First time starting to dose

[kred47]

Hi all,

so I’ve hit that point after about 4 months where I think I need to start dosing. My alk is at 7.7 and it is stuck around there at all times. I haven’t seen new coral growth in a little bit and I think it’s time for two part. I just ordered ESV-bionic but im a little confused on how to start. I read that you need to raise the alk and ca in the tank to optimal levels before beginning to dose daily. How should I go about this? I have an alk buffer that says to raise the alk in the tank, but I have tried this for a week and for some reason the alk is just stuck at 7.5-8. Should I continue to do this until my alk is at the desired level of 9 and then start my daily dosing of 2 part?

 

[swallace]

following along

 

[WVNed]

You use a calculator like this
http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html
It tells you how much to add for a desired rise in alk for the product you have chosen
As for the method do some reading at BRS

We recommend adjusting your aquariums parameters in the following order:

1. Magnesium
2. Calcium
3. Alkalinity

It is very important to check your aquarium salinity first, because if that is off, your testing results will not be correct. If your salinity is low, then you can expect other parameters to be low, where if your salinity is high, more than likely you will have other parameters that are elevated as well. After you aquariums salt level is right, then the next parameter to test and dose for will be magnesium. In simple terms, magnesium allows calcium and alkalinity to reach much higher levels in your tank, and without the right amount of magnesium, precipitation will occur and keeping other levels balanced is almost impossible. The last two, calcium and alkalinity can be done in either order, but we do recommend testing and dosing calcium before alkalinity since the calcium solution is much less likely to precipitate.

If making a large adjustment (more than 1.4 dKH) divide the dose up and add to the tank over the course of 1-2 days to avoid dramatic changes in water chemistry.

Powdered alkalinity additives should be thoroughly dissolved into solution before dosing. Dose liquid solutions slowly, into an area of high water flow avoiding direct contact with pumps, heaters and other equipment to prevent precipitation. Avoid allowing the solution to directly come in contact with living corals as well.

It is best to monitor pH during the initial dose and never allow changes of more than 0.20 pH per dose. Never dose calcium and alkalinity supplements back to back, give the tank 20-30 minutes minimum in between doses.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/post/brs-total-package-mixing-instructions

Yes you want to use something different but the method is the same.
test test test dosing requires it be done frequently at first.

Once corrected you use the calculator again to figure out your regular dose you use periodically. It may be weekly or every other day at first.
Do magnesium first because it is why calcium and alk stay in the water instead of precipitating out.

 

[kred47]

You use a calculator like this
http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html
It tells you how much to add for a desired rise in alk for the product you have chosen
As for the method do some reading at BRS

We recommend adjusting your aquariums parameters in the following order:

1. Magnesium
2. Calcium
3. Alkalinity

It is very important to check your aquarium salinity first, because if that is off, your testing results will not be correct. If your salinity is low, then you can expect other parameters to be low, where if your salinity is high, more than likely you will have other parameters that are elevated as well. After you aquariums salt level is right, then the next parameter to test and dose for will be magnesium. In simple terms, magnesium allows calcium and alkalinity to reach much higher levels in your tank, and without the right amount of magnesium, precipitation will occur and keeping other levels balanced is almost impossible. The last two, calcium and alkalinity can be done in either order, but we do recommend testing and dosing calcium before alkalinity since the calcium solution is much less likely to precipitate.

If making a large adjustment (more than 1.4 dKH) divide the dose up and add to the tank over the course of 1-2 days to avoid dramatic changes in water chemistry.

Powdered alkalinity additives should be thoroughly dissolved into solution before dosing. Dose liquid solutions slowly, into an area of high water flow avoiding direct contact with pumps, heaters and other equipment to prevent precipitation. Avoid allowing the solution to directly come in contact with living corals as well.

It is best to monitor pH during the initial dose and never allow changes of more than 0.20 pH per dose. Never dose calcium and alkalinity supplements back to back, give the tank 20-30 minutes minimum in between doses.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/post/brs-total-package-mixing-instructions

Yes you want to use something different but the method is the same.
test test test dosing requires it be done frequently at first.

Once corrected you use the calculator again to figure out your regular dose you use periodically. It may be weekly or every other day at first.
Do magnesium first because it is why calcium and alk stay in the water instead of precipitating out.

Awesome, thank you for the reply that helps a lot

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

7.7 dKH is perfectly fine and if alk is stable there, there is little demand and no need to dose.

if you want it higher, it’s fine to make a one time correction, but don’t set out to dose every day.

 

[kred47]

7.7 dKH is perfectly fine and if alk is stable there, there is little demand and no need to dose.

if you want it higher, it’s fine to make a one time correction, but don’t set out to dose every day.

