Dosing [NOOB] Questions

kiMxD · 07/10/2018, 02:15 PM

Hello Folks!

So I've always relied on water changes to replace any needs in my tank but now I am questioning whether or not should I start dosing.

I got a deal on the BRS 1.1ml/min dosing pumps, got two of them. I've albo bought the PHARMA KALKWASSER STARTER PACKAGE (https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/2lb-k...ef-supply.html) from BRS but I am not sure when/how should I use it?

Can you guys help me with some guidance?

Thank you a lot!

RobZilla04 · 07/10/2018, 03:37 PM

Only dose when water changes are not able to keep up with consumption rates (Alk, Cal, Mag).

Once you determine you must dose to supplement the water changes you'll need to calculate the consumption rate by testing a few days to a week apart and divide the difference in results by the number of days. That gives you the daily consumption rate of that nutrient.

Example 8.0 Alk drops to 7.0 in 5 days. Consumption rate is .2dKH daily. Use the BRS online calculator to get the dosing volume for your product to match the consumption and spread the daily dose out over a few doses per day. Viola.

bertoni · 07/10/2018, 10:00 PM

I agree that the best way to dose is by measuring the alkalinity regularly. Testing every day for a few days might get a trend line, but many tanks consume very little alkalinity per day when starting. Some tanks go through 2-3 dKH per day. The range is very wide.

Uncle99 · 07/12/2018, 07:35 PM

I test Alk, Calcium and Magnisum each week just before the weekly water change (to understand consumption) and then again, a few hours after the WC, (to understand the effect of replenishment via WC). I do this and record for 4 weeks. Then average, and divide by 7 for my daily rate.

At this point, I just dose the daily and do a check once a month to see if the Stoneys are consuming more yet, then all over again.

hkgar · 07/13/2018, 01:54 PM

DO NOT dose what you do not measure. What are your current levels and what is the consumption? If you do not know those than you should not dose.

Steve175 · 07/15/2018, 01:58 AM

Yup. First step is to buy Alk, Mg, and Ca tests [you will get a million opinions re: which. I have tried most and have always circled back to Salifert]. Kalk is a great place to start IMHO, but through a stirrer as part of your evaporative replacement. Using your doser for the kalk portion rather than an ATO will help prevent a disaster. Once you get everything dialed in, you will only need to routinely test for Alk. If you add a lot of CaCO30-consuming critters, you may need to add a 2nd source of Ca/Alk. I would recommend continuing to dose the Kalk [in the event one of your sources fails, it will prevent a rapid fall in parameters]. If you choose to add a Ca reactor down the road, then the kalk also will help mitigate a significant decline in your pH. $0.02

07/10/2018, 02:15 PM	#1
kiMxD Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 149	Dosing [NOOB] Questions Hello Folks! So I've always relied on water changes to replace any needs in my tank but now I am questioning whether or not should I start dosing. I got a deal on the BRS 1.1ml/min dosing pumps, got two of them. I've albo bought the PHARMA KALKWASSER STARTER PACKAGE (https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/2lb-k...ef-supply.html) from BRS but I am not sure when/how should I use it? Can you guys help me with some guidance? Thank you a lot!

07/10/2018, 03:37 PM	#2
RobZilla04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 1,857	Only dose when water changes are not able to keep up with consumption rates (Alk, Cal, Mag). Once you determine you must dose to supplement the water changes you'll need to calculate the consumption rate by testing a few days to a week apart and divide the difference in results by the number of days. That gives you the daily consumption rate of that nutrient. Example 8.0 Alk drops to 7.0 in 5 days. Consumption rate is .2dKH daily. Use the BRS online calculator to get the dosing volume for your product to match the consumption and spread the daily dose out over a few doses per day. Viola. __________________ 90g Mixed Reef

07/10/2018, 10:00 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I agree that the best way to dose is by measuring the alkalinity regularly. Testing every day for a few days might get a trend line, but many tanks consume very little alkalinity per day when starting. Some tanks go through 2-3 dKH per day. The range is very wide. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/13/2018, 01:54 PM	#5
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	DO NOT dose what you do not measure. What are your current levels and what is the consumption? If you do not know those than you should not dose. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

07/15/2018, 01:58 AM	#6
Steve175 Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 1,186	Yup. First step is to buy Alk, Mg, and Ca tests [you will get a million opinions re: which. I have tried most and have always circled back to Salifert]. Kalk is a great place to start IMHO, but through a stirrer as part of your evaporative replacement. Using your doser for the kalk portion rather than an ATO will help prevent a disaster. Once you get everything dialed in, you will only need to routinely test for Alk. If you add a lot of CaCO30-consuming critters, you may need to add a 2nd source of Ca/Alk. I would recommend continuing to dose the Kalk [in the event one of your sources fails, it will prevent a rapid fall in parameters]. If you choose to add a Ca reactor down the road, then the kalk also will help mitigate a significant decline in your pH. $0.02 __________________ Steve ---------------------------------- Current Tank Info: 2 separate 250G bowfront rimless ELOS tanks plumbed to 260G sump, 220G refugium, 220G frag, BK DeLuxe 300, 400W MH x4, closed loops, 3/4hp chiller x2, Phos reactor, Kalk reactor, Charcoal reactor, Ca reactor, 60G surge tanks, & a huge elec bill

07/12/2018, 07:35 PM	#4
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	I test Alk, Calcium and Magnisum each week just before the weekly water change (to understand consumption) and then again, a few hours after the WC, (to understand the effect of replenishment via WC). I do this and record for 4 weeks. Then average, and divide by 7 for my daily rate. At this point, I just dose the daily and do a check once a month to see if the Stoneys are consuming more yet, then all over again.