Levels all stable - now what - Dosing help

Fragzilla · #1 02-15-2010, 06:07 AM

For years I never really tested for anything and just went with it. As of recent I have been testing and trying to get all my main levels in order.

After a few "tweeks" here and there I got everything where it should be.

Question is:

How do I go about figuring out how much I should dose daily now that i got everything in order?

CA
ALK
Mg

Thanks

Jeff

fkshiu · #2 02-15-2010, 06:13 AM

http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html

Read as much as you can from Randy Holmes-Farley first, though.

hillegom · #3 02-15-2010, 06:14 AM

Test again in a week, compare readings. Calculate how much is used. Write everything down. Check again 2 weeks later. Check again in a month. A trend will appear. Then you will know how much is being used up, how much to dose.

Fragzilla · #4 02-15-2010, 06:24 AM

So do it by the week not by the day?

Quote:

Originally Posted by hillegom

Test again in a week, compare readings. Calculate how much is used. Write everything down. Check again 2 weeks later. Check again in a month. A trend will appear. Then you will know how much is being used up, how much to dose.

Fragzilla · #5 02-15-2010, 06:25 AM

Bed time reading - love it

[

QUOTE=fkshiu;492339]http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html

Read as much as you can from Randy Holmes-Farley first, though.[/quote]

e46er · #6 02-15-2010, 07:08 AM

it will be easier to see a trend over a week

ie my ca test kit reads by the 20 ppm

so on monday i may have 420 tuesday 420 and wednesday 400
over the week or 2 just divide the total by 7 or 14 days to give you a daily dosing amount

imcosmokramer · #7 02-15-2010, 02:03 PM

Ive done it a little different. I test (mine shows by .10), enter the values in here, under Tank Parameters), use the calculator, dose my amounts, test in 3-4 hours, this will show me if I am estimating my water volume correctly. If my levels are not where I want them, I make another adjustment. Basically, I want to get to a point where they are at (for me) 450, 9.3, 1350.

Then, I up my daily dose. by a little, according to how big a correction I had to make. It's not an exact science, but it works. Then, I keep with the dosing for a few days. Test again. If my levels are where they need to be, I keep dosing the same amount. If not, I'll make a correction dose, then up my daily dose again.

I hope this helps. writing it down makes it seem complicated...but it's not. LMK.
________
Xhionella.Xxx Cam

Reefer Rob · #8 02-15-2010, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fragzilla

So do it by the week not by the day?

You can test every day or two the first couple of times to make sure your dosing is in the ball park, then weekly or bi-weekly is enough. Eventually your levels will be so stable you'll be temped to test monthly, but stick to bi-weekly at the longest.