Timing for Dosing Adjustments

[JPK_Esquire]

How long does it take for the dosing to affect the water chemistry? I don't know precisely how many gallons my tank is (180g display with 40 gallon sump, but sump is probably only half full, and display has rock and a 2 inch sand bed---so I think its probably about 180g), but am fixing to start adding corals so trying to dial this in. I only have one small toadstool leather and gorgonian that have been in about a week.

I tested Alkalinity this morning with a Hanna Checker and it was about 7.1 (about normal for my weekly testing). I added 50 ml for Red Sea Foundation B (Sodium Carbonate I think), and tested about an hour later. Hanna Checker shows 7.5. I would have thought much higher, maybe closer to 7.8 to 8.0 based upon dosing calculators and my estimate on volume.

Has there just not been enough time?

P.S. - As I am reading other posts as I type this, I realize I don't know $h!t about dosing. I've been using Red Sea products in a BioCube and thus far in this 5 month old 180g. But now that corals are going in, will likely be switching to the BRS two-part, with Neptune DOS pumps.

 

[Ron Reefman]

If you have even average flow between the sump and tank and average flow inside the tank, adding alk should be completely spread in just a five to ten minutes. Most reefers are turning over the water 20 to 50 times an hour. So even at the slow flow end you turn over the water in the tank in just 3 minutes.

 

[JPK_Esquire]

If you have even average flow between the sump and tank and average flow inside the tank, adding alk should be completely spread in just a five to ten minutes. Most reefers are turning over the water 20 to 50 times an hour. So even at the slow flow end you turn over the water in the tank in just 3 minutes.

Thanks much! Thats what I thought.