Dosing Order??

Zoregon · 10/09/2016, 01:22 PM

I've been all over trying to find an answer to this question. Maybe it's so basic as to not be covered anywhere. I'm just not understanding dosing order.

Parameters are as follows:

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 20 (working on it)
Salinity - 1.024
Temp. - 78
Mag. - 1230
Alk - 7.3
Cal. - 370

So I know I need to up the Mag, Alk & Cal. What I don't know is in what order? And can you dose more than one thing in a day? I don't want to just start dumping things into my tank without knowing effect. I can find lots of information on dosing and amounts, but not time frames?

I have - Kent Tech M, Kent Turbo Calcium and Kent Superbuffer-DKH as recommended by one of the senior members.

A sea K · 10/09/2016, 02:10 PM

I dose Mag first as it is needed to keep calc saturated at higher levels, IMO your mag level is only slightly low.
Secondly I will target my calcium level and you are low in that range as well.
Last I get my Alk in line and your fine at 7.3 but getting towards the low end.

I will typically "balance" my levels to my desired target independantly and maintain them by dosing alk and calc simultaneously but in separate areas of my sump to avoid any unneeded precipitation.

mcgyvr · 10/09/2016, 02:11 PM

Order doesn't matter really.. Just space dosing between the elements so you aren't dumping it at the same time and causing localized precipitation,etc..

Dosing multiple smaller doses over the course of a day is better than all at once..
All can be dosed the same day..

total amounts are 100% on the specific needs of the tank.. testing is the only way to determine that..
You measure to see how much you need to makeup daily and there are calculators out there where you enter total volume/daily changes and the approx amounts needed will be calculated.. Continue measuring to ensure you are adding the proper amounts and not too much or too little so levels stay stable..

Dosing 4 times a day is good if you have automatic dosing equipment.. even once a day is better than nothing if doing it manually..

The whole goal is to ensure levels are stay stable/consistent.. Add accordingly as needed.. Keep it simple

Zoregon · 10/10/2016, 12:17 PM

Ok. Thank you. I wasn't sure if you could dose more than one thing in a day. Never dosed before so didn't want to take the chance of killing anything.

10/09/2016, 01:22 PM	#1
Zoregon Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 83	Dosing Order?? I've been all over trying to find an answer to this question. Maybe it's so basic as to not be covered anywhere. I'm just not understanding dosing order. Parameters are as follows: Ammonia - 0 Nitrite - 0 Nitrate - 20 (working on it) Salinity - 1.024 Temp. - 78 Mag. - 1230 Alk - 7.3 Cal. - 370 So I know I need to up the Mag, Alk & Cal. What I don't know is in what order? And can you dose more than one thing in a day? I don't want to just start dumping things into my tank without knowing effect. I can find lots of information on dosing and amounts, but not time frames? I have - Kent Tech M, Kent Turbo Calcium and Kent Superbuffer-DKH as recommended by one of the senior members.

10/09/2016, 02:10 PM	#2
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	I dose Mag first as it is needed to keep calc saturated at higher levels, IMO your mag level is only slightly low. Secondly I will target my calcium level and you are low in that range as well. Last I get my Alk in line and your fine at 7.3 but getting towards the low end. I will typically "balance" my levels to my desired target independantly and maintain them by dosing alk and calc simultaneously but in separate areas of my sump to avoid any unneeded precipitation. __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

10/09/2016, 02:11 PM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Order doesn't matter really.. Just space dosing between the elements so you aren't dumping it at the same time and causing localized precipitation,etc.. Dosing multiple smaller doses over the course of a day is better than all at once.. All can be dosed the same day.. total amounts are 100% on the specific needs of the tank.. testing is the only way to determine that.. You measure to see how much you need to makeup daily and there are calculators out there where you enter total volume/daily changes and the approx amounts needed will be calculated.. Continue measuring to ensure you are adding the proper amounts and not too much or too little so levels stay stable.. Dosing 4 times a day is good if you have automatic dosing equipment.. even once a day is better than nothing if doing it manually.. The whole goal is to ensure levels are stay stable/consistent.. Add accordingly as needed.. Keep it simple __________________ Who me?

10/10/2016, 12:17 PM	#4
Zoregon Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 83	Ok. Thank you. I wasn't sure if you could dose more than one thing in a day. Never dosed before so didn't want to take the chance of killing anything.