Dosing 2-part solution Is it necessary?

[SInMontreal]

Hey guys I’m a beginner. I just started my 30g saltwater about 1 week ago. My tank is cycled with bacteria booster. I’m going to have mainly anemone and pair of clown fishes and cleaning crews. And I also wanna have 1 or 2 LPS as well like hammer coral.

So my question is it necessary to dose 2-part solution cal/alk ?

As for information: PH = 8, ammonia = 0, nitrite = 0, nitrate = 10, Kh = 10.1 (3.6meg/l), Ca = 410, Mg= 1440, salinity = 1.024

I’m using RO/Di water and Aquaforest reef salt. And I’m having my cleaning crew in my tank right now ( 2 cleaning shrimp, 8 hermit crab and 2 ninja snails .

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Weekly water changes would likely suffice

 

[Nick30G]

You need to test your Alk/Cal daily to find that out. If your finding that your Alk/Cal is dropping some what significantly per week, it is time to dose. But most likely with only a few small corals weekly water changes will suffice.

 

[SInMontreal]

Thanks I will monitor my calendar/alk closely

 

[PatW]

Virtually all marine invertebrates make their hard parts out of calcium carbonate. They make it by taking Ca and ALK out of the water. So unless you have creatures that do this, 2 part will probably not be necessary.

The real reef building creatures are the SPS corals. You are not planning on having any.

The only things in your tank that will make calcium carbonate are the hammer corals and the two snails. They are not fast consumers of ALK and Ca so water changes should do you. To be on the safe side, just measure ALK about once per month to see if it stays stable.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You don’t need to test daily.

Cal alk and mag are used by organisms mainly to develop shells Skelton’s and bones.
Is there is nothing in the tank with those you’re not using any, or just a tiny amount.

Depletion or usage rate.
As you add coral you will use more. In small tanks with not many stony coral , water changes will put back the amount you are using. I didn’t dose for 6-7 years. Didn’t need too.
Didn’t use enough to justify it.

It’s not super complicated but now I’d a good time to each the tank and read he stickies and articles in the chemistry forum. Look for the beginner articles and go from there.

 

[SInMontreal]

Thanks you guys so much for the information I keep my eye on the Alk

 

[Bxr126]

So much overkill. Do weekly water changes and you won't have to worry about KH, Ca, or Mg. Test to get to know your tank but don't feel like the world will crash if you don't. Your tank is way too new. Nothing is consuming those elements enough to make a difference. Keep an eye on phosphates and nitrates.

 

[Butuz]

You can easily dose alk and calcium by using kalkwasser in your ATO. Don’t need a doser for that. If you need the specifics, check out my build below, apprx page 9.