Dosing question?

salttanklife · Sep 20, 2016

Okay I'm new to dosing and I've got a question about the water changes. I make my water up the day before I change it. I'm about to make a batch up here in a few minutes. I use Instant Ocean non reef crystals but I'll be changing after I run out to reef crystals because of the higher levels in the salt. I change 5 gallons a week in a jbj rimless 30 gallon. I just started dosing with Reef Fusion 2 part a few days ago. My parameters before I started dosing at a 1.026 salinity was

Dkh 7
Cal 410
Mag 1230

I assume that this is what my salt mixes at because it was right after a water change. My parameters after dosing this week is

Dkh 8.4
Cal 430
Mag 1290

My question is do I need to raise my parameters in my freshly mixed water by dosing with the reef fusion before I add it to the tank? Would the difference in the alkalinity make a difference? I personally don't feel like it will, but I've learned over the years not to always trust my gut feeling.

lion king · Sep 20, 2016

My experience is it's best to mix the water right before you use it. A precipitation occurs between your major elements and may find you alk, ca, and mg will lower the longer you wait. If you test your water freshly mixed after clearing and test again after you wait you would see this, there is a vid on youtube by red sea that explains. Temp of mixing water and extended aeration also contributes to this, I test and dose my tanks right after a water change. I also use a salt that major elements are in line with what I keep my tank. A quick rise is alk can stress certain corals, most advise no more than a 1dkh rise in 24hrs.

salttanklife · Sep 20, 2016

I'll test just as soon as the water clears here shortly. Instant Ocean recommends letting it mix for 24 hours before use. I always have because of it and never questioned why. If it's better for the tank, I'll definitely give it a try. I know Red Sea recommends to use right away and I'll either be switching to Red Sea or Reef crystals after I run out of Instant Ocean. I've got around 60 gallons of salt left that I'd like to use before changing. I just don't know if I need to dose the new saltwater before I change. I figure it's around 25 gallons because of of the lr probably losing around 5 gallons in the tank. I change 5 gallons a week in water change. So that's a 20% water change a weekly.

lion king · Sep 20, 2016

It doesn't matter with a fowlr, it's more important with a reef because you want your alk, ca, and mg to be more stable. Instant Ocean is generally used by alot of people with fish only systems. If you are dosing you may find it better to find a salt that has it's alk, ca, and mg close to what you keep your tank. That way you will never have to dose your fresh water, and very little if any dosing after a water change; less work and less expensive in the long run. I see you are using the weekly water change method, you will find as you get your tank stocked water changes alone will never keep up with the demand of elements.

salttanklife · Sep 20, 2016

That's where I'm at with the tank now and started dosing this week. I've got various types of Favia, Montipora, Zoas, Hammer, Frogspawn, Birdsnest, and a clam that is using the calcium up at a rate faster than a water change can handle. I started dosing reef accelerator alone last month and I feel like that possible drove my Alkalinity down. That's the reasoning for switching to the 2 part calcium and alkalinity. I considered going with Kalk but that only keeps up for so long before having to dose. So I decided just to avoid doing kalk and jump right into dosing. I've got my parameters where I want them this week while dosing with the reef fusion. I plan on the switch from IO to reef crystals or red sea. I'm just trying to figure out what to do until the switch. I'm not sure sure if I need to bring my freshly made saltwater up to the same level as the tank. My alkalinity has a 1.4 difference and I'm not sure if that'll be harmful or not with a 20% water change.

salttanklife · Sep 20, 2016

My tank has been up and running for around 6 months. I get excellent growth from my coral, but I was adding the reef accelerator because I figured it would help promote my coralline growth. I was getting coralline but it wasn't spreading like I wanted it to. I only had a calcium tester at the time(API) and I couldn't get a reading over 400. I figured I had a alkalinity problem with not being able to raise the calcium. I went and bought a Red Sea pro Cal, Dkh, and mag test kit. That's when I seen my alkalinity was at 7. I know I should have been testing all along, but I was getting great growth from all coral and no problems what's so ever with the tank. My dragon soul have went from 3 mouths to 7, Hammer and frogspawn have added another head, Hollywood stunner is just a crazy grower ( I'll have to frag soon), Montipora spongode has grown like crazy, Gatorade zoas have added at least 10 new polyps this month alone, various other types have added new polyps, and my clam has grown.