Is there a Dosing FAQ post?

[blstravler]

Getting back into the hobby after a 10 yr break and last go around I was using a Cal Reactor - seems like Dosing is also popular know. Would like to learn more - anyone know of a good post that covers all the major points - I searched but could find a good all in one?

Cheers.

 

[Reefahholic]

Getting back into the hobby after a 10 yr break and last go around I was using a Cal Reactor - seems like Dosing is also popular know. Would like to learn more - anyone know of a good post that covers all the major points - I searched but could find a good all in one?

Cheers.

There’s people putting Calcium Reactors on Pico’s these days. The wave is hitting so hard and fast that it’s sweeping YouTube. LOL.

Naw, if you’ve been in the game a while...you know the arguments on both sides.

CaRx always comes down to these main 3 points:

1. Stability
2. Trace elements added
3. Set and forget (easy)

I do not know how much trace they add back. Stability seems logical after all the tweaking. The ease of us can be debatable.

For me, dosing is easy for me personally with my 75/G system. Nowadays we have multiple trace elements available to supplement. Then you look at dosers running off the cloud with phone apps like my GHL 2.1 SA...and it’s pretty simple. I can dose up to 150x a day if I wanted. That’s pretty darn stable.

To answer your question...I’m not sure if there’s a one stop dosing manual, thread, or YouTube video out there, everybody would be happy to help you. You basically add the big 3 as needed among many other elements that you feel are beneficial (if you like) in the correct concentrations of course and that’s pretty much dosing in a nutshell. Tweak the dose via dosing calculators as demands > or <. You can use the calculator on the BRS website and others. Bam! It’s that easy.

 

[blstravler]

One thing I find interesting compared to 10 years ago is the use of automation (ie Apex) I assume most people are controlling there Cal Reactor or Dosing pumps remotely? - something I want to definitely do as I plan my next tank.

 

[Reefahholic]

One thing I find interesting compared to 10 years ago is the use of automation (ie Apex) I assume most people are controlling there Cal Reactor or Dosing pumps remotely? - something I want to definitely do as I plan my next tank.

Yes, a lot of dosers are controlled via WiFi / Cloud remotely. These are stand alone dosers. Or they can be setup with a controller and controlled remotely as well. Example: GHL

Also, most people with CaRx’s control some of their equipment with a controller. Like the pH prob/solenoid. I’m not sure about the Kamoer continuous dosing pump that is used to pull or push water through the media. I think they’re stand alone. Not sure.

Which ever way you go, there’s pros and cons on both sides of the fence. If you plan to have a large system that will be SPS dominated, you may want to consider a CaRx.

If you plan to run a smaller system 150/G or under...you may wanna consider a dosing pump. Hope this helps.

 

[blstravler]

I watched a few videos on BRS one of them was a demo on setting up a new CaRx and I couldn’t believe how the PH probe/controller just sits in the unit now and controls the solenoid - I remember counting bubbles, measuring the effluent and testing it for PH. Then checking constantly - nice to see things getting easier/more precise. I’m thinking about around 150gal tank but will do all SPS and will probably go CaRx - but still need to learn more about dousing. Years ago it was CaRx or ESV 2 part and that was kinda all I knew.