First time dosing

[NWJerseyReefer]

Hey all,
I have a Red Sea Reefer 450 that I set up back in December and I believe I am finally at a point where I believe I can benefit from dosing.
Here are my parameters:
Alk: 7
Cal:420
Mg:1440
Nitrates: 0
Phos: .02

Please advise me of where I should strive for my parameters to be at for a mixed reef. I purchased ESV B-Ionic alk, ca, and mg for dosing. And I also bought a dosing pump. Thanks all

 

[melanotaenia]

Your Alk ideally should be between 7-8 DKH, Ca between 420-450, Mag around 1350; your parameters are pretty close to where you should be. Try to get some measurable NO3 if you can.

 

[NWJerseyReefer]

Your Alk ideally should be between 7-8 DKH, Ca between 420-450, Mag around 1350; your parameters are pretty close to where you should be. Try to get some measurable NO3 if you can.

Thanks for the reply. How do you suggest I should go about doing that?

 

[Firedawg1983]

I know you say mixed but what do you have that’s dominant? I primarily have LPS(Euphyllia, Duncan’s, candy canes), two SPS(plating montis) and softies(mushrooms, a leather and Kenya tree). All of them seem to be loving life w around 10 nitrates, .02-.06 phos, alk 8.5-9, cal 420, mag 1400. Keep an eye on them and test and see where all your parameters are often. Every tank is different so find your happy spot and keep it steady. I’m still manually dosing but plan on making the upgrade at the end of the year

 

[Dempsey941]

I would test what your freshly mixed saltwater is testing to and compare it to the levels of your tank before a water change. Then using a dosing calculator like the one from marinedepot to see how much additive you need to add to get your levels to match. From that number you can figure out how much additive you need a day for your dosing pump.

 

[NWJerseyReefer]

I know you say mixed but what do you have that’s dominant? I primarily have LPS(Euphyllia, Duncan’s, candy canes), two SPS(plating montis) and softies(mushrooms, a leather and Kenya tree). All of them seem to be loving life w around 10 nitrates, .02-.06 phos, alk 8.5-9, cal 420, mag 1400-1440. Keep an eye on them and test and see where all your parameters are often. Every tank is different so find your happy spot and keep it steady. I’m still manually dosing but plan on making the upgrade at the end of the year

I have 2 montis, a frogspawn, hammer, torch, black widows bta, toadstool, 3 branching sps, candy cane, gsp, 2 goniaporas. couple of zoas Little bit of everthing.

 

[Vinman]

Test test test remember stability is key slow rise over a month or 2 time. Agree with tank levels= to water chance levels. Keep a log of tests and small slow adjustments

 

[Jon Fishman]

My first time dosing was far out man.....


Your parameters look good to me though

 

[melanotaenia]

I would recommend daily testing of calcium/alkalinity to get a baseline of what your tank is consuming, on average, per day over a two week period; you should be able to establish an average daily consumption after that, and can dose those amounts to maintain the levels you want. Note that your Alk/Ca consumption will never stay completely stable, so even after establishing a baseline daily consumption, it is helpful to continue testing and adjusting dosage as your reef grows and matures.

Also, you can feed more to help increase your NO3, target feeding your LPS should do the trick