Reef Dosing Advice (1st timer)?

So, my 55g rookie reef is coming along nicely. I got my ro/di unit finally and am loving it. I'm ready to start testing/dosing additives and just placed a large order of the following

- 2g E.S.V. B-Ionic 2-part Calcium Buffer
- 1g E.S.V. B-Ionic Magnesium
- Salifert Test Kits: KH/AK, PH, CA, MG

The main reason I got the MG kit and additive is that my LFS tested my MG at 1000 so I know I need to raise that first as it hurts the AK/CA levels in my system.

Did I forget anything? I was contemplating the Iodine kit and some Lugol's but I have heard so much conflicting things on Iodine in general. I'm hoping my weekly WC keeps those balanced.

Just checking, so basically I will need to get my MG level up to 1200-1350 first and then I can start using the 2-pt Calcium Buffer? Can anyone chime in with advice I may need being a noob doser?

Thanks!
Joe

 

Looks like your all set after you get that mag up some. The iodine is really not necessary and regular water changes should be sufficient to maintain it and other trace elements. After dosing for a week or 2, check you mag, calcium and alk levels to make sure that they are not being overdosed. Do not dose anything without being able to test for it. Good Luck

 

I am also fairly new and am using the exact same additives and test equipment.Having the Salifert tests should really help you nail down a baseline as they are easy to do and read.Start with the recommended dose on the E.S.V. two part and test every other day to see if its adding or maintaining your perams.Then increase dosage if you need to.A piece of advice for those new to dosing.I made a small spread sheet that has the days of the month from top to bottom and perams accrost the top( Alk,Cal,Mag,S.G.,Phos,e.c.t.) As you record your test results it will be easy to see what dose amounts are adding to your system and how to adjust them based on earlier recordings.This really helped me to figure out what my system needed and when.In under two weeks i had exact daily dose amounts to maintain the perams i wanted.
Hope this helps

 

Thanks for the advice guys, I will def start a spread sheet too.

I will make sure I get my MG up to the right level before I start my dosing.

+1 on not dosing anything unless you can test for it.

 

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MoJoe
Apologies if you already know this , but just in case
follow the guidelines on the calculator when raising any of the levels of the big 3 calc, Alk and Mag

as you dont want to make to large an adjustment in any 24 hour period

Steve

 

been using 2 part for a lil more then 2 yrs now with success. measure measure measure at first and just follow instructions. i got sick of dosing each morning b4 i head out so i got an auto doser which is like having sliced bread. as tank develops you should remember to measure cal,MG from time to time as your corals may need more as they grow but to much and you will be feeding algae. I dose in sump right into the return section so the additives dont get skimmed or filtered by Carbon or GFO canisters and it also allows for the mix to take place b4 going into DT which can burn livestock.