New tank Question. When should i start dosing?

[southerntnreefer]

When you want a test sps, let me know. I have a ton in the frag tank. You are 30 minutes from me lol. I would give you a few test frags lol. Just basic stags and such, but good for testing the waters.

We will be in touch for sure my friend! i do want a few SPS along the top for some height, once the tank is a few more months old, and were looking good. Ive never had SPS so basic stags and such will still be fun!

 

[RC Corals]

I will start daily alk testing for sure,

Also it's good habit to test every 3 or 5 days when setting doser program levels to get an amount used, then divide by that much for a daily amount used. Helps to even out variances between days that might trick you into over or under adjusting. And even then you'll over or under adjust for a while.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

We will be in touch for sure my friend! i do want a few SPS along the top for some height, once the tank is a few more months old, and were looking good. Ive never had SPS so basic stags and such will still be fun!

Just let me know. If it does well, then go hit up @RC Corals for some goodies lol. All my named stuffed won’t be fragged anytime soon. Trying to actually grow colonies this time around lol.

 

[southerntnreefer]

Also it's good habit to test every 3 or 5 days when setting doser program levels to get an amount used, then divide by that much for a daily amount used. Helps to even out variances between days that might trick you into over or under adjusting.

good call. ill likely hand dose it until i can get a decent amount needed a day to program it once for a while, and then check it every week to make sure its still good etc.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Also it's good habit to test every 3 or 5 days when setting doser program levels to get an amount used, then divide by that much for a daily amount used. Helps to even out variances between days that might trick you into over or under adjusting.

And test at same time every time you test.

 

[southerntnreefer]

Just let me know. If it does well, then go hit up @RC Corals for some goodies lol. All my named stuffed won’t be fragged anytime soon. Trying to actually grow colonies this time around lol.

Will do. Ill likely drop a head of hammer off whats in my wifes tank in after christmas, or something and see how that does for a few weeks before i throw anything else in there. Not interested in named stuff really, with this one, i just want interesting, and color etc.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Will do. Ill likely drop a head of hammer off whats in my wifes tank in after christmas, or something and see how that does for a few weeks before i throw anything else in there. Not interested in named stuff really, with this one, i just want interesting, and color etc.

This guy is my toughest acro and is a decent grower. We even have a colony in Paxtins 14 biocube and the puffer tank lol. For some reason, they won’t eat it. When you are ready, I will chop off a good chunk for ya. Or if you have an idea of when you want to, I can chunk it prior so it has time heal on a plug, if you want that.

Sorry for the crap pic, I snagged it out of a larger shot. This is the small colony of it. Went from about 2” to this (about 6”) in 4 months.

 

[terraincognita]

I really like RedSea AB+ and they have a ML up to 30ML dosing cap that comes with the product.

there’s a few other products out there with dosing caps.

I’d recommend grabbing one of those instead of trying with the 3ML dropper.

Red Sea also has ALK, CAL, and MAG in liquid form all separate ready for dosing.

I have the Alk myself as I wanted higher ALK levels so used their ALK dose to initially raise it above the other Params.

Yes +1 test same exact time everyday.

your testing must be exactly duplicative for accurate results. Time, drops, water levels etc.

try to get everything exactly the same every time.

 

[southerntnreefer]

And test at same time every time you test.

This guy is my toughest acro and is a decent grower. We even have a colony in Paxtins 14 biocube and the puffer tank lol. For some reason, they won’t eat it. When you are ready, I will chop off a good chunk for ya. Or if you have an idea of when you want to, I can chunk it prior so it has time heal on a plug, if you want that.

Sorry for the crap pic, I snagged it out of a larger shot. This is the small colony of it. Went from about 2” to this (about 6”) in 4 months.

I like that! The interesting growth patterns draw me to it for sure. Tanks been up about 2.5 months wet now. Lights have been on for 2 weeks now. very light if any diatom bloom on glass, nothing else. Just a set of clowns in tank. Cheato reactor and Carbon reactor helping to keep nutrients in check. You are my go to SPS guy so when would you say a tank is ready for SPS, same time as said head of hammer, and duncan for tests? or should it wait a few more months.

 

[southerntnreefer]

I really like RedSea AB+ and they have a ML up to 30ML dosing cap that comes with the product.

there’s a few other products out there with dosing caps.

I’d recommend grabbing one of those instead of trying with the 3ML dropper.

Red Sea also has ALK, CAL, and MAG in liquid form all separate ready for dosing.

I have the Alk myself as I wanted higher ALK levels so used their ALK dose to initially raise it above the other Params.

Yes +1 test same exact time everyday.

your testing must be exactly duplicative for accurate results. Time, drops, water levels etc.

try to get everything exactly the same every time.

ive been looking at ab+ for amminos and such. ill have to order something for sure, but i know i have those on hand, as my tank takes 24 ml of Phyto every other day right now. So i hand dose that and then kill my skimmer on a 4 hour feed mode. Works well thus far. feeds the seeded pods etc. I like the idea of 2 part mostly, as when its time ill be replacing the Jebao with a DOS for my apex, and really dont want to have to buy 2 of them...

