Should I start dosing?

[ThatGuy]

I'm not sure what justifies dosing. I'm slowly getting into SPS and I'm not sure at how heavily stocked I can get away with until weekly water changes just isn't enough.

 

[Fishtachio]

Well, if you can maintain your calcium, pH, alkalinity, etc. with water changes alone, then you probably don't need to dose. Also, if your corals are thriving with water changes alone, then you probably don't need to dose. May I ask what salt you're using and have you ever measured the calcium, pH, alkalinity, etc. of the newly made saltwater you use for water changes.

 

[ThatGuy]

Well, if you can maintain your calcium, pH, alkalinity, etc. with water changes alone, then you probably don't need to dose. Also, if your corals are thriving with water changes alone, then you probably don't need to dose. May I ask what salt you're using and have you ever measured the calcium, pH, alkalinity, etc. of the newly made saltwater you use for water changes.

Reef Crystals and I just check salinity when doing water changes.

 

[dnov99]

The only way you are going to know if you should be dosing, is to test your ALK and Calcium. If the levels are getting too low and WC are not maintaining them, then you will have to dose.

 

[Fish Brain]

The only way you are going to know if you should be dosing, is to test your ALK and Calcium. If the levels are getting too low and WC are not maintaining them, then you will have to dose.

+1

Testing your alk and calcium will tell you if and when you need to dose.

 

[ThatGuy]

Alk is steady at 10dkh but the calcium drops from 400ppm to 360ppm toward the end of the week. Will the demand go up as the corals grow or will it stay the same as long as I don't add to much more.

 

[Tommyboynj]

How often are you doing WCs and how much. If you going from 400 to 360 in a week that's a big change. Keeping alk, calc and mag stable goes a long way to keeping your coral happy. I'd say you want to start dosing. Make sure you test your mag also if you dose two part. Plays a key role in alk/mag balance.

 

[ThatGuy]

10% once a week water change. The readings are from pre and post water changes, readings might be different if I give it a day to mix in also readings might be off as my test kit isn't exactly new. I'll get the LFS to test it for me and post more acurate results(unless these are acurate). I also pretty much went from no sps to 12 frag/mini colonies plus multiple smaller frags in about a 2 month span. Not including the LPS I already had and I added a good size maze brain in there(don't know if LPS pull that much out of the water). Does evaporation have anything to do with the levels? I have to add about a gallon or so of water every other day.

 

[TanksNStuff]

Evaporation will not affect your alk / cal / mag readings too much... especially if you have an auto top-off that is keeping it at a steady same volume. Those won't leave the tank with evaporation.

Do you have a clam in your tank by any chance. Those also consume a pretty good amount of calcium.

 

[ThatGuy]

Do you have a clam in your tank by any chance. Those also consume a pretty good amount of calcium.

I was debating it, but decided against it wonce I found out how much calcium they pull from the water.

 

[Empire]

Have you considered switching to a better salt? I've noticed with aquavitro salinity my levels are consistent with my weekly 10% changes.