Dosing help

I'm going to start dosing. I don't need to, but I want to see faster coral growth. For some reason dosing really scares me. I don't even know where to start. How do I know how much to put in? Where do I put it (sump, DT,)? I just need a little steering in the right direction.

Any help is appreciated! Thanks!

 

Dosing what??? Ca, Alk, Mg???

1) Add it to the sump. Allows for better mixing before getting into the DT.
2) How much??? Totally depends on your tank size, current parameters and desired targets. SHort answer: Test your parameter... add a little.... wait a day... test again. Repeat until you get where you want.

WHat are you dosing? What are your current levels? What are your desired levels?

Mark

 

Hahaha I have no idea. Here's what I know: a couple weeks after a water change my calcium is around 450 and my magnesium is around 1350. I want my coral to grow faster, and since both those numbers are okay, I don't know if I increase just one, or both.

Oh, also, my dhk is a little low. Like 9.5, I would like to get that up a bit.

 

With those numbers you don't need to dose anything.

How big is your tank?

Ca 450 is perfect. Mg 1350 is perfect. dKH 9-10 is perfect. I don't see dosing as your problem.

If you want more growth.... lights ... feeding the corals....

M

 

I agree feeding would be more ideal to stimulate faster growth. But if you wish to dose, I would definitely do it in the sump. Not the DT as some of the chemicals for dosing can hurt the corals or fish if fully not dissolved.

 

Hmmm okay. Shouldn't be my lights, they are good. But do need to be changed pretty soon. I do feed them...

I thought I read if you increase your numbers then the coral will grow faster? But if they are fine maybe I Should just be patient...lol

 

all the levels seem fine, just wanna keep them there....saturating your tank with increased levels beyond normal isnt going to increase growth rate. If anything it will kill things, a reef likes consistancey. Depending on what kinda coral u are raising u may look at things like lighting, skimming, and water movement for greater coral growth. There are some zeovit additives u can use for sps coral with out going full blown zeovit but otherwise lighting, flow, water cleanliness and consistency will be where u want to focus.

 

Okay, thanks a lot!

 

for a complete beginner to dosing I can sincerely recommend the Seachem range of products
Reef Builder for ALK/DKH
Advantage Magnesium
Advantage calcium

used at the levels described in the beginners instructions on the back of the tub they are excellent products IME

My SPS reef benefited from nightly dosing of reef builder - only 1 teaspoon dissolved into 500ml of RODI and dripped very very slowly Via a knotted airline into the tank - a sump would be even better

I maintained Ca of 440 - and again that was due to dosing every other day with 1.5 Teaspoons of advantage calcium , again dissolved into 500ml RODI and dripped over a couple of hours or longer

Mag - I was 1440 - 1470 ( level teaspoons of this larger grained product are harder to measure hence the 30ppm tolerance - I only had to dose 4 teaspoons per week to maintain this

I would test your water 24 hours after a water change, and then test again just prior to the next water change
then do the same the week after

the difference between the 2 readings is the weekly utilisation

if for example you would drop 0.5 dhk during that week, and 10ppm Calc, and 30ppm Mag
then thats what you need to dose during the week between water changes

IME - readings that fluctuate yet remain within tolerance are not ideal for growth especially with SPS ( so 450 just after water change and 420 a week later for example should IME be compensated by additions during that week

Pick a number for the big 3 - within the tolerances generally accepted and then work out what you need to keep them there

thats what worked for me

Steve

 

Most corals don't grow all that fast, not like plants in a garden. Your levels of chems. are good. Give them time. Think months and years, not days and week. Frustrating ain't it!