When to start dosing

[Reefer_Marc]

So, i am wondering when would be the right time to start dosing, something like AFR or Two Part.
Up to now i just dosed Alk as needed with Balling Light KH, which was not too much. But now that my few corals started to grow more, i go through 0.5 dKh of Alk a day.
I also noticed just recently that my calcium and magnesium are starting to lower. I was always around 1440 for mag, and 430 for calcium. Weekly water change always kept up with it so far. Now, when i tested yesterday, one day before waterchange, the mag and calcium were lower. Not very much, but still a bit. Before they were always stable on those numbers. Now they were 1340 for mag (-100 ppm) and 390 for calcium (-40 ppm).

Attached is also the trace elements from my last ICP (almost 2 months ago).
Its in german, sadly i cant change it. But the order is:
Zinc
Vanadium
Copper
Nickel
Molybdenum
Barium
Cobalt
Chrome
Iron
Lithium
Manganese
Selenium

Everything is too low, according to the icp, except vanadium which is ok, and iron which is too high. I already found the suspected culprit for the iron, which was my glass heater. It had a leak and water got inside, already got it replaced.

Not sure if the trace elements are important for the corals i have right now, or what the consequence of it being low is. The only one i know is manganese for gonioporas.
Also have a stylophora, duncan, frogspawn, acan, favia, zoas, symphyllia, caulastrea, blaso, fungia, capnella and a big leather.


When would be the right time to consider dosing more of an all for reef, which as far as i know also contains some trace elements?
Chemistry is really not my strong point, so really looking forward for any help!

Thank you!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

When alk is depleting below your target level is the sign it is time to dose. AFR or a two part are good choices with pros and cons to each.

 

[Reefer_Marc]

When alk is depleting below your target level is the sign it is time to dose. AFR or a two part are good choices with pros and cons to each.

I am dosing alk with balling light KH, about 40ml a day currently to replace the 0.5dKh thats being used daily.

What are the pros and cons of AFR vs two part? If i dose 0.5dKh a day would calcium or magnesium get too high? Or do i just dose according to alk consumption? And do they contain trace elements?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I compare all sorts of methods here. I currently use AFR for convenience.

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

 

[Reefer_Marc]

I compare all sorts of methods here. I currently use AFR for convenience.

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

Thanks! Going to check it out

 

[Baylott224]

I compare all sorts of methods here. I currently use AFR for convenience.

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

Thanks! Going to check it out

Second on the afr keeps my alk Calc stable but it rose slithhtly by. 5 in like 20 days so I need to lower the dose by 1 ml a day I dose it manually with a beaker. But I want to automatically dose soon but. I do about 10 ml a day in my bio cube 32 it only has a 3 small LPS and the rest softies but I have alot of inverts and coralline algae covers that covers the whole back wall area and all over every rock so I think that's taking a good amount alk and Calc a day just in the inverts and coraline