Dosing or water changes

[reeflife75g]

If you do water changes regularly do you need to dose cal mag and alk ?

 

[Diesel]

It depend how large your tank is and what kind of corals you have.
Need more info here!

 

[Anirban]

If their levels fall significantly between water changes then yes. You need to keep those parameters stable specially Alk.

 

[reeflife75g]

I have a 75 gallon with some zoas,cabbage coral palys,gsp but I don't do water changes I just dose but the lfs told me to stop wasting money on chemicals and just do a water change every month about 10 gallons

 

[themcnertney]

220g display, 75g sump, mixed reef tank.
I don't dose anything, just weekly water changes.

 

[reeflife75g]

220g display, 75g sump, mixed reef tank.
I don't dose anything, just weekly water changes.

So when you do water changes it replenishes what is gone I'm guessing you

 

[skiergd011013]

I dont dose and I dont test. Got a 30 gallon with no sps and just a few lps, and rest softies. Just coral pro salt with its high levels.

 

[40B Knasty]

Weekly water change works for my 65g. Dosing is for tanks with a mass amount of corals absorbing the minerals or SPS usually, because they need a stable environment. With reefing it is all about nutrients export and stability. The more technical you get(aka spending more money). The less headaches.

 

[reeflife75g]

Weekly water change works for my 65g. Dosing is for tanks with a mass amount of corals absorbing the minerals or SPS usually, because they need a stable environment. With reefing it is all about nutrients export and stability. The more technical you get(aka spending more money). The less headaches.

Perfect I see what you mean no dosing pump or anything just do a water change

 

[Diesel]

Lol, love some of the comments.
Yes 75 gallon do a twice a week 10 gal water change (Monday/Friday)
Preferred.
Yet keep testing only ALK and NO3 as these two will tell you a lot about the rest if you understand the concept from the big three and nutrients.

 

[pingzing47]

If you do water changes regularly do you need to dose cal mag and alk ?

Think of it this way. Corals, especially sps will consume both alkalinity and calcium on a daily basis. Sps want consistent levels so dosing is used to keep the levels constant. Water changes replenish other elements but the key is mixing the batch to be at the same levels you are striving for. This keeps your big 3 in balance. My opinion.

 

[don_chuwish]

As others have indicated, it all depends on what you want to keep and hope to achieve. Even weekly water changes represent a big swing in levels - dropping daily until BOOM swing back up on day 7. For stability, properly dialed in dosing means the occasional water change isn't as much of a shock.

 

[40B Knasty]

I would also like to add it also depends on what kind of salt you use. They are all different. Some are even to high or to low. Here is 2 charts of the "big three" of a bunch of salt brands that I found online. I use Reef Crystals. The alk is pretty high.

If you have a salt to start with that is close to low. Then dosing is a good idea to use for that stability to not go below the recommended. Going to low can be very bad and cause a tank crash. 3 alk I heard is when it starts. Around 6 alk expect close ups.