To dose or not to dose

[LSKreefer]

Hi, I just started my 220 gal tank which has been up and running now for about 3 weeks, going through the cycling stage and at this time everything is doing great have not had any spike of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite as of yet. I have been testing about ever other day I been fake feeding and i also have a lone hermit crab that came off of my live rock that been knocking around the tank. I have an ro/di unit and using instance ocean salt. My PH tends to come out low 8 - 8.1, however my dKH is about 12 - 13, calcium is about 420 - 440. During my research I find a lot of mixed info about not dosing with additives, to dosing all kinds of stuff.

I do not plan to stock heavily only soft corals such as the star polyps, toadstools, Kenya trees, and some zoes polyps, I also have a Duncan coral that i will be putting in it. So I guess my question is to "dose or not to dose" and if I should be doing some dosing what should I get. I have reada lot about the 2 parts a and b combo. So Please give some input on what is the right thing to do.

The fish load will be 1 yellow tang, 1 kole tang and 1 Naso tang, some gobies, 3 Heniochos, 1 flame hawkfish, 1 Flame Angle, pair of snowflake clowns and 1 Majestic Angle.

Thanks for your input
Linda :smile:

 

[mike007]

You will probaly not have to dose untill you get through cycle and start stocking with corals. Then you will need to test and replenish what elements are low. Calcium,alkalinty, and magnesium are the main elements you need to watch. There are numerous products available to replenish these elements. And yes 2 part elements are a good choice.

 

[FL_Reefer]

Kind of crazy there has been no spike in ammonia, nitrite or nitrate yet?

 

[Ward9320]

Kind of crazy there has been no spike in ammonia, nitrite or nitrate yet?

With such a large system it could take some time for the cycle to kick off. Go gram some shrimp from the grocery store and drop on in there or get some ammonia to kick start it off.

As far as dosing goes, I wouldn't start worrying about it until you notice your levels are falling low. I have seen so many people on this thread that think they HAVE to dose and end up screwing up their system.

FYI: I am partly guilty of my above statement. When I first started with my 14g Biocube I went stir crazy and started buying all kinds of things I didn't really need. i got a 2 part kit from BRS with the dosing pumps and the whole nine yards. I hooked them up and ran the tubes to the tank and watched my levels. I never actually turned them on because I never needed them. Turns out it was a waste of money. All I did was keep up on my water changes and that replenished all the elements in the water.

 

[FL_Reefer]

Agreed as I have the same size tank. Guess I started my cycle a different way with redsea start cycle thing(can't remember the name) but had saw a change in all of these by 3weeks. Each is different. I agree, I would throw something else (or more of) in there to get things moving. As for other elements, no need for them now until you get some things in there that can benefit from keeping your levels were they need to be. Just remember to take it slow and don't add to much once you get your beneficial bacteria going. Don't want to overload your system to fast.

 

[LSKreefer]

Thanks for the input, it good to know, my level seems to be holding so far. I have been putting stress zymes in to help kick start it so don't know if that helping with the levels. I ended up putting one of my fish from my nano in there as he was bulling my jaw fishes so he got evicted to the big tank, so far so go.

 

[Thereeferboss]

Throw a raw shrimp from the market and that will sure kick your cycle

 

[glb]

I think your ph is fine btw.

 

[LSKreefer]

I think your ph is fine btw.

great

 

[LSKreefer]

What brand if I need to does, such as calcium/dkh and magnesium would be good. There are so many out there.

 

[glb]

What brand if I need to does, such as calcium/dkh and magnesium would be good. There are so many out there.

I use Seachem reef fusion 1 and 2. 1 is for ca and mg and 2 is for alk. You dose them separately.

 

[FL_Reefer]

I use redsea

 

[Gauge]

As long as you do somewhat regular water changes you shouldn't have to really dose until you start stocking up on SPS.

 

[trido]

As long as you do somewhat regular water changes you shouldn't have to really dose until you start stocking up on SPS.

This IMO answers the question best. With softies you really shouldn't have to dose at all. The only thing in the tank consuming Calcium will the the coraline algea.

Also, if there isn't any die off on your Live rock you may not get a noticeable cycle at all. I've set up several tanks and have never had measurable cycles in any of them. The key when starting off is to slowly add the bioload (fish) so that you don't get an ammonia spike.

 

[LSKreefer]

I'm pretty religious on water change, I had Discus for quite some time and water changes had to be frequent so actually this is a piece a cake for me on changes. LOL