Dosing trace elements with dosing pumps

[jkobel]

Getting my new tank online and while it cycles I wanted to get some input on dosing trace elements with dosing pumps. I am currently thinking Red Sea Coloration A,B,C,D. Thinking of using the BRS 1.1ml dosers. Also thinking of setting up the dosers remotely and pumping thru a wall and letting my Apex run it.

Anyone have any experience doing anything remotely like this? For one, I'm thinking I'm going to need something like the Apex EB8 with all relay switched outlets but dont want one if I dont need it. Would love some thoughts on this as well.

Thanks

 

[vetteguy53081]

Although there are people out there doing such, it can be easily accomplished manually as the most successful way of dosing a reef tank is simply doing weekly 10% water changes. The most popular elements are usually aminos such as Acropower.

 

[Biokabe]

Getting my new tank online and while it cycles I wanted to get some input on dosing trace elements with dosing pumps. I am currently thinking Red Sea Coloration A,B,C,D. Thinking of using the BRS 1.1ml dosers. Also thinking of setting up the dosers remotely and pumping thru a wall and letting my Apex run it.

Anyone have any experience doing anything remotely like this? For one, I'm thinking I'm going to need something like the Apex EB8 with all relay switched outlets but dont want one if I dont need it. Would love some thoughts on this as well.

Thanks

Honestly, you might be better off using the new Kamoer X1 dosers instead of the BRS 1.1ml pumps. They're a little more expensive per pump, but they can be daisy chained off each other to preserve outlets, you can control them via Bluetooth or WiFi (depending on the model), and they're very reliable.

But I also agree with @vetteguy53081 about dosing trace. Namely, that dosing for something that you can't test for is an exercise in blind faith that might not turn out the way you expect. I've toyed with dosing trace many times over my reefing career, and it's never turned out well. Theoretically it can turn out well, but walking that line between "thriving" and "overdosing" is something that I just don't care to do anymore.

If you want to reduce maintenance, you could look into doing automatic water changes. That's something I'd love to do myself.