My only worry is I have about 5 SPS and the rest lps. The SPS have been struggling and I’m afraid it’s because the alk is low. Maybe I’ll try weekly dosing at first and then monitor and adjust from there. Does this sound like a good idea?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My only worry is I have about 5 SPS and the rest lps. The SPS have been struggling and I’m afraid it’s because the alk is low. Maybe I’ll try weekly dosing at first and then monitor and adjust from there. Does this sound like a good idea?

If the SPS are struggling, it’s not from alk at 7.7 dKH. That’s well above most parts of the ocean.

 

[GuppyHJD]

If the SPS are struggling, it’s not from alk at 7.7 dKH. That’s well above most parts of the ocean.

Randy,
How do I determine what alk is stable at? Or should be at?
My tank is growing corals so I am generally happy. The corals are "easier" corals - Neon Green Birdsnest, Bubble Gum Digitatas, Pink and green Montipora, Zoas, Leathers, Torch, Duncans.
I have been manually dosing trying to keep ALK at 9.7, Cal at 450 and Magn at 1440. I have been testing daily for months and I dose nightly.
I had the tank running with ALK 9.7 for over a month and then it started moving around, and my dose has moved up.
When I was away for the tank for two weeks, the daily dose did not keep up with demand and the ALK fell to 7.7.
I am using Seachem products and their calculators
How should I zero in on that my dose should be to get things more stable?

Thank you

 

[gbroadbridge]

Randy,
How do I determine what alk is stable at? Or should be at?
My tank is growing corals so I am generally happy. The corals are "easier" corals - Neon Green Birdsnest, Bubble Gum Digitatas, Pink and green Montipora, Zoas, Leathers, Torch, Duncans.
I have been manually dosing trying to keep ALK at 9.7, Cal at 450 and Magn at 1440. I have been testing daily for months and I dose nightly.
I had the tank running with ALK 9.7 for over a month and then it started moving around, and my dose has moved up.
When I was away for the tank for two weeks, the daily dose did not keep up with demand and the ALK fell to 7.7.
I am using Seachem products and their calculators
How should I zero in on that my dose should be to get things more stable?

Thank you

You're chasing numbers

Whatever Alkalinity your salt mix mixes to at a salinity of 1.026 should be your baseline Alkalinity.

You want to keep it there.

Measure today and then again in one week using a decent test kit.

Work out the dose required to bring the Alk back to your baseline, dose it, and then measure an hour later to ensure it did what you expected. Then dose 1/7 of the amount each day, and measure again after 7 days. and it should have remained quite close to your baseline.

Make small adjustments as necessary as the tank matures and the coral consumption increases.

 

[GuppyHJD]

You're chasing numbers

Whatever Alkalinity your salt mix mixes to at a salinity of 1.026 should be your baseline Alkalinity.

You want to keep it there.

Measure today and then again in one week using a decent test kit.

Work out the dose required to bring the Alk back to your baseline, dose it, and then measure an hour later to ensure it did what you expected. Then dose 1/7 of the amount each day, and measure again after 7 days. and it should have remained quite close to your baseline.

Make small adjustments as necessary as the tank matures and the coral consumption increases.

Thank you for the reply.

The first 9 months of the tank I kept the ALk and Calc inline with water changes. Then when the ALK and Calc started being taken up by coraline algea and other growth, my LFS advised an ALK of 9.7-9.9, so I did many dosings until I got to 9.7. I could then maintain that at 15ml of Fusion2 daily.

Since different salts mix to different ALK, it seems to me there would be a target ALK to aim for.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Thank you for the reply.

The first 9 months of the tank I kept the ALk and Calc inline with water changes. Then when the ALK and Calc started being taken up by coraline algea and other growth, my LFS advised an ALK of 9.7-9.9, so I did many dosings until I got to 9.7. I could then maintain that at 15ml of Fusion2 daily.

Since different salts mix to different ALK, it seems to me there would be a target ALK to aim for.

The target is whatever your salt mixes to.

If you choose a different Alkalinity to your salt, then you may have to adjust a new batch of salt water to match your tank, which theoretically means not just matching Alk, but also Ca and Mg. Too much work.

Pick a salt and work with it, rather than fighting against it

I don't know why a LFS would advise a specific number - it makes no sense.

Corals require stability, not some magic number.

 

[Tony616]

My only worry is I have about 5 SPS and the rest lps. The SPS have been struggling and I’m afraid it’s because the alk is low. Maybe I’ll try weekly dosing at first and then monitor and adjust from there. Does this sound like a good idea?

7.7 is perfectly fine for sps as long as it's stable. Have you check your par or flow? Care to post your water params?

