What and how do you dose?

[akunochi]

I'd like to get a feel for how everyone maintains or has maintained their tank systems via dosing. manual? Auto via timers? Auto via controller? What do you dose?

I for one use a LARGE kalk reactor hooked into my ATO. Right now it runs on float switches and timers to make sure the stirring pump and ATO don't run at the same time. This has caused a couple headaches in the past so I bought a Neptune Apex this week and will be using that to control it from here on out. I dose Iodide once a month at half the recommended dosage since i don't test for it. (or anything for that matter). For the remaining trace elements I will use water changes bi weekly to replace them.

How about you?

 

[Krish]

Hmmm...Should I partly kill your thread Seth in a bit of revenge?? http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/f36/poll-people-who-dose-have-reactor-58331/ :lol:


We can still discuss though. I use to use 2 part B-Ionc and dose manually. This meant weekly testing. Then 10-15% water change every week

 

[akunochi]

Well you're no fun.

Well I was getting more at reactor vs manual vs profilux/ parabolic pump dosing and also what chemicals you dose (brand, chemical itself etc)

But fine...we'll let it die. I'll think of a new topic.


I see your edit there....sneaky.

 

[Krish]

Well you're no fun.

Well I was getting more at reactor vs manual vs profilux/ parabolic pump dosing and also what chemicals you dose (brand, chemical itself etc)

But fine...we'll let it die. I'll think of a new topic.

No man...Let's dicuss this thing here. That poll up top is just a bonus to go along with this thread. Doesn't cover everything you are looking for.

At one point I used Purple-up and didn't test. I just added the stuff in and I don't know why . I wanted to go automated at one point there, but my OCD woldn't let me. As much as I can keep things manually done, I do it. Less chance of something failing so that's the reason all the testing and manual dosing.

 

[akunochi]

I like the idea of manual control but with my schedule and my wife's combined I am going to be relying on the new overpriced controller I bought. I am not convinced on dosing pumps yet, but may look into adding them along with the automated water changes depending on what setting I can do. If I do auto dose it will strictly be trace elements to keep up with demand as the corals come in more in between water changes. My goal is to completely automate the tank besides making sure reservoirs are filled.

 

[mojoreef]

I use a kalk reactor and a calcium reactor, all hooked up via a aqua controler. I test once a month and then make adjustments if required.

Mojo

 

[akunochi]

Mike,

Do you just test the basics or do you test a variety of the trace elements also? Which ones? What chemical do you choose to replace the trace that you dose (IE trace elements in a bottle or do you have a dedicated one to each trace)

 

[mojoreef]

I test for cal, alk and mainly for mag. If I notice something different in the tank I test for various nutrients. I also have a controler that keeps an eye on conductivity, orp, ph and temp. As per trace elements I dose them once a month with a product from Warner Marine.


Mike

 

[TJL]

For now I currently test about once a month for calcium, ailk, mg, PH, phosphate and nitrates to generally see how things are going. I manually dose daily a small amount of a liquid calcium and add maybe a 1/2 tsp of Kent Super Buffer DKH to a Quart of rodi twice a day for evaporate replacement. I also dose 4 drops of Lugol's (iodine ) each month and test every other month to make sure level is good. 15% water change every 3-4 weeks and also run a Phosban reactor.
The new system will be ran with an Apex unit with PH, temp and ORP probes and a 5-7 gal capacity ATO running through a Kalk stirrer/reactor. This will be my first system ran off a controller after 29+ years,maybe become a tech geek yet.

Cheers, Todd