 

[terraincognita]

Id say figure out your dosing situation before grabbing the SPS. That way you're just ready to take care of dosing if it needs it.

Otherwise no reason to not grab an SPS now.

Amazon.com : ml measuring

Other options.

Tons of options.

 

[southerntnreefer]

Id say figure out your dosing situation before grabbing the SPS. That way you're just ready to take care of dosing if it needs it.

Otherwise no reason to not grab an SPS now.

Amazon.com : ml measuring

Other options.

Tons of options.

ill raid the wifes stash of cups LOL yea ive got a few things to pick up now that ive hit that point with the tank.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I like that! The interesting growth patterns draw me to it for sure. Tanks been up about 2.5 months wet now. Lights have been on for 2 weeks now. very light if any diatom bloom on glass, nothing else. Just a set of clowns in tank. Cheato reactor and Carbon reactor helping to keep nutrients in check. You are my go to SPS guy so when would you say a tank is ready for SPS, same time as said head of hammer, and duncan for tests? or should it wait a few more months.

If it was me, I would have thrown crap in at day 1 lol. Although I start my tanks with KP rock and use local reefers rock as well.

Never done a dry rock tank, so no clue on when to wait. Typically everyone says when you have coralline you can start on easy sps.

Live rock is a different story lol.

 

[southerntnreefer]

If it was me, I would have thrown crap in at day 1 lol. Although I start my tanks with KP rock and use local reefers rock as well.

Never done a dry rock tank, so no clue on when to wait. Typically everyone says when you have coralline you can start on easy sps.

Live rock is a different story lol.

Yea i always most of the time at least start dry. SO ill give it a bit of time. I havent had to add CUC yet, just as theres nothing yet for them to eat. the further i get down the line, that will happen. Ill likely move over or get another head of something to test further from the LPS side and see. Im not aware coraline coming naturally other than coming on a frag., or a cuc member, and then spreading so we shall see.

 

[terraincognita]

Yea i always most of the time at least start dry. SO ill give it a bit of time. I havent had to add CUC yet, just as theres nothing yet for them to eat. the further i get down the line, that will happen. Ill likely move over or get another head of something to test further from the LPS side and see. Im not aware coraline coming naturally other than coming on a frag., or a cuc member, and then spreading so we shall see.

Coralline natural from white rock is a *****, from "life" rock you'll see it sprout up in no time.

 

[southerntnreefer]

Coralline natural from white rock is a *****, from "life" rock you'll see it sprout up in no time.

correct. Im 100 percent white dry rock. Wife asked for Tonga, and i somehow pulled it off.

 

[blasterman]

First advice I can give is not to couple alk and calcium consumption in a young tank like the kool aid drinkers want you to do. Alk is consumed at a much higher and erratic rate in young tanks than calcium.

What happens is you will see alk levels drop suddenly, you will erroneously think your fingernail size frags are growing, and you will dose calcium as well because thats what the balance thought police tell you to do. You will then run into the inevitable high calcium and low alk and wonder why.

Calcium levels in young tanks over 50 gallons can easily be replenished with monthly water changes. Alk on the other hand requires closer monitoring.

 

[southerntnreefer]

First advice I can give is not to couple alk and calcium consumption in a young tank like the kool aid drinkers want you to do. Alk is consumed at a much higher and erratic rate in young tanks than calcium.

What happens is you will see alk levels drop suddenly, you will erroneously think your fingernail size frags are growing, and you will dose calcium as well because thats what the balance thought police tell you to do. You will then run into the inevitable high calcium and low alk and wonder why.

Calcium levels in young tanks over 50 gallons can easily be replenished with monthly water changes. Alk on the other hand requires closer monitoring.

Thats why i planned to do testing at the same time. you cant assume with Cal, or assume at all. I rather dose just ALK knowing that im making a difference, but you have to test CAL to to make sure thats within range too. etc.

 

[southerntnreefer]

Update tank is rocking and rolling and hand dosing seachem reef fusion 1 and 2 weekly, and dosing reef energy every other day to every 3rd day. Coral is a mix for sure. Got acros happy as a clam, yet zoas also happy. Looking to add to coral load now more for sure. SPS I got were freebies I got in, and honestly are rocking and rolling. I think it's safe to start upping coral load again. Tanks 6 months old as of yesterday. Alk 9 cal 440 mag 1350 nitrates about 5. Phos is a bit higher than I want it, but slowly bringing it down to not shock anything. Tanks settling in nicely. @Eagle_Steve lemme know when you've got a frag of that above mentioned coral, and how much you want for it, as I think it's time to see how it does! Not the best photo, but what was on my phone. Seeing coraline in multiple spots, so it's a matter of time before it really takes off ...