Mixed Reef Dosing Neptune DOS

[tableforglasses]

So this may be more preference than hard facts but I am adding the the Neptune DOS to my system but I am currently using Red Sea Coral Pro Salt and my levels of Magnesium (1400) and Calcium (500) are all pretty high with next to no current dosing. Should I switch to a different salt with less trace elements and rely on the DOS or keep the same salt knowing I basically do not need to DOS anything but levels may fluctuate a little more than with the DOS

 

[GoVols]

So this may be more preference than hard facts but I am adding the the Neptune DOS to my system but I am currently using Red Sea Coral Pro Salt and my levels of Magnesium (1400) and Calcium (500) are all pretty high with next to no current dosing. Should I switch to a different salt with less trace elements and rely on the DOS or keep the same salt knowing I basically do not need to DOS anything but levels may fluctuate a little more than with the DOS

Welcome to Reef 2 Reef!!

You'll love the DOS pumps, but if your reef is not in taking cal, alk or mag, then you don't need to dose for those.

Coral Pro has always been high on alk, cal and mag. (lol)... I like mag at about 1400ppm.

If your shooting for lower cal, alk and mag, then switch over to the Red Sea Blue Bucket mix.
Then after your reef stables out after water changes, then your parameters drop, in between water changes. It will mean that your reef is in taking and ready to dose.

When it comes to that point I'd use your DOS pump for alk and cal dosing, and dose mag by hand on a need be basis.

Need to test a lot and keep your salinity stable too.

Testing kits

API is okay for calcium
Hanna DKH checker is great for alakaliniy
Salifert for magnesium

Hope the above helps, and...

Again,
Welcome to the Reef 2 Reef family....

 

[tableforglasses]

Super helpful. I see a lot of people using the blue bucket so I may switch to that because I also set up a second DOS to do auto water changes and I anticipate using a lot more salt with these consistent changes. I have a salifert DKH test kit that I think just went bad because water is staying yellow no matter what reagent I add to the test tube. I may try the Hannah checker or if BRS ever gets the tridents in stock may switch to that.
The other thing I am trying to figure out is auto top off verse DOS water change and maintaining the salinity you were talking about. I have a 50 gallon reservoir currently but do you keep a separate ATO with just RODI water and one with salt or how do you find that balance between topping off and water changes?

 

[GoVols]

The other thing I am trying to figure out is auto top off verse DOS water change and maintaining the salinity you were talking about. I have a 50 gallon reservoir currently but do you keep a separate ATO with just RODI water and one with salt or how do you find that balance between topping off and water changes?

Yeah,
That would be a nice setup.

I've seen some reefers do an 1% daily water change and pick up the evap water with an separate ATO system to hold the salinity.

If you go that route you may want to post on Randy Holmes-Farley's forum.

I think Randy ran his reef like that, while it was up.

@SPR1968
Hey Shaun,
Are you doing auto water changes on your new custom build with DOS pumps?