Dosing question

[Brew12]

As I keep reading through posts I can't help but notice it seems like a large number of people are dosing at least something on tanks that are under 6 months old.

I have an Apex Dos but haven't even considered hooking it up yet. Within the next month or so I will have 15-20 frags in my tank. Is dosing something that I should be giving more thought to? I assumed that even a bunch of small frags won't consume enough calcium to require supplements other than the occasional water change.

If I'm wrong, please let me know so I can do a better job planning!

 

[mcarroll]

Perhaps if you aren't doing water changes, dosing might be required.

A regular 10%/weekly water change schedule can cover a normal load of frags usually. You just have to keep testing to know when that stops being the case.

Nothing new: "Let your test kits be your guide and stability be your goal."

 

[Brew12]

Perhaps if you aren't doing water changes, dosing might be required.

A regular 10%/weekly water change schedule can cover a normal load of frags usually. You just have to keep testing to know when that stops being the case.

Nothing new: "Let your test kits be your guide and stability be your goal."

Thanks, I just don't want to get to the point where dosing is required without being better prepared for it. And I still have a ton of other stuff to learn in the mean time!

 

[mcarroll]

Dosing isn't hard or complicated if you're already in a routine of testing.* Keep that up and you'll be ready!

The only other thing I can think of is getting familiar with your doser if you plan to use one. There can be a learning curve for the device itself, but shouldn't be much.

2¢

* The example to avoid would be me.....x years in...little-to-no routine of testing anymore (no need)....then the need crops up to add a doser. Not ideal....it took something like 6 months or a year for me to get the doser dialed in....corals weren't too pleased with the repeated exposures to <2.0 meq/L alkalinity. (C'est la vie...things are back on the upswing...again. )

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

some folks have a full GFO and carbon reactor with bio pellets while the tank cycles.

 

[mcarroll]

That's setting up one's reef by the (Nonexistent) Internet Guide To Reefing vs reading a book or having a friends or good store to help them..

Does Facebook put that book out now? I know AOL used to.

I'm pretty sure it's the same set of newbies who wonder why their corals aren't flourishing when they've been watching their pH meter and bristle worm traps like a hawk.

I was always glad to see these folks show up in the store where I used to work, but equally mystified where they came upon the advice that got them as far as they got.

 

[Brew12]

Dosing isn't hard or complicated if you're already in a routine of testing.* Keep that up and you'll be ready!

The only other thing I can think of is getting familiar with your doser if you plan to use one. There can be a learning curve for the device itself, but shouldn't be much.

2¢

* The example to avoid would be me.....x years in...little-to-no routine of testing anymore (no need)....then the need crops up to add a doser. Not ideal....it took something like 6 months or a year for me to get the doser dialed in....corals weren't too pleased with the repeated exposures to <2.0 meq/L alkalinity. (C'est la vie...things are back on the upswing...again. )

That sounds like a good idea. I may use this weekend to install and set up the DOS unit and start using it to add top off water. I don't think my ATO will mind too much!

 

[Iballhog]

I'd dose based on your test results. New or old tank, if the corals aren't sucking it up and water changes are replenishing the levels then don't start dosing.