you have to know where you are
 

vetteguy53081

Well known Member and monster tank lover
View Badges
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
90,845
Reaction score
200,112
Location
Wisconsin -
Rating - 100%
13   0   0
Agree- CA, Mag and Kalk. Also temp and salinity
 

W1ngz

Failed Padawan
View Badges
Joined
Jan 10, 2019
Messages
2,307
Reaction score
3,825
Location
Montreal, Canada
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The first thing I started dosing was what my alk, cal and mag tests consistently showed me were low.
alk was always really low come water change time, so I started evening it out with a little baking soda in my topoff water.
 

krash7172

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 29, 2017
Messages
671
Reaction score
820
Location
Kansas City
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Pardon the question but exactly what additives are considered "dosing"?

To answer the OP, I only test salinity and alkalinity and do regular water changes. My softies are thriving. Those are the first and minimum things to worry about imo. Stonies will need more.
 

corresnake

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 25, 2012
Messages
110
Reaction score
6
Location
fremont ca
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I wanna start dosing too.
I will start to do the testing .
And see where my parameters take from there.
 

homer1475

Figuring out the hobby one coral at a time.
View Badges
Joined
Apr 24, 2018
Messages
11,677
Reaction score
18,661
Location
Way upstate NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
First thing you should start dosing..... Water. Saltwater to be exact.

If you start to notice a drop in parameters, see if a normal WC brings them back up. When a WC fails to bring levels back up from consumption, then start testing. Once you get a good idea of how much your tank requires daily, then start adding ALK, and/or CAL daily to keep your tank at a constant(remember stability is the key here, not wild fluctuations).
 

EW_Fish

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 26, 2011
Messages
1,975
Reaction score
749
Location
Chesterfield, VA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Well if you don't have a ton of corals that soak up alk and cal then water changes would work. If you want I would consider keeping alk and cal stable for a healthy tank,
 

foxt

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 6, 2016
Messages
1,633
Reaction score
2,362
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
You didn’t list your all, what is it at?
 
Back
Top