You can try to move it diff area of the tank and see how they react. Remember, sps sometimes take weeks or even months to slowly react. Patience is the key. Good luck

 

[A Fish Called Wanda]

You use a calculator like this
http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html
It tells you how much to add for a desired rise in alk for the product you have chosen
As for the method do some reading at BRS

We recommend adjusting your aquariums parameters in the following order:

1. Magnesium
2. Calcium
3. Alkalinity

It is very important to check your aquarium salinity first, because if that is off, your testing results will not be correct. If your salinity is low, then you can expect other parameters to be low, where if your salinity is high, more than likely you will have other parameters that are elevated as well. After you aquariums salt level is right, then the next parameter to test and dose for will be magnesium. In simple terms, magnesium allows calcium and alkalinity to reach much higher levels in your tank, and without the right amount of magnesium, precipitation will occur and keeping other levels balanced is almost impossible. The last two, calcium and alkalinity can be done in either order, but we do recommend testing and dosing calcium before alkalinity since the calcium solution is much less likely to precipitate.

If making a large adjustment (more than 1.4 dKH) divide the dose up and add to the tank over the course of 1-2 days to avoid dramatic changes in water chemistry.

Powdered alkalinity additives should be thoroughly dissolved into solution before dosing. Dose liquid solutions slowly, into an area of high water flow avoiding direct contact with pumps, heaters and other equipment to prevent precipitation. Avoid allowing the solution to directly come in contact with living corals as well.

It is best to monitor pH during the initial dose and never allow changes of more than 0.20 pH per dose. Never dose calcium and alkalinity supplements back to back, give the tank 20-30 minutes minimum in between doses.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/post/brs-total-package-mixing-instructions

Yes you want to use something different but the method is the same.
test test test dosing requires it be done frequently at first.

Once corrected you use the calculator again to figure out your regular dose you use periodically. It may be weekly or every other day at first.
Do magnesium first because it is why calcium and alk stay in the water instead of precipitating out.

Thanks

 

[Lavey29]

If

My only worry is I have about 5 SPS and the rest lps. The SPS have been struggling and I’m afraid it’s because the alk is low. Maybe I’ll try weekly dosing at first and then monitor and adjust from there. Does this sound like a good idea?

Your tank is only 4 months old as you stated above then that is probably the primary reason your SPS are struggling.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy,
How do I determine what alk is stable at? Or should be at?
My tank is growing corals so I am generally happy. The corals are "easier" corals - Neon Green Birdsnest, Bubble Gum Digitatas, Pink and green Montipora, Zoas, Leathers, Torch, Duncans.
I have been manually dosing trying to keep ALK at 9.7, Cal at 450 and Magn at 1440. I have been testing daily for months and I dose nightly.
I had the tank running with ALK 9.7 for over a month and then it started moving around, and my dose has moved up.
When I was away for the tank for two weeks, the daily dose did not keep up with demand and the ALK fell to 7.7.
I am using Seachem products and their calculators
How should I zero in on that my dose should be to get things more stable?

Thank you

Trial and error is the best way to see what happens with different alk values and dosing regimens.

The only thing you are likely to observe with alk higher than 7.7 dKH is faster hard coral growth.

How much alk in dKH were you dosing each night?

 

[bnord]

If

Your tank is only 4 months old as you stated above then that is probably the primary reason your SPS are struggling.

This indeed. A four month old tank is often times doing well to keep SPS corals alive. I have had several frag‘s sit and stare at me for four months before starting to spread and extend polyps in the early days. You do run the risk of doing more damage by, as they say, chasing numbers. Good advice through this thread and continue to be patient.

 

[GuppyHJD]

Trial and error is the best way to see what happens with different alk values and dosing regimens.

The only thing you are likely to observe with alk higher than 7.7 dKH is faster hard coral growth.

How much alk in dKH were you dosing each night?

I am dosing 0.356 meq/L (20ml ) of Fusion2 in a 120g tank. I started at 15ml and over time, the 15ml was not keeping the Alk at 9.7 so I have upped the dose to 20ml. My goal is to get off of Fusion2 and get to dry chemical/RODI mix but for now, I do not want to change two things at a time.
I have been testing each night at 10pm, and then dose ALK, wait hour, dose Calc and if needed Magn. (manual dosing). Using the dosing pumps, my plan was to dose ALK at 9am, Calc at 9pm daily.

 

[GuppyHJD]

Last night at 10pm my tank was showing 9.8 dKH (tested with Hanna). This morning 11am testing shows 9.0 dKH, so I dosed 28ml of Fusion2 per Seachem's calculator (10ml = 0.176 meq/l). Will test again at 10pm.