Dosing

Reef Solutions Dosing Guide: How to Maintain a Healthy Reef Aquarium

Why Dosing is Important

Maintaining a healthy and thriving reef aquarium requires precise control of key water parameters. Proper dosing ensures your reef ecosystem remains stable, supporting coral growth and the overall health of your marine inhabitants. This guide will walk you through testing, setting baselines, and adjusting doses to achieve and maintain optimal conditions.

The 3 majors are Alkalinity (measured in dKh), Calcium in parts per million (ppm) and Magnesium, also measured in ppm

dKH measures the amount of carbonates, like calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate, in a given volume of water. It's critical for coral growth as it provides the essential building blocks for coral skeleton formation. Alkalinity interacts closely with calcium and magnesium, as these three elements work in tandem to promote calcification. If alkalinity drops too low, it can inhibit coral growth and lead to stress or tissue loss, while excessively high levels may cause precipitation of calcium carbonate, reducing its availability. Stable alkalinity also helps maintain a stable pH level, which is crucial for biological filtration and the overall health of your reef ecosystem.

Why is magnesium important in a reef tank?

Magnesium is a critical element in a reef tank as it plays a key role in maintaining proper calcium and alkalinity balance. Magnesium acts as a stabilizer, preventing calcium and carbonate ions from binding prematurely and precipitating out of solution. Without adequate magnesium levels, it becomes challenging to maintain consistent calcium and alkalinity parameters, which are essential for coral calcification and skeletal growth. This indirectly reduces fluctuations in pH, supporting the health of corals, invertebrates, and other marine life which are extremely sensitive to pH swings.

Initial Testing and Dosing Setup

To start, you'll need to establish your tank's baseline by testing the following parameters:

Important: Only use either Alkalinity Boost+ OR pH/Alk Boost+. Do not use them simultaneously as they both affect Alkalinity.

Temperature: Ensure your reef is within the ideal range for its inhabitants.
Salinity: Target 35ppt or the equivalent specific gravity.
Magnesium: Aim for 1350ppm or slightly elevated levels for Euphyllia corals.
Calcium: Target 450ppm. Do not dose more than a 100ppm change within a 24 hour period. If more is required to get to your target totals, then spread the dose out over a few days to prevent added stress on your coral and inhabitants.
Alkalinity: Maintain between 8 and 12 dkH, though stability is key. Do not change dkH by more than 1 dkH in a 24 hour period.
Nitrate: Aim for around 5ppm - do not let your nitrate numbers bottom out to 0 as that brings with it, it's own set of problems.
Phosphate: Target 0.05ppm - do not let your phosphate numbers bottom out to 0 as that brings with it, it's own set of problems.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Test Baseline Levels: Use reliable test kits or meters to measure all parameters. Record these initial values.
Calculate Initial Doses: Using the dosing strengths listed below, adjust each parameter to its target level:

Magnesium Boost+: 1ml increases 1 gallon by 10ppm.
Alkalinity Boost+: 1ml increases 1 gallon by 0.7dkH.
pH/Alk Boost+: 0.5ml increases 1 gallon by 0.7dkH.
Calcium Boost+: 1ml increases 1 gallon by 10ppm.
Nitrate Boost+ (Regular Strength): 1ml increases 25 gallons by 0.2ppm.
Phosphate Boost+ (Regular Strength): 1ml increases 1 gallon by 0.05ppm.

For faster adjustments, use:

Nitrate Boost+ 5x: 1ml increases 25 gallons by 1ppm.
Phosphate Boost+ 5x: 1ml increases 1 gallon by 0.25ppm.

Re-Test After Initial Dosing: Wait 2 to 5 days and test the same parameters at the same time of day. This will help you determine how close you are to your targets.
Establish Daily Consumption Rates:

Test again after a few days to observe how much each parameter has changed.
Use this data to calculate the daily consumption rate for each element without dosing.

Example: Let's say you have a 100 gallon aquarium. After your initial tests, add corresponding Boost+ products to achieve your target levels. This is your "Day 0" reading.

