More Live Rock = Less Dosing

Zero Nitrates · Jul 28, 2014

Does more live rock in a tank equal less dosing?
My display tank has considerably more live rock in it and requires less dosing than my frag tank which has very little live rock. My thoughts are that the live rock with circulation is acting like a calcium reactor on a smaller scale.

pickupman66 · Jul 28, 2014

I would say no. in a calcium reactor you must get the media exposed to a PH under 6.5 for it to dissolve into solution to be used by your tank.

Daniel@R2R · Jul 28, 2014

pickupman66 said:
I would say no. in a calcium reactor you must get the media exposed to a PH under 6.5 for it to dissolve into solution to be used by your tank.

+1. The ph of a reef tank does not get low enough to begin dissolving live rock, sand, or cc.

SCMatt · Jul 28, 2014

I feel like the more obvious answer is in the OP. "Frag tank", meaning its probably using more for growth and its probably a smaller volume of water which in turns means more dosing as its being sucked out faster by the coral. Nothing to do with the rock IMO.

Daniel@R2R · Jul 28, 2014

SCMatt said:
I feel like the more obvious answer is in the OP. "Frag tank", meaning its probably using more for growth and its probably a smaller volume of water which in turns means more dosing as its being sucked out faster by the coral. Nothing to do with the rock IMO.

Agreed. I thought he was considering adding LR to the frag tank as a way to buffer calcium...which won't work. I do think your explanation of why more dosing is being required makes great sense.

jackson6745 · Jul 28, 2014

I would think the opposite maybe true. More surface area for coraline to grow would consume more calcium?

backpack · Jul 28, 2014

Coralline uses a lot less than sps from what I've seen.

JOSE CASAS · Jul 28, 2014

no like someone sated less water, lots of coral, growing = more dosing

pickupman66 · Jul 28, 2014

that does make sense about he water volume. it is consumed faster from the smaller portion of water. I know on a big tank, with alot of coraline growth, it can really suck the calcium down.