Need some advice on starting dosing

WindeyD · Aug 13, 2015

I have a 40B sumpless display that is 2 years old and generally has been very successful. Thus far I have been able to keep my calcium, mag, and alkalinity within a consistent acceptable range with weekly water changes using reef crystals (calcium at 500, Alk at7.8, mag at 1460, ph 8.3). As my corals have grown and been added I am now at a point where water changes alone are not enough. I have found that my alkalinity has been dropping as well as my ph (alkalinity currently at 5.7dkh and ph at 7.8, calcium still high at 550, mag at 1460) This has happened slowly and my corals all still seem happy but I know I need to change my chemistry. I have found that my calcium and mag have always been on the high side, the mixed salt in my bucket generally has cal of 525, Alk of 8.5, and mag of 1460 which I understand in not uncommon with reef crystals. How would you advise I start changing my chemistry? thanks and I appreciate all the advice as I want to do this the right way.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 13, 2015

You're demand is likely quite low, so you may only need occasional additions of a buffer and no calcium or magneisum for a while.

I'd suggest using baking soda (baked first for 1 h at 400 deg F if you also want a pH boost from it.

I'd boost the alk by ~1 dKH per day to 8 dKH, then watch and see how fast it declines.

This calculator shows how much to use:

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chem_calc3.html