I need some help with dosing

[lopez052308]

Hey everyone need some help with dosing. Have a 10 gallon nano that’s about 6 months old. Corals are alive but are not fulfilling my standards. I started with all dry rock. I’ve attached a picture of my current test results. Here’s my dilemma, I am using Red Sea coral pro (black bucket) and I was doing 10% water changes every week to replenish major elements, (Alk, cal, mag). But while this is effective it has been a struggle to get nitrates above 4ppm because of constant water changes. Trying to get the water a little more dirty. But water changes are not aiding because I’m removing nitrates constantly. So I thought I could dose these 3 elements and keep them stable and allow nitrate to rise to at least 10pmm. Newer to dosing and would love to hear from some pros or vets in this topic. I purchased the Red Sea ABC foundation supplements complete pack. Can anyone guide me in the steps. I would rather take it slow and have other options rather than just start dumping and not knowing what the heck I’m doing. Also plan to start dosing trace elements via Red Sea trace-colors. From what I’ve read they have to be dosed with a calcium supplement???? I know this is a lot but would love to learn the proper and efficient way of this method. Here’s a pic of current test results. I’m using the Hanna marine master.

Thanks

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Before you dose, you need to figure out your consumption.

What are your Alk/Ca/Mg the day after a water change, and what are they a week later? The difference is an approximation of how much of each element your corals use in a week. Calculate any dosing from there.

 

[Stephen8169301]

i don’t think you need to dose tank is still trying to mature

 

[lopez052308]

i don’t think you need to dose tank is still trying to mature

Than what would be your solution to keeping stable nitrates?

 

[Pistondog]

What do the ABC instructions say? they must give a starting dose.

For example, i run triton, which suggests a starting dose, then after a week measure alk and adjust dose up or down to push towards desired alk.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Than what would be your solution to keeping stable nitrates?

Feed more

 

[Stephen8169301]

Than what would be your solution to keeping stable nitrates?

I honestly believe your numbers are okay imo i wouldn’t worry in such a small tank one wrong move during dosing could be catastrophic just keep doing what you’re doing what are your temp swings? What do you run salt at?

 

[lopez052308]

Feed more

What about phosphates? I feed more but phosphates creep up. They got up to around 0.20 ppm and I brung them down with phos guard. I only used half the suggested amount for the recommended gallons and it brung them down very quickly. I wouldn’t think having constant phosphate fluctuations would be good.

 

[lopez052308]

I honestly believe your numbers are okay imo i wouldn’t worry in such a small tank one wrong move during dosing could be catastrophic just keep doing what you’re doing what are your temp swings? What do you run salt at?

Temp is 78.5-79 degrees and salinity is at 1.024-1.025

 

[Stephen8169301]

What about phosphates? I feed more but phosphates creep up. They got up to around 0.20 ppm and I brung them down with phos guard. I only used half the suggested amount for the recommended gallons and it brung them down very quickly. I wouldn’t think having constant phosphate fluctuations would be good.

Maybe extend your water changes to two weeks instead of every week and see how that works out while feeding the same way you do now

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hey everyone need some help with dosing. Have a 10 gallon nano that’s about 6 months old. Corals are alive but are not fulfilling my standards. I started with all dry rock. I’ve attached a picture of my current test results. Here’s my dilemma, I am using Red Sea coral pro (black bucket) and I was doing 10% water changes every week to replenish major elements, (Alk, cal, mag). But while this is effective it has been a struggle to get nitrates above 4ppm because of constant water changes. Trying to get the water a little more dirty. But water changes are not aiding because I’m removing nitrates constantly. So I thought I could dose these 3 elements and keep them stable and allow nitrate to rise to at least 10pmm. Newer to dosing and would love to hear from some pros or vets in this topic. I purchased the Red Sea ABC foundation supplements complete pack. Can anyone guide me in the steps. I would rather take it slow and have other options rather than just start dumping and not knowing what the heck I’m doing. Also plan to start dosing trace elements via Red Sea trace-colors. From what I’ve read they have to be dosed with a calcium supplement???? I know this is a lot but would love to learn the proper and efficient way of this method. Here’s a pic of current test results. I’m using the Hanna marine master.

Thanks

View attachment 3170770

Numbers are not bad and try stretching water changes to bi-weekly or even every three weeks to allow tank to build its bacteria and raise Mag slightly to at least 1250-1300

 

[lopez052308]

What do the ABC instructions say? they must give a starting dose.

For example, i run triton, which suggests a starting dose, then after a week measure alk and adjust dose up or down to push towards desired alk.

From what I understand The instructions say to have the tank at desired levels wait four days and assess consumption rate then dose correct amount. Here’s a pic

 

[lopez052308]

Numbers are noy bad and try stretching water changes to bi-weekly or even every three weeks to allow tank to build its bacteria and raise Mag slightly to at least 1250-1300

Is mag an element that I can dose singularly and it not have any effect on anything else? And would it have to be a slow increase and not all at once?

 

[Pistondog]

From what I understand The instructions say to have the tank at desired levels wait four days and assess consumption rate then dose correct amount. Here’s a pic

Sounds like a plan.
Measure levels, wait some time, measure again. Use their calc to determine dose. Dose more or less than consumption to get to your target levels.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is mag an element that I can dose singularly and it not have any effect on anything else? And would it have to be a slow increase and not all at once?

Single element -yes
Bring up little by little

 

[Pistondog]

Is mag an element that I can dose singularly and it not have any effect on anything else? And would it have to be a slow increase and not all at once?

Yes, magneseon by brightwell aquatics or others

 

[lopez052308]

So my target mag is around 1300ppm an it’s at 1100ppm now. I’m plan to use Red Sea magnesium. It says on the bottle that per 1ml it brings up mag 1ppm via 25 gallons. What would you guys say would be a good daily dosage to slowing increase over time?

 

[Pistondog]

10ppm/day

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

What about phosphates? I feed more but phosphates creep up. They got up to around 0.20 ppm and I brung them down with phos guard. I only used half the suggested amount for the recommended gallons and it brung them down very quickly. I wouldn’t think having constant phosphate fluctuations would be good.

Phosphates of .20 will be great with nitrates of around 20...
Feed foods without phosphates.

 

[lopez052308]

Phosphates of .20 will be great with nitrates of around 20...
Feed foods without phosphates.

I feed mysis often and fauna Maria pellets that’s pretty much what I feed regularly. So pellets more and mysis less or vise versa?