Dosing for the first time

Ok, so I'm really just scared, probably just newbie jitters. I'm fighting with algea, some red-slime and some green hair (I moved a rock and stirred my sand bed, I think thats why this happened). Anyway, I'm thinking of dosing to maintain my ph. I got three products so far all Kents Marine: Pro Buffer dKH, Liquid Calcium and Strontium & Molybdenum. The instructions are really vaugue so can I get some help please. I do have API tests for calcium and Carbonate Hardness. I'm going to post this and do a water test so I'll post my params in the next 30 mins or so (cooking dinner too so mabye longer)

 

so now I'm reading the 3reefs diy 2part, I'll return these and make my 2 part.

 

I wouldn't dose to control your ph, it's a losing battle. There are two main things to be concerned with for ph, your alkalinity (carbonate hardness) and the tank and room's ventilation. If you keep those two things up your tank PH should be fine.
Try and maintain something like 400-450 calcium, 9-10 dkh alkalinity and 1400 or so magnesium levels and your PH should fall in line.
Low pH: Causes and Cures by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

For general chemistry stuff read Parts 1, 2, and 3 of the chemistry articles at the top of the page, it will inform you of everything you need to know. I would try and get a basic understanding before dosing anything.
Reefkeeping Online Magazine - Randy Holmes-Farley

Algae, red slime etc are generally excess nutrient issues handled by not overfeeding, skimming well, regular water changes, sometimes a refugium those sorts of things. The main nutrients to watch are nitrates and phosphates, do you know what those are at?

 

nice.



Some of the test kits are pretty nasty... be careful about testing and cooking dinner at same time

 

If you maintain your Ca, Mg and dKH, your pH will follow. Ca and Mg are kept at a 1:3.25 ratio and I generally keep my dKH around 12. My pH is 8.4 and unwavering. I have kept my Ca and Mg at 480 and 1500 in the past. Now, I am in the midst of dropping the values to suit more of a softie/LPS system, but am still going to keep the ratio the same. My dKH I am going to keep at 12.

So just keep those values nice and consistant and pH follow. Bottom line.

I use Epsom salts to maintain Mg, Seachem's Reef Advantage Calcium to maintain Ca and Seachem's Reef Builder to maintain dKH. Water changes should take care of the rest of your trace elements. These, IMO, should be added separately to achieve maximum benefit. Take care of Mg first, then Ca, then dKH.

 

But Pharmr, didn't I read that you (and Packleader I think) are going to a "no water change" type of a set-up? Off topic I guess but I need a link to read something else to confuse my peabrain, lol!

But seriously, I've always focused on stability, I've just been reading alot, and seeing pictures of members tanks that are absolutely gorgeous and I want thant too! I know that dosing isn't a algae fix, its more "the straw that broke the camels back" type of thing with me, you know what I mean? I know that dosing will help me control my parameters better. Right?