View Full Version : Dose
puffer21
04/19/2006, 06:30 AM
I just have a few questions about what you dose to your tank
1. What do you dose your tank with
2. What brand is it
3. Why do you dose it
4. Does it change a lot of your water chemistry
Thanks for all the help Puffer21
Paintbug
04/19/2006, 09:11 AM
1. homemade 2 part, water changes.
2. homemade, Kent Marine Salt.
3. 2 Parts are easy to use to buffer the calcium, and alkalinity levels.
4. the 2 part keeps my calc/alk balanced, water changes keep everything else in check!
puffer21
04/19/2006, 09:42 AM
Does any one dose calcuim or iodine
coker98
04/19/2006, 09:44 AM
i dose calcium and iodine. most invert and hard corals need calcium and soft corals need iodine. but remember dont dose something that you cant test.
puffer21
04/19/2006, 09:50 AM
is there a test for iodine
Paintbug
04/19/2006, 03:12 PM
yes just about every company makes an iodine test. however iodine is not something really needs to be dosed. if you do you water changes, that will handle the iodine. testing for iodine is tricky as well. there are several forms of iodine. some kits only test for one or two types. that means if you add one type of iodine to your tank but you test kit reads 0, you are going to end up adding to much and risk crashing the tank! read what Randy has to say about iodine here http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php
gvibes
04/19/2006, 03:18 PM
Anyone dosing strontium?
MiddletonMark
04/19/2006, 03:25 PM
Another problematic test kit, IME.
I dose:
1. 2-part Ca/Alk suppliment, based on tested Ca/Alk levels.
2. Currently B-ionic and Randy's DIY mix about 50/50, though have been happy with Oceans Blend, C-balance, and others.
3. I dose it because between water changes I see a daily decrease in both my Calcium and Alkalinity levels.
Everything else I've tested always seems to test in NSW/good levels - so I've discontinued any other suppliments as my tests tell me the tank doesn't need them.
4. Nope ... it keeps my Ca/Alk right around NSW, with little variation from day to day, week to week. IME, when I'm testing and adding to keep things most stable - growth is great.
I would strongly, strongly recommend getting a test kit before buying any suppliment [whether Ca, Alk, Mag, Iodine, Strontium, etc]. Chances are pretty likely a regular water change practice will keep levels close to or in the optimal range.
If it tests good - why waste your money, risk OD'ing on something that might not be needed anyway?
puffer21
04/19/2006, 04:19 PM
Well i have a Calcium reading off 300 and i want it up to 450 or around there and i was going to dose liquid Calcuim by kent is that ok.
MiddletonMark
04/19/2006, 05:33 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7208583#post7208583 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by puffer21
Well i have a Calcium reading off 300 and i want it up to 450 or around there and i was going to dose liquid Calcuim by kent is that ok.
It should. Dose up to the maximum recommended [don't know that product well] daily to move the tank up to closer to NSW parameters. It may take a week ... as long as you're seeing it move upward ... let it.
What's your Alkalinity at?
Equally important as Calcium IMO - I check them in tandem.
Such a suppliment will work fine. See the package for instructions - if trying to raise levels a lot, I'd split the dose over two times a day, take it gradually. Even if getting things `right' ... taking a little time is often best - large swings in water parameters are a common cause of coral/etc problems IMO.
Considering `bang for the buck', something like one of the 2-part systems [B-ionic, or such] are probably cheapest over the long run ... if you're in this hobby for a while, might as well get used to it ;)
Coralline algae, any stony coral, clams ... all want Calcium and Alkalinity [aka Carbonate] to make their Calcium Carbonate skeletons. Soft corals and other creatures also may use it to a degree ... nevermind maintaining something close to Natural Seawater Parameters (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php) in my opinion is worth trying for despite.
Next time you water change, test your mixed up water for Calcium and Alkalinity ... always good to know what a water change is likely to do to your tank levels. Also helps to tell what a water change with that salt will do to `fix' any problems with your levels.
My salt [reef crystals] has a high Alkalinity, slightly low Calcium ... so when Alkalinity is low - beyond supplimenting a little more, I also will water change a little more. When it's high ... a water change won't help [though I'll do them on my regular schedule].
And after a water change, I know I'll have to up my Calcium dosing for a few days ... which makes me glad I tested the new water.
I'd consider some notebook or such to record all your test results [stored with the kits] ... it's nice to see how you're able to keep conditions/test-results better and better :D
Anyway - that's my extended take on it ;) ... but realize, I am just one opinion of many. People find success different ways in this hobby - and like with a doctor, I think the more second opinions you get, the more you just might learn. I tend to think most problems are solved by the reefkeeper themselves, with the addition of opinion, fact/articles, and help providing new insight.
In short, don't take my, or anyone's, word to be all the facts you'll need to know ... or so my opinion is. :D
There's always more to learn in this hobby.
A couple good articles by Randy of the Chem Forum:
How to choose a Calcium/Alkalinity supplimentation scheme (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm)
Calcium and Alkalinity (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-04/rhf/feature/index.php)
More Here (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=102605)
puffer21
04/19/2006, 06:23 PM
Thanks for the info
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