How often do all of you dose?

[AC1211]

How often do all of you dose your lps tanks? How many corals and how long have you had them?

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

I have over 20 varieties of coral, from softies to SPS. I dose alk daily, Ca 1-2 a week based on testing, and Mg 1-2 a month based on testing.

My big suggestion is to only dose based on testing needs.

 

[Hitman]

LPS tanks usually get away with monthly water changes as they are a low demand group of corals as far as Alk and Ca go.

 

[Vahanyos]

When I had all LPS tank, I didn’t have to do any dosing. Just water changes were enough to keep them thriving

What are you trying to achieve?

 

[AC1211]

When I had all LPS tank, I didn’t have to do any dosing. Just water changes were enough to keep them thriving

What are you trying to achieve?

Lps dominated might mix in a nem. I don't do water changes so I hoping dosing ends up being about once a week

 

[Luisreef]

How often do all of you dose your lps tanks? How many corals and how long have you had them?

Never just water changes in my 32g biocube and that's it I just ad amino acids every 3 days for good coloration

 

[AC1211]

Never just water changes in my 32g biocube and that's it I just ad amino acids every 3 days for good coloration

Sounds like lps are easier than I thought

 

[Hitman]

Lps are the easier corals in this hobby. They thrive in dirty water and are generally forgiving. Depending on your fish load and how much you feed you could go months without a water change.

 

[MrObscura]

Sps thrive in "dirty" water as well.

Anyway I'm surprised to see so little dosing with Lps. Decently stocked Lps tanks usually still have enough daily consumption to need dosing regular dosing.

End story is you dose as little or as much as needed based on your specific tank.

 

[homer1475]

In my mostly LPS tank(85G) I dose 24ml of ALK, and 9ml of cal daily. Mag is taken care of via water changes. Not sure where everyone is saying LPS tanks don't need dosing? Yes most LPS grow slower then SPS, so uptake of minerals isn't as heavy, but eventually all corals require dosing of some sort.

I take dosing differently though. I like to use cheap salt(Regular IO), so I dose up my WC water to match my tank and continue to dose as normal. Just makes it easier for me then trying to figure out how much difference my WC is, then change my dosing.

 

[Hemmdog]

Hourly dosing over here.

 

[AC1211]

In my mostly LPS tank(85G) I dose 24ml of ALK, and 9ml of cal daily. Mag is taken care of via water changes. Not sure where everyone is saying LPS tanks don't need dosing? Yes most LPS grow slower then SPS, so uptake of minerals isn't as heavy, but eventually all corals require dosing of some sort.

I take dosing differently though. I like to use cheap salt(Regular IO), so I dose up my WC water to match my tank and continue to dose as normal. Just makes it easier for me then trying to figure out how much difference my WC is, then change my dosing.

Ok different here so can I see pics of tanks that have both dosing often and little to no dosing?

 

[Elliott Comans]

Dose alk and ca daily, mg weekly
Also dose nopox
Add aminos daily , roids every couple of days
Water change once a month for trace minerals

Yea you can get away without dosing lps but if you want good growth and colour dose according to your test results, all tanks are different

 

[AC1211]

Dose alk and ca daily, mg weekly
Also dose nopox
Add aminos daily , roids every couple of days
Water change once a month for trace minerals

Yea you can get away without dosing lps but if you want good growth and colour dose according to your test results, all tanks are different

If I dose trace elements will that be good.

 

[SDK]

If I dose trace elements will that be good.

I don’t dose anything I can’t test for.

It’s not super complicated. Test your parameters weekly. When alkalinity, calcium and/or magnesium start dropping you need to replenish them. Depending on your tank size and rate of consumption, you can manually dose, set up an automated dosing, or do water changes.

My personal opinion on trace elements. Either start doing water changes or fully invest in a testing regimen. Don’t go halfway and just start dosing trace elements blindly and without a plan. For most of us, small water changes are the cheaper, safer and easier way to stay on top of trace elements.

 

[AC1211]

I don’t dose anything I can’t test for.

It’s not super complicated. Test your parameters weekly. When alkalinity, calcium and/or magnesium start dropping you need to replenish them. Depending on your tank size and rate of consumption, you can manually dose, set up an automated dosing, or do water changes.

My personal opinion on trace elements. Either start doing water changes or fully invest in a testing regimen. Don’t go halfway and just start dosing trace elements blindly and without a plan. For most of us, small water changes are the cheaper, safer and easier way to stay on top of trace elements.

ICP it is bc A. Im interested in it
B. why not

 

[SDK]

ICP it is bc A. Im interested in it
B. why not

I don’t understand what you are asking with A

Assuming B is asking why not to dose trace without full testing. It’s because you are more likely to cause problems with overdosing trace elements than you are to see any benefit. Especially if your tank is not several years old and packed with corals. Water changes will keep trace elements in line without the danger of overdosing or throwing things out of balance.

 

[AC1211]

I don’t understand what you are asking with A

Assuming B is asking why not to dose trace without full testing. It’s because you are more likely to cause problems with overdosing trace elements than you are to see any benefit. Especially if your tank is not several years old and packed with corals. Water changes will keep trace elements in line without the danger of overdosing or throwing things out of balance.

I will do icp test because I want to know what the levels are so I will test and dose trace elements

 

[SDK]

I will do icp test because I want to know what the levels are so I will test and dose trace elements

ICP will give you a snapshot of your current water parameters. It’s not really useful for dosing trace over time as this will not stay consistent, nor will it will show you consumption rates. You need to test at regular intervals over time to figure that out.

If you want to invest in all the testing kits and dose trace as needed, that is fine. In the post you quoted, I mentioned not doing it blindly without regular testing.

 

[rogersb]

My top off doses lime water all day long and I add extra alk as needed based on testing. My green/purple tip torch put on 10 heads in a year. Hammers and frogspawn also put on plenty of heads in that time. I can't imagine trying to keep up with the tank's needs by just doing water changes.