When Did You Start Dosing, and Why?

[Reefer Matt]

I’d like to have a discussion on one of the most confusing topics for beginner Reefers, dosing. Dosing is usually done to replace something in our tanks that gets depleted. Often times it becomes required when certain species strip out elements faster than a water change can replace them. But the question often arrises of when and how we decide to start dosing, and the effects it has on our tanks.
So I ask: What do you dose, and why? Have you noticed any effects of dosing your tank?

 

[Jasonak]

When I started getting serious about growing coral. I DOS ALK, CAL, and MAG
Also I started testing on a regular basis, which is another factor that changed everything.
The effects were that I went from growing a hand full of hardy corals to being surprised if a coral doesn't do well in my tank.

 

[Wu Wei Reefing]

Started when water changes couldn’t keep up with system demand to keep things steady when nutrients didn’t allow water changes. Effects of dosing? Stability.

 

[MoshJosh]

After I started seeing my calcium and alkalinity drop. I started with kalk in the ATO, slowly increasing the concentration until my calcium and alkalinity depletion outpaced the tanks evaporation, then I move to dosing two-part on a pump.

 

[exnisstech]

I start when WCs can't keep up with alk consumption.
I love simple. I find it interesting when new reefers say I want to start dosing. I wish I didn't have to because it requires another piece of gear that has to be purchased, maintained and can can fail. Also it's one more thing that I have to keep up with. But keeping SPS requires it since WCs alone can't keep up. I like AFR on my SPS tank because its simple and my corals have done well with it. I dose to maintain alk 8-9 dkH. Calcium is only tested occasionally but I've never had to make adjustments. I never test magnesium and I don't do ICP tests so I have no idea where my trace elements are at.

PS I ran a lower demand tank for 6 years on kalk via a cheap doser on a digital timer. I also manually dose ESV 2 part to another tank that has low demand.

 

[Reefer Matt]

I find it interesting when new reefers say I want to start dosing. I wish I didn't have to because it requires another piece of gear that has to be purchased, maintained and can can fail.

I agree, and this is where I’d like to help. I think new Reefers assume that dosing is something that will boost their success with a new tank. Dosing to me isn’t a choice, it’s a necessity when a tank matures.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Nice thread!

I never does anything more than Calcium, Alkalinity and the occasional Magnesium. But I only started when daily testings started showing a demand for the elements that the current water chemistry couldn't keep up with!

Dialed in dosing, with the right equipment can make life so much easier!

 

[Reefer Matt]

All the talk about dosing, I’d figured there’d be more to say. I bet most Reefers dose something because someone told them they had to.

 

[dvgyfresh]

I’d like to have a discussion on one of the most confusing topics for beginner Reefers, dosing. Dosing is usually done to replace something in our tanks that gets depleted. Often times it becomes required when certain species strip out elements faster than a water change can replace them. But the question often arrises of when and how we decide to start dosing, and the effects it has on our tanks.
So I ask: What do you dose, and why? Have you noticed any effects of dosing your tank?

AFR 10ML every 3 days or so. I don’t like to water change , I use it to maintain alkalinity. No sticks but coraline algae eats up a lot. I also Dose Red Sea AB+ , phytofeast , and zoo plankton because I also have clam .

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

it requires another piece of gear that has to be purchased, maintained and can can fail.

Here is my dosing equipment:

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

I started dosing right after I bought my Ca, dKH and Mg test kits. I think there is a cause & effect relationship.

 

[Freenow54]

I’d like to have a discussion on one of the most confusing topics for beginner Reefers, dosing. Dosing is usually done to replace something in our tanks that gets depleted. Often times it becomes required when certain species strip out elements faster than a water change can replace them. But the question often arrises of when and how we decide to start dosing, and the effects it has on our tanks.
So I ask: What do you dose, and why? Have you noticed any effects of dosing your tank?

I started depending on what you consider Dosing because I kept losing Corals. I use K+ and A - but also and I credit Seachem Photo Plankton on starting " not rapidly " to improve health . I still think it may be lighting not sure

 

[exnisstech]

Here is my dosing equipment:

SPS tank has a doser.
Other 3 are dosed high tech.

 

[dvgyfresh]

Graduated cylinder and pipette only doser you need ! Although I may be speaking different if my tank wasn’t a nano lol

SPS tank has a doser.
Other 3 are dosed high tech.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Graduated cylinder and pipette only doser you need ! Although I may be speaking different if my tank wasn’t a nano lol

I don't think I'd be dosing 2-part with a pipette if I had a 200 gallon tank. I mean, I'm retired, but there are other things I'd like to do. Eat and sleep come to mind.