Dosing.... Who doesn't?

Duke4Life · Apr 13, 2016

Does anyone run a reef and not dose a thing? If you don't dose, what type of equipment do you have running?

I'm probably among the few on here but I'm not into dosing. Anyone else?

DeniseAndy · Apr 13, 2016

I do not dose if you are referring to the typical ca and mg. I do run a calcium reactor though. This is used instead of the main alk/Ca dosing. That is for my 210g reef. Other than the ca rx, I have a protein skimmer, uas, and carbon rx. That is the only equipment. Been running over 6 years.

Now, on my 40g. I run the prodibio dosing. This means, I add their set of vials once every two weeks. This system also has a protein skimmer, just chemipure blue and an uas. Been running over 1 year.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 13, 2016

Not sure exactly what you mean by "dosing" but generally you cannot keep thriving hard corals (at least growing hard corals or coralline algae) without somehow delivering substantial alkalinity.

Some salt mixes may have enough excess calcium that water changes can maintain it adequately, but normally it is needed too.

Duke4Life · Apr 13, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Not sure exactly what you mean by "dosing" but generally you cannot keep thriving hard corals (at least growing hard corals or coralline algae) without somehow delivering substantial alkalinity.

Some salt mixes may have enough excess calcium that water changes can maintain it adequately, but normally it is needed too.

Did you dose anything with your old setup? I know you were mainly softies and if I go full on that's my direction. Is coraline a necessity? I know it's pretty and all but does it offer anything else?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 13, 2016

I used Iimewater (kalkwasser) for all top off' so that was adding something like 2-3 dKH and 10-25 ppm of calcium each day. Hard corals (bubble coral, galaxea, etc. for example) a medium sized clam, and coralline were the primary users in my tank.

Many creatures will need calcium and alkalinity but hard corals, clams, and coralline algae are among the biggest users.

Duke4Life · Apr 13, 2016

DeniseAndy said:
I do not dose if you are referring to the typical ca and mg. I do run a calcium reactor though. This is used instead of the main alk/Ca dosing. That is for my 210g reef. Other than the ca rx, I have a protein skimmer, uas, and carbon rx. That is the only equipment. Been running over 6 years.

Now, on my 40g. I run the prodibio dosing. This means, I add their set of vials once every two weeks. This system also has a protein skimmer, just chemipure blue and an uas. Been running over 1 year.

I was actually referring to 0 chemicals. I'm 1 of those people doctors hate 2 see as I question all the meds they prescribe for peoples ailments. Now if I know without a shadow of a doubt there's no possible adverse reaction I'm fine. I also worry what happens if I miss a dose or 2, am I reset 2 square 1 or worse.

I never had the worries I do now before. Luckily I'm addicted and in love because this isn't nothing like my 1st go around.

Duke4Life · Apr 13, 2016

I know some of my post sound crazy but I learn a lot this way. It opens my mind more.

brandon429 · Apr 13, 2016

Google this for wow factor

Maritza the vase reef

Uses instant ocean nothing else w sps

The alk agreed. It's delivered for Maritza via water change frequency being set to just before uptake bottoms it out, weekly in the case of this stocking ratio. Easier to pull off in nanos

In larger tanks something is typically added to lessen water change work

DeniseAndy · Apr 14, 2016

Oh, water changes are done when I get around to it. Sometimes every two weeks, sometimes once a month. Since I run a gorg system, they like the nutrients.

The 40g gets a change every two weeks minimum. Sometimes more often. It is lps mainly with some sps in a 6g tank that is part of the system.

revhtree · Apr 14, 2016

I dose ALK and CAL!

3dees · Apr 14, 2016

I don't dose anything in my 120 gal. sumpless softie/lps reef. going on three years and everything is fine.

James Johnson · Apr 14, 2016

I guess I would say it is the difference between just keeping coral alive and the coral thriving. You can probably go a long way on just water changes but at some point your tank is gonna suffer.
I think sometimes we forget that corals are living creatures and deserve the best care we can provide.

Brandon Donaldson · Apr 15, 2016

I have a 29gallon biocube with a 10 gallon sump I do not dose but I do weekly water changes so my level stay pritty good

Brandon Donaldson · Apr 15, 2016

DeniseAndy said:
Oh, water changes are done when I get around to it. Sometimes every two weeks, sometimes once a month. Since I run a gorg system, they like the nutrients.

The 40g gets a change every two weeks minimum. Sometimes more often. It is lps mainly with some sps in a 6g tank that is part of the system.

How do you run your lights I want to add some acros to my lps tank but don't want to burn my blastos and gold torch out