Who uses Dosing?

turanevins · Jan 12, 2015

Ive never used a dosing and fluid metering system before or an apex or any of these high tech products on the market today- Heck Ive never even used a media reactor for that fact lol I guess Im old school with the basic sump and protein skimmer and the good ole testing kit and journal lol its always worked for me! Ive recently came across a lot of threads and videos of un-believable reef and fish tanks that didn't even run a skimmer or a sump and swore by it! (I don't know about that) But I am curious What would you say the best equipment or most important equipment on the market today is and why? whats the benefits? I entered to win Neptune DOS today because I was referred by a friend but I couldn't even tell you what it does! lol

http://bit.ly/1InncgS

mike007 · Jan 12, 2015

Dosing really depends on what type of corals you are housing and what your depletion rate is. Many sps people have to dose on a daily regiment to maintain these parameters. Dosing pumps make it easier to do this as they deliver small doses throughout the day to keep parameters stable.

turanevins · Jan 12, 2015

I like a mixed reef I lean more towards the lps and sps though, I never had a problem with out it though, I never added anything! I it suppose to make them bigger, brighter, grow faster? whats all the hype about?

KoleTang · Jan 13, 2015

Its not hype, its science. Corals use minerals, dosing pumps replace them at a steady rate to keep parameters stable.

turanevins · Jan 13, 2015

Ok and that may very well be So What would you say the best equipment or most important is for your tank and why? Whats the benefits? How do you use it?

KoleTang · Jan 13, 2015

It isn't a case of maybe. That is how it is and this information has been know for the better part of the life of this hobby.

Simple Berlin system is probably the best way to go (large skimmer, rock, high light, high flow). Keep your staple minerals where they need to be and don't let them fluctuate. Keep your phosphate in check with a refugiam, GFO, algae scrubber, Etc.

Right now people are into experimenting with biopellets and the like. Too many unknowns at this point for me to adopt those techniques though.

3dees · Jan 13, 2015

I don't dose anything and don't even have a sump. I have mostly softies with a few lps. I wouldn't try sps. 16 months any everything is good.

TJ's Reef · Jan 13, 2015

Dosing is not needed for most Reeftanks until they mature and are primarily housing a large number of Stony Corals. For me it is an ABSOLUTE necessity in trying to keep up with Element demands of all my Stony Corals. I in a conservative number have approximately 400-500 inches of growth monthly in my 125g Display Tank 175 gallons total with large Sump/Fuge and inline Frag Tank. As example my daily dosing currently is 160ml of Calcium, 210ml of Alk and 30ml of Mg plus 3 gallon or m ore of super saturated Kalk water weekly. If it were just water changes I would have to do like 25% every few days.

Cheers, Todd

NanaReefer · Jan 13, 2015

My tank is 7 months old. All LPS & SPS. I manually dose 10ml of 2part 2x a day. At this point for my happiness a doser is strongly desired-lol. But is not a necessity.
My ultimate goal is to be able to go 7 days total without touching my tank

turanevins · Jan 13, 2015

KoleTang said:
It isn't a case of maybe. That is how it is and this information has been know for the better part of the life of this hobby.

Simple Berlin system is probably the best way to go (large skimmer, rock, high light, high flow). Keep your staple minerals where they need to be and don't let them fluctuate. Keep your phosphate in check with a refugiam, GFO, algae scrubber, Etc.

Right now people are into experimenting with biopellets and the like. Too many unknowns at this point for me to adopt those techniques though.

I agree that's the method Ive used for years and its always worked for me. But with everything on the market now a days and hearing about people buying this and doing that and It made my tank look this much more better I was inclined to ask. I just set up a new 75 gallon and I was tempted to try the media reactor and all in one pellets because I seen an awesome tank on here from just all in one pellets but idk I read that you have to replace them often and that they can potentially put phosphates back in the water. You hear pros and cons on everything that's why Im on the fence about trying anything new lol

turanevins · Jan 13, 2015

TJ's Reef said:
Dosing is not needed for most Reeftanks until they mature and are primarily housing a large number of Stony Corals. For me it is an ABSOLUTE necessity in trying to keep up with Element demands of all my Stony Corals. I in a conservative number have approximately 400-500 inches of growth monthly in my 125g Display Tank 175 gallons total with large Sump/Fuge and inline Frag Tank. As example my daily dosing currently is 160ml of Calcium, 210ml of Alk and 30ml of Mg plus 3 gallon or m ore of super saturated Kalk water weekly. If it were just water changes I would have to do like 25% every few days.

Cheers, Todd

Oh my that sounds like a lot! I bet your tank is beautiful though!!

KoleTang · Jan 13, 2015

Yep, I've learned that its best to master tried and true methods before risking money and livestock on new trends.

BTW, the Doser you linked to is pretty much a Ferrari of dosers. Look into a simple 1.1 ml/minute peristaltic pump from bulk reef supply (or used) if you plan on getting one. You can dose manually with a syringe if you want to as well. Just is easier to run the pump.

turanevins · Jan 13, 2015

Thanks!

turanevins · Jan 13, 2015

The Many Methods for Supplementing Calcium and Alkalinity - REEFEDITION

I was sent this link Which is great btw! if I do decide to make this switch on this tank and do something different I think it will be limewater top off or a reactor with all in one. Which one do you guys think is best? where do you get lime? can you use them both? and when should you start using them? I know Todd said new tanks don't need them, so when should I think about dosing if I do decide? and which one would be better? I know I know Im full of questions, but I have nothing better todo while I wait fo my tank to cycle anyway

lol

TJ's Reef · Jan 13, 2015

Never ever feel guilty or wrong for asking questions here. In fact I/we commend you for it and is exactly why this site is The Very Best. The need or want to start dosing will depend on two factors #1 When the Corals, Clams etc... are using up the elements faster than your WC schedule replaces them or #2 You decide to replace elements used up between a more extended WC schedule. Then you still ALWAYS want to TEST FOR WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DOSE. Running your ATO through or top off water containing Kalkwasser/ Calcium Hydroxide will alleviate much demand for Dosing 2-part as well. In my case it is like having a Super Charger assisting my Doser.

Cheers, Todd

purplereef · Jan 13, 2015

KoleTang said:
Yep, I've learned that its best to master tried and true methods before risking money and livestock on new trends.

BTW, the Doser you linked to is pretty much a Ferrari of dosers. Look into a simple 1.1 ml/minute peristaltic pump from bulk reef supply (or used) if you plan on getting one. You can dose manually with a syringe if you want to as well. Just is easier to run the pump.

This would be the Ferrari of dosers if you didn't have to rely on the crappy APEX to run it.