Need some help here when it comes to dosing.

[Flyride95]

Hello guys. So since I have gotten into this hobby all I have ever dosed was coralvite and just did water changes monthly. But can you guys please tell me the purposes behind doing Kalk dosing your top off, co2 dosing and whatever else you guys dose on ritual. The reason I am asking is next week I will be setting up my 180gal aquarium and all I am running is carbon and gfo I do not want the tank to become a huge hassle in 6-9 months. Thank you guys in advance.

[rrasco]

There are three primary compounds you should focus on: Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium. You will want a test kit to measure these. They all have various acceptable ranges, depending on what your goals and livestock are, but they all have a relative balance that keeps them stable if the parameters are maintained in adequate proportions.

Refer to online documentation about your livestock to determine where your parameters should be. What works for one reefer may not work for another, but most aim for near natural seawater as seen below from reefkeeping.com (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/) (the article is worth a read).



Parameter:
Reef Aquaria Recommendation:
Typical Surface Ocean Value:1


Calcium
380-450 ppm
420 ppm


Alkalinity
2.5-4 meq/L
7-11 dKH
125-200 ppm CaCO3 equivalents
2.5 meq/L
7 dKH
125 ppm CaCO3 equivalents


Salinity
35 ppt
sg = 1.026
34-36 ppt
sg = 1.025-1.027


Temperature
76-83° F
Variable2


pH
7.8-8.5 OK
8.1-8.3 is better
8.0-8.3 (can be lower or higher in lagoons)


Magnesium
1250-1350 ppm
1280 ppm


Phosphate
< 0.03 ppm
0.005 ppm


Ammonia
<0.1 ppm
Variable (typically <0.1 ppm)




Dosing is a method used to maintain these parameters.

Kalkwasser (kalk) is one method of dosing. Dosing kalk allows an aquarist to supplement both alkalinity and calcium at once. Typically, kalk is dosed through an auto-top off system, but various delivery options are available. When using kalk, magnesium must be dosed separately as most commercially available kalk mixes do not include magnesium, although some may be on the market. If you want to learn more, much more, about kalkwasser, read this article from Randy Holmes-Farley (http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/).

2-part is a dosing method in which sodium carbonate (soda ash) and calcium chloride are dosed independently in equal parts. This can be performed manually or automatically via dosing pumps. Magnesium must be dosed separately from 2-part, but is included in some commercial 2-part kits (BRS). The magnesium supplement is a mixture of magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate. BRS 2-part product demonstration video (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video/view/how-to-dose-2-part-video/)

Co2 is commonly used in calcium reactors to regulate pH. I don't have any experience with calcium reactors so I can't add much more than that, but calcium reactors are typically only necessary in high calcium consumption tanks.

----

I personally use 2-part with dosing pumps for cal/alk and dose mag manually when necessary as it's depleted much slower than the other two. Maybe monthly where cal/alk is dosed daily.

To begin dosing with 2-part, you will want to test and see where your parameters are. Using a 2-part solution (I use BRS) and online calculators (also on BRS), dose each supplement to bring your parameters up to acceptable levels. Once your parameters are in line, begin with an estimated daily dose (I started with .5ml/gallon). Test the next day and see where your parameters are. If it's higher than desired, lower your dose. If it's lower than desired, raise your dose. Repeat the following day and so on. Do this until you find your daily consumption levels. From what I've learned not everyone doses daily, but I know my tank needs it, so your mileage may vary, but that's the jist of how I get started dosing with 2-part.

[Flyride95]

Thank you! What about co2 pumps?

[ramsey]

Thank you! What about co2 pumps?

Co2 is used mostly for freshwater planted tanks. It's used in a reef tank as part of a calcium reactor. Dosing co2 in a reef tank would just give you a huge algae bloom.

[aquasport24]

You meant a c02 cylinder right ? not a c02 pump..You're only need a c02 cylinder if youre using a calcium reactor.

[Flyride95]

Gotcha. So it would be smart then for me to get alk / cal / mag tests and do a 2 part dose in my auto too off then?

[jrossjr79]

Not trying to hijack your thread or anything, but I also have a question on dosing, since I know my calcium is low, and I dont have the other 2 test just yet, this is just preparation work. I do not have an ATO system, what other methods are there to dose?

[rrasco]

Not trying to hijack your thread or anything, but I also have a question on dosing, since I know my calcium is low, and I dont have the other 2 test just yet, this is just preparation work. I do not have an ATO system, what other methods are there to dose?

If your calcium is low, your others are probably low as well. As all three of these compounds rely on each other, dosing one while not paying mind to the others will only lead to confusion and number chasing. You definitely want to test and dose for the big three.

You can alternately dose kalk by hand or by kalk drip.

You can dose 2-part by hand or dosing pumps.

[jrossjr79]

Thank you, yes that part I knew that all 3 depend on each other, but I thought calcium and alk were opposite of each other, one is low the other would be high.

Ok, just wanted to make sure there was a way to dose with out ATO

[Flyride95]

Ok fellas so tonight I stopped off and got a calcium test. Came home and tested my 1.026 saltwater to find out that it is alllll the way up at 560! I couldn't believe it so I retested and sure enough it was right. So here is my question. Is this too high? And how do I lower it?

[aquasport24]

What test kit do you use? I bet your alk is low then.If that is a true reading for calcium. I would test it again tomorrow.

[Flyride95]

Yea I need to go pick up an alk test. I figured it would be a bit low and that would explain things. I'll get back with you guy when I get the alk

[Flyride95]

Red Sea test btw