Wade Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 If your parameters if a mixed reef tank were dKH: 6.5, Ca: 415 and Mg: 1300 would you dose? I do 10% - 15% water changes every 10 - 14 days so they stay pretty constant. I'm thinking it's not worth the effort until my stock increases to the point that the alk and Ca are getting absorbed faster than the water changes replenish. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 If it were me, I wouldn't. Why do all that extra work if its close enough. If you start piling in the SPS, then I would start dosing once your parameters show that you are deficient. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard L Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 I agree with Ty. I run my tank around 7.0 dKH and everything is happy. I also I just happened to see all of Ty's incredible colonies last night and I believe he said he was running in the 6's. Just keep an eye on it if you have sps because they grow exponentially and you don't have much of a buffer at 6.5. If you have an ATO you can add some Kalk to your top-off water if you levels start to drop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Thanks Richard! I generally run it at 8 dKh for the extra safety buffer but the downtime of switching the CaRX to the new tank really ate into the alk available in the new system. And with colonies the size of volleyballs, it doesn't take long to soak up all that alk! Like Richard said, kalk in your top-off is a good idea after water changes can't keep up with it anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dshel1217 Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Wade, Im going though the same thing you are. I have moved from weekly water changes to kalk in my ato to BRS alk/ca dosing. I have mostly sps's so as time goes on you will notice that regular water changes and kalk just wont cut it anymore. Then you can move dosing or even CA reactor. But IMO Im thinking your current levels are good. At least for sps they hate alk swing so if your levels drop SLOWLY to a "low level" of 6 or 5ish they might not grow as fast but would still be ok. I keep mine at 7ish and 420. Good luck and let me know if you ever want some sps test pieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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