questions questions questions - newbie to corals dosing

AquaWave523 · 09/22/2009, 08:26 AM

I just purchased a few softies and a 2 part doser (C-Balance) for calcium and alk.

1.) My question is regarding water change...I was told that if i do frequent water changes, it keeps my stronium, Iodine, magnesium and other water parameters in check. Then I would really only have to check for Calcium and Alk levels? Is this correct?

2.) I will dose until the readings are correct...how often do I have to dose? ( i know the obvious is until the reading is correct, but on average how often do you guys dose your tank?)

3.) I heard dosing isn't really required for Softies...is this true?

Sisterlimonpot · 09/22/2009, 08:33 AM

Depending on the type of salt you use regular water changes will keep your trace elements up. Softies don't require to dose alk and calc but if your like everyone else, you will want to get some stony coral that will require it. If that is the goal, go ahead and get your routine down and dose them, that way you'll have alk, calc and mag stable when you're ready to start adding LPS and then SPS.

As far as how often you would need to add alk and calc.... I dose everyday just to keep it as stable as possible.

AquaWave523 · 09/22/2009, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sisterlimonpot
Depending on the type of salt you use regular water changes will keep your trace elements up. Softies don't require to dose alk and calc but if your like everyone else, you will want to get some stony coral that will require it. If that is the goal, go ahead and get your routine down and dose them, that way you'll have alk, calc and mag stable when you're ready to start adding LPS and then SPS.

As far as how often you would need to add alk and calc.... I dose everyday just to keep it as stable as possible.

'

Wow, everyday is too much for me. I have a reef keeper that automates a lot fo the stuff i do. I dont want to buy an automatic doser either, it'll be too much work. So i'll stick with Softies and water change for now. I have 2 SPS and 1 LPS, the rest are Softies.

AquaWave523 · 09/22/2009, 08:39 AM

What about for question number 1? I'm wondering if that is true?

Sisterlimonpot · 09/22/2009, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AquaWave523
What about for question number 1? I'm wondering if that is true?

depending on the brand of salt you get, it will.

What size of a tank do you have. I dose 2 part manually everyday with a syringe right after feeding, it doesn't take long and doesn't require a dosing pump.

Sugar Magnolia · 09/22/2009, 08:59 AM

Different salts have different levels of magnesium. Instant Ocean is low in mag. I tested freshly mixed batches several times and it came to around 1110ppm. Obviously too low, so I dose magensium.

AquaWave523 · 09/22/2009, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sugar Magnolia
Different salts have different levels of magnesium. Instant Ocean is low in mag. I tested freshly mixed batches several times and it came to around 1110ppm. Obviously too low, so I dose magensium.

Does softies need high levels of magnesiuM?

Sisterlimonpot · 09/22/2009, 09:37 AM

short answer, no

Softies will grow in a mud puddle of saltwater

09/22/2009, 08:26 AM	#1
AquaWave523 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 911	questions questions questions - newbie to corals dosing I just purchased a few softies and a 2 part doser (C-Balance) for calcium and alk. 1.) My question is regarding water change...I was told that if i do frequent water changes, it keeps my stronium, Iodine, magnesium and other water parameters in check. Then I would really only have to check for Calcium and Alk levels? Is this correct? 2.) I will dose until the readings are correct...how often do I have to dose? ( i know the obvious is until the reading is correct, but on average how often do you guys dose your tank?) 3.) I heard dosing isn't really required for Softies...is this true?

09/22/2009, 08:33 AM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	Depending on the type of salt you use regular water changes will keep your trace elements up. Softies don't require to dose alk and calc but if your like everyone else, you will want to get some stony coral that will require it. If that is the goal, go ahead and get your routine down and dose them, that way you'll have alk, calc and mag stable when you're ready to start adding LPS and then SPS. As far as how often you would need to add alk and calc.... I dose everyday just to keep it as stable as possible. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

09/22/2009, 08:59 AM	#6
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Different salts have different levels of magnesium. Instant Ocean is low in mag. I tested freshly mixed batches several times and it came to around 1110ppm. Obviously too low, so I dose magensium. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

09/22/2009, 09:37 AM	#8
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	short answer, no Softies will grow in a mud puddle of saltwater __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

09/22/2009, 08:39 AM	#4
AquaWave523 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 911	What about for question number 1? I'm wondering if that is true?