Is it time to start dosing 2 part?

[squidsreef]

I am planning on dosing BRS 2 part, and I was thinking it is time to start dosing, but I'm not 100% sure.

I have a 60g tank with about 15-20g of sump water for a total volume around 75-80g.

It is a newer tank, only a few months old, so I don't have a ton of corals, but I have noticed through testing that they are consuming calcium and alkalinity faster than normal water changes can replenish.

I use red sea coral pro salt which has dkh of 12 and calcium of 450.

Parameters currently (doing a water change in 2 days):
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: ~5
dkh: 7
Calcium: 370
Ph: 8.2
Temp: 77.9 f

Over the last 4 days, my calcium has dropped from 385 to 370 and my dkh has dropped from about 8.1 to about 7.

With my regular bi-weekly 15-20% water changes, the dkh will be raised by about 1, but my corals are consuming faster than I can reasonable do water changes.

Is it time to start dosing?

 

[Nigel35]

I would think for the benefit of the coral it would be good to dose. Make sure that when you do water changes that Ca and DKh don't dramatically rise over your desired amount and dose according to your tanks need.

 

[squidsreef]

I would think for the benefit of the coral it would be good to dose. Make sure that when you do water changes that Ca and DKh don't dramatically rise over your desired amount and dose according to your tanks need.

Thanks! I want to keep dkh around 9, so a 10-20% water change shouldn't raise it by that much. I am also planning on switching salts once this one is out to something like Tropic Marin pro-reef salt which has lower levels of calcium and alkalinity.

 

[Red_Beard]

Kalk is another option, and until recently was what i used. I just started BRS 2 part though too and so far love it. I feel like you can be more precise with what exactly gets dosed. Full disclosure though only been using it a month.

 

[Uncle99]

I’d check your tests.
New tank, few corals, using a high alk salt.
Doesn’t add up to me.