Red Sea Trace Colors Dosing

[hllb]

I've calculated what I should be dosing, based on my calcium consumption, but do I really need to dose this daily? Can I do a weekly dose? Or twice a week? If I need to do it daily I'd have to get a 4 head doser and I'd really prefer not to do that.

 

[Nobbygas]

I've calculated what I should be dosing, based on my calcium consumption, but do I really need to dose this daily? Can I do a weekly dose? Or twice a week? If I need to do it daily I'd have to get a 4 head doser and I'd really prefer not to do that.

I dose my once a week. To dose something like 1.5ml a day from four separate containers is a bit stupid to be honest.

 

[hllb]

I dose my once a week. To dose something like 1.5ml a day from four separate containers is a bit stupid to be honest.

I agree - mine is even less. I dose 1.5 ml each per WEEK for my 32g. I did a weekly dose yesterday and everything seemed fine but then I was second guessing myself since everything says daily dosing. And I don't have an ATO or anything.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

IMO, it makes little sense to dose trace elements based on calcium consumption. The main users may not even be hard corals.

 

[hllb]

IMO, it makes little sense to dose trace elements based on calcium consumption. The main users may not even be hard corals.

So you recommend dosing based on testing, but those tests are not fun. If you go by calcium consumption, you risk underdosing, rather than overdosing. So it's at least safe to do it that way. Do you agree?

 

[hllb]

IMO, it makes little sense to dose trace elements based on calcium consumption. The main users may not even be hard corals.

I will say, I was playing around with the Red Sea calculator on their site and was shocked to see they suggested (based solely on tank size and mixed reef) my exact CA dosing and within .2 ml of my alk dosing. Which made me feel pretty good about the fact that their trace colors dosing suggestion was exactly what I dosed.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So you recommend dosing based on testing, but those tests are not fun. If you go by calcium consumption, you risk underdosing, rather than overdosing. So it's at least safe to do it that way. Do you agree?

Testing or tank observation.

Red Sea has a track record of recommending a massive overdose of at lest one trace element (iron), so I wouldn't assume anything about over or under dosing when using on their products.

With some additives, such as iron, there are no tests that can appropriately monitor natural levels.