What do I dose?

[islandreef]

Ok guys here is my setup.

135 Gallon Tank
150lbs Live Rock
100lbs Live Sand

55 Gallon Sump/Refugium with about 25lbs of LR.
Protein skimmer rated for 180 gallon tank

Phosphate Reactor, JBJ Auto Top off with 5 Gallon RO Water.

Lights

Moon Light LED's
2 MH 250watt x 2 110watt VHO

Just had my water tested by Jenn at Imagine Ocean

Specific Gravity - 1.023
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
PH - 8.1
Alkalinity - 3
Phosphate - 0
Calcium - 0

I want to keep a few SPS but mostly Softies and Zoes. What do I need to start dosing my tank in order to get it ready for corals

I was told these products.

Kent A & B,
strontium
molyenbeum
Lugols iodide

What are your thoughts?

 

[rdnelson]

I am pretty much a beginner here but..... from what I see in your readings I wouldn't dose a thing. Although, I think you have a typo on your Calcium. If your calcium is in the 420 range, I would just add the corals and start watching the readings. If something starts to go off tract you can then dose accordingly. JMO. I prefer not to dose anything unless I have too. One thing I don't see is test results for Magnesium. That was one thing I didn't test for and it turned out to be a bit low. I now test and dose now and again using the Epson Salt method and my corals (all but one) are doing fantastic.

 

[rdnelson]

That's the one I use. Reasonable price and it is easy to do.

BigJohn;714683 wrote: Here is a magnesium test.

 

[jcook54]

What kind of salt to you use for water changes. I went a long time using a good salt mix and not dosing anything. Ca, Alk, Mg are what I keep an eye on and if you do regular water changes you'll find yourself in pretty good shape.

 

[ripped tide]

jcook54;714706 wrote: What kind of salt to you use for water changes. I went a long time using a good salt mix and not dosing anything. Ca, Alk, Mg are what I keep an eye on and if you do regular water changes you'll find yourself in pretty good shape.

This varies depending on your coral load. In my tank(way over stocked) I do my weekly water changes AND dose daily, sometimes twice daily. It all depends on your consumption rates. Last water change i used reef crystals.

30g change on a total water volume of about 100g. I tested the mix before i added it to the tank: @1.026 alk was 4.5mg/l and ca was 500ppm(elos). Those levels are pretty up there. I still have to does daily to maintain 3.5mg/l and 420ppm.

 

[islandreef]

Right now I use Instant Ocean for my Salt mix, should I change to one of the reef geared salt mixes?

 

[rdnelson]

If you are talking only a few corals I think the Instant Ocean will do well. That is what I am using. I do about 10% water changes each week and like I said, I just have to dose a very small amount of Mag now and them. Yes, once I get more corals that will change but for now, IO gives me all I need.

 

[rdnelson]

If you were asking me, I use IO standard.

 

[islandreef]

Regular Instant Ocean, not the Reef Crystals.