(AUTO) Dosing for first time

[Sdeluca10]

I used to manually dose, but not on a consistent basis. Never really had a system set and fell off of it. I have been watching videos and doing research and trying to dial myself in for a self dosing system. Here’s where I’m at right now.

For my first time ever, I just setup a jebao auto dosing pump. (4 channel but only using 3)

I had been struggling with nitrates for a while but I finally figured out what I was doing wrong and I now have them under control under 20 and still lowering.

Current parameters

Calcium 397

Alk 9.5

Mag 1110



Using ESV B-ionic calcium/alkalinity 2 part

And ESV b-ionic magnesium



Gonna start off with daily dosing:

10ml each for the 2 part

300ml for the mag



My target parameters are

Cal 420

Alk 10

Mag 1350

I should mention it’s about 170 gallons total volume. And I used BRS calculator to come up with those dosing numbers.


Any thoughts, input, advice is welcomed.
Using salifert test kits for alk and mag. Have Hanna testers for calcium and nitrate.

 

[Cpage101]

I used to manually dose, but not on a consistent basis. Never really had a system set and fell off of it. I have been watching videos and doing research and trying to dial myself in for a self dosing system. Here’s where I’m at right now.

For my first time ever, I just setup a jebao auto dosing pump. (4 channel but only using 3)

I had been struggling with nitrates for a while but I finally figured out what I was doing wrong and I now have them under control under 20 and still lowering.

Current parameters

Calcium 397

Alk 9.5

Mag 1110



Using ESV B-ionic calcium/alkalinity 2 part

And ESV b-ionic magnesium



Gonna start off with daily dosing:

10ml each for the 2 part

300ml for the mag



My target parameters are

Cal 420

Alk 10

Mag 1350

I should mention it’s about 170 gallons total volume. And I used BRS calculator to come up with those dosing numbers.


Any thoughts, input, advice is welcomed.
Using salifert test kits for alk and mag. Have Hanna testers for calcium and nitrate.

I use this calculator to figure out dosing based on testing

Reef Chemistry Calculator

 

[Sdeluca10]

I use this calculator to figure out dosing based on testing

Reef Chemistry Calculator

I got the Same results. It only gives me product needed to reach desired number. So I’m using a small percentage and doing daily to get to desired numbers. Don’t wanna overdue it too fast. And then I will dial in to a couple times per week based on what my tank requires.

 

[Reefer508]

Test those parameters daily at the same time for a few days to see how much is being consumed. Then use the calculator to figure out how much to dose to replace that daily consumption.

 

[dz6t]

First adjust the levels to the desired level manually. This is very important, as dosing is not for adjusting levels, it is for maintaining daily consumption. Especially Magnesium, which daily consumption should be very low, so the 300 mL per day dosing dose not look like the correct amount.


Then test these three parameters the day after you adjusted the levels to your targets. Then test these three parameters the next day at approximately the same time to figure out daily consumption WITHOUT dosing.

For example:
Day 1:
Add enough alk and calcium to reach Alk at 10 dkh, Calcium to 420 ppm and Magnesium to 1160 ppm.

Day two, test all 3 parameters. The Difference of the alk and calcium levels are the numbers you need to plug into the calculator.

Then set the doser to dose alk and calcium only.

Raise magnesium to 1210 ppm

Day three: check the alk and calcium levels to verify, then raise mag to 1260 ppm

Day 4: raise magnesium to 1310 ppm

Day 5: raise magnesium to 1350 ppm

 

[dz6t]

At 170g water volume, to raise magnesium from 1110 ppm to 1350 ppm with B-ionic Magnesium liquid, you need 4250 mL of the liquid. It is normally safer to raise magnesium 50 ppm a time, you may want to take several days to raise the magnesium up. Some coral such as montipora are quite sensitive to Magnesium level changes, so play it safe is better.

Also, magnesium is hardly consumed and daily dosing normally is not needed.

 

[dz6t]

On another note, there is no difference between alk at 9.5 vs 10 dkh
There is no difference for calcium at 397 ppm vs 420 ppm.

 

[EddieG]

DZ, Thanks for the tips.