How is everyone dosing and what do you dose?

[dansyr]

I dose Randy's 2-part (alk and cal), recently automated on a 2-head doser i built for the fun of DIY (details on build thread). A huge quality of life improvement having it automated for a nano tank.

 

[j.falk]

I'm manually dosing topoff water 4 times a day. Evaporation sucks...

 

[redfishbluefish]

I voted "automated" but realize that is just for the pumps. I don't have Apex/Trident, so I test manually, but because the only changes to my tank is coral growth, I only test maybe every two to three months, and adjust accordingly. I've been using Randy's original two part recipe since the beginning of time, and with a 90 gallon DT, it costs less than $5 a year. Yes, I'm cheap, and as my wife would say, I still have my communion money. I do change about 25% of my water twice a month.

 

[fullinfusion]

Dose manually, using AFR for cal and alk and trace elements. ESV for any corrections needed. Mag I leave alone as a WC takes care of that.

When new tank shows up I'll be buying a good single doser and hopefully it takes care of the system.

 

[RFGuy_KCCO]

You need a fifth choice: Mix of automated and manual. I do a bit of both.

Auto (Neptune DOS):
All For Reef (daily)
TM Elimi-NP (daily) (switching to Bacto-Balance soon, since my PO4 level is finally almost where I want it)

Manual:
Dinkin's or Reef Nutrition Phyto (5x per week)
Red Sea Reef Energy AB+ (3x per week)
TM Reef-Actif (2x per week)
PNS Probio (1x per week)
Brightwell MB7 (1x per week)

 

[vetteguy53081]

You need a fifth choice: Mix of automated and manual. I do a bit of both.

Auto:
All For Reef (daily)
TM Elimi-NP (daily) (switching to Bacto-Balance soon, since my PO4 level is finally almost where I want it)

Manual:
Dinkin's or Reef Nutrition Phyto (5x per week)
Red Sea Reef Energy AB+ (3x per week)
TM Reef-Actif (2x per week)
PNS Probio (1x per week)
Brightwell MB7 (1x per week)

In the post , I do both myself. Typically its automatic.
I have added the fifth option.

 

[FoolishWizard]

I use a Kamoer x1 pro doser and I am currently dosing Tropic Marin All For Reef. The app for the Kamoer is very spotty and can be annoying to use. The actual unit works great. The only issue I have run into is my lines calcifying up which prevented the unit from dosing properly. I cleaned out the lines and it solved the problem. That was more of an issue I created though, by not doing maintenance on the unit when it was time to refill my storage container. I plan to upgrade my tank by getting a Hydros x4. Eventually I would like to get the Hydros doser and set up the doser through Hydros so I do not have to deal with Kamoer's app.

Are you using the liquid AFR or mixing your own with the powder?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Are you using the liquid AFR or mixing your own with the powder?

For me- its liquid.

 

[Dburr1014]

Glad im not the only one. I just added Big acro colonies and in literally 48 hrs, my calcium steady around 422 dropped to 356. I even tested with hanna kit and Hanna says 361.

I'm dosing 15ml daily to keep it in the low 400's, if I don't it drops to the 300's.
Alk steady at 8's, and MAG is 1500.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I'm dosing 15ml daily to keep it in the low 400's, if I don't it drops to the 300's.
Alk steady at 8's, and MAG is 1500.

Im going to watch this as my demand obviously has increased

 

[TurboTang]

Took a while but I'm mostly automated now. Use apex/trident together with Neptune dos, plus I have a third dosing pump. Use them for Kalk/top off, Alk, and Cal. I use red sea for Alk/Cal.
Long ago I got by with just Kalk - miss those days a bit.
Only manual dosing is Mag. Not adding enough to worry about dosing yet and it can fluctuate a bit more than others without causing unhappiness

 

[cloud9aquariums]

I'm pulling the ol' combo move!

Automated Via 4head Jebao:
Kalk,Mag constant
Alk, Ca (when I need a bump)

Manual:
Moonshiners Daily
Kz flatworm stop
Tropic marin carbon dosing (usually bacto balance or plus np depending on my phosphate)
Any bacteria dosing (microbacter7,prodibio biodigest)

I'm still manual testing as well. No controller here. Alk daily, phos every 3 days, full panel weekly, icp monthly

 

[PhishMonger84]

I was gifted a red sea dosing pump and a plethora of additives/things to dose from red sea. I find the concept overwhelming and have yet to set it up.

is there a best practice dosing you can do without testing? just as regular maintenance?

 

[ksanchez1230]

Are you using the liquid AFR or mixing your own with the powder?

I mix my own using the powder and RODI water. I use a magnetic stirrer to mix it. I find though at least in my case I get precipitant at the bottom of the storage container. Not sure why. I have a Biocube 32 so I dont need to dose much a day. I think over time the liquid goes bad because it perciptates more at the bottom over time.

 

[Doogs]

Kalkwasser via Neptune DoS @ 1893 ml (half gallon a day). Trace and Magnesium are replaced via weekly 10-25% water changes using Fritz RPM Redline.

 

[ReefGeezer]

I dose TM All-For-Reef automatically, and iodine and magnesium (Per Randy's recipe) manually as needed. I've also started adding Reef Energy + when I target feed a couple times a week.

 

[Acros]

Alkalinity and calcium (ESV) via dosing pumps. Magnesium, nitrate and phosphate dosed manually as needed.

 

[nothing_fancy]

Alk and Cal, Trident turns the kamoer's on and off for each reservoir. Been working well for me with the dilutions I eventually settled on and the Kamoer schedule. Ghl doses trace elements a couple of times per week and flat worm stop every day. Thats about it outside of daily feedings and some aminos... Ive been experimenting with the KZ 1-4 element package once per week dosed manually after water change but it's only been a couple of months. First ATI test last week looked good for major and minor elements, just very slightly elevated so to be determined...

 

[tigre44]

I auto dose ca, Alk, mg. Works well for me

 

[A Young reefer]

At the beginning I was dosing AFR manually. When I had to travel I had to invest in a doser so the kamoer Bluetooth pump sounded like a good option, however it has failed me a lot at many occasions it would not dose. Then as my corals grew (so did the demand, I had to look at other dosing options. I am currently dosing Tropic Marin balling A,B,C and am I using the jebao Wi-Fi doser. Couldn’t be happier.