Help with what to dose?

[T33BLACK]

I have 135 gallon mixed reef has been running for 2 years and I just bought my first doser. Up until this point I have relied on water changes weekly and occasionally added some supplements but would like to cut back on those and start dosing I also have a refugium that does well. Any recommendations on what to use would help me out for calcium,alk and magnesium. I know how to use the calculator and find out how much I need to dose just looking at what products are best to use. Also thinking of adding kalk to my ato? Any suggestions?

 

[nereefpat]

There are lots of ways to skin this cat.

Since you have a doser, It's probably simplest to use a 2 part. That means an alkalinity part and a calcium part dosed independently with some time in between. For alk, I would just use baking soda. For Ca, I would buy bulk calcium chloride from Bulk Reef Supply or somewhere, although there are cheaper calcium alternatives like certain ice melt salts.

Kalk is another option. It can, in some instances, cover the demands for alk and Ca on its own. Or you can choose to mix 2 part dosing with kalk dosing. Ideally, kalk wouldn't go in an ATO, but would be dosed, so that it's more consistent.

 

[Buffalou]

Is your parameters dropping? If your at the point that you need to dose to maintain levels there are several yo can chose. I have used ESV 2part as well as Seachem fusion. I was using Aquaforest 1,2,3 component just before going to a calcium reactor, I'm sure you'll get plenty of input.

 

[T33BLACK]

Yes my levels are dropping quicker than before and I'd like to limit my water changes to maybe once a month or more and just dose to keep up with the demand. So if I dose calc,alk and magnesium there should be no need for kalk in my ato correct?

 

[nereefpat]

So if I dose calc,alk and magnesium there should be no need for kalk in my ato correct?

Some people like the pH boost from kalk. But as far as alk and ca, no

 

[T33BLACK]

Ok. My magnesium seems to drop quicker than my alk and calc

 

[T33BLACK]

So in theory if I dose 2 part and magnesium I could stretch out my water changes or is there more I need to add in between them.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Hi,

I am with @nereefpat except for the kitty part ;Happy

I was wondering what doser you have? How many doser heads? I am also surprised to hear you are running thru Mag faster than anything.

You have several options as mentioned. You could run the doser thru a Kalk stirrer which would handle calc and alk and help PH. You can also do a 2 part. There are many products to choose from.

I personally found after running several type setups that 3 doser heads feeding alk, calc, and mag have been best.

 

[T33BLACK]

I'm not sure the brand but it does have 3 dosing heads. For some reason I do run thru mag seems I'm always low. Being that I have the 3 dosing heads I was thinking of just doing calc,alk and magnesium and maybe trying a co2 scrubber to help with ph a little

 

[Pistondog]

Used 2 part b ionic for a year then switched to Triton and never looked back.
Good refugium a must for minimal water changes, maybe run some gac as well.

 

[Uncle99]

I'm not sure the brand but it does have 3 dosing heads. For some reason I do run thru mag seems I'm always low. Being that I have the 3 dosing heads I was thinking of just doing calc,alk and magnesium and maybe trying a co2 scrubber to help with ph a little

That sounds like a great idea.
Those are the big three.....
I use Seachem Fushion 2 (Alk) Fusion 1 (CA) and Seachem AquaVitro Ions for MG for 4 years now.

All mine are premixed so I just replace the bottles and is the same concentration every time so very consistent.
I also found that my doser does not clog with the pre-mix stuff.

 

[nereefpat]

Ok. My magnesium seems to drop quicker than my alk and calc

Likely (actually has to be) testing error.

Ca is consumed somewhere around 10 times as fast as magnesium.

 

[T33BLACK]

That sounds like a great idea.
Those are the big three.....
I use Seachem Fushion 2 (Alk) Fusion 1 (CA) and Seachem AquaVitro Ions for MG for 4 years now.

All mine are premixed so I just replace the bottles and is the same concentration every time so very consistent.
I also found that my doser does not clog with the pre-mix stuff.

That's perfect I will look into those that sounds very simple to do your tank looks awesome!