After 5 days (or whatever is best for your schedule) you retest your aquarium at the same time as your initial tests. An example of your result is

Day 0 - Calcium is at 450
Day 5 - Calcium is at 445. A change of 5ppm.

Now take your change amount of 5 and divide that by the number of days (5) that gets

5 ppm / 5 days = 1 ppm change per day

So 1ppm is your aquarium's daily consumption of Calcium. So based on the Calcium Boost+ instructions, 1ml will add 10ppm to 1 gallon, you would want to dose 10ml per day to correct for the daily consumption, to maintain your balance at 450.

When in doubt, test and test often.

Set Your Daily Doses:

Adjust dosing amounts to maintain your parameters close to the baseline.

Weekly Adjustments:

Re-test all parameters weekly to monitor trends.
Fine-tune your daily dosing based on these tests to account for changes in consumption rates.
Dosing items like the Jebao Doser Wifi 3.4 4 Channel unit are reliable and provide a way to maintain your tank during your busy life or while you're on vacation - https://amzn.to/3PqBasn
Dosing units do often require calibration, it's always a good idea to have a set of graduated cylinders to calibrate your dosing unit - https://amzn.to/3Wc3YbA

Use Reef Calculators: https://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

For ease, you can use websites like this one and select the below options from the drop down menu. Though ugly to look at, it's a helpful tool once you figure out how to use it for the majors.

At the top of the the calculator, enter your total gallons in water. Below you’ll see 3 columns,, Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium. Enter your current totals and your desired totals for each, select the equivalent products listed below and voila. Easy dosing amounts specific to your aquarium.

Calcium Boost+ is designed to the same strength and specifications as Two Little Fishies C Balance Part A

pH/Alk Boost+ is designed to the same strength and specifications as Two Little Fishies C Balance Part B

Alkalinity Boost+ can be found by using Two Little Fishies C Balance Part B and doubling the dosing amount.

Magnesium Boost+ is designed to the same strength and specifications as Randy's Recipes 1 and 2 versions A and B

How to Properly Mix and Dose Kalkwasser

What is Kalkwasser?

Kalkwasser (calcium hydroxide) is a simple and effective method for maintaining calcium and alkalinity in reef aquariums. When mixed with fresh water, it forms a saturated solution that supplies both calcium ions (Ca²⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻). The hydroxide ions help neutralize acids in the tank, thereby maintaining pH and alkalinity.

Preparing Kalkwasser Solution

Choose Your Mixing Container:
- Use a clean, sealed container made of plastic or glass (e.g., a dosing reservoir, bucket, or jug). Avoid metal containers, as Kalkwasser is highly reactive.
Determine the Saturation Level:
- Low Demand: ½ teaspoon (2.5g) per gallon (3.8L) of fresh RO/DI water.
- High Demand: 2 teaspoons (10g) per gallon (3.8L) of fresh RO/DI water (this is near saturation point).
Mixing the Solution:
- Add the required amount of Kalkwasser powder to the container.
- Slowly add fresh RO/DI water.
- Stir lightly but do not over-agitate. The goal is to dissolve the Kalkwasser without introducing excessive CO₂ from the air, which can form calcium carbonate and reduce effectiveness.
- Let the solution settle for 1-2 hours. A fine white residue (calcium carbonate) will form at the bottom—this should not be dosed into the aquarium.
Storage:
- Store the solution in a sealed container to prevent CO₂ absorption, which can degrade its potency.
- Use within a few days for best results.

Dosing Kalkwasser

Drip Method (Manual or IV Drip Line)
- Slowly drip the clear Kalkwasser solution (not the settled residue) into a high-flow area of the sump or display tank.
- A drip rate of 1-2 drops per second is typically safe.
Dosing Pump (Automated Method)
- A peristaltic dosing pump can provide controlled addition of Kalkwasser.
- Set it to dose small amounts throughout the day to prevent pH spikes.
ATO (Auto Top-Off) Method
- Some aquarists mix Kalkwasser directly in their auto top-off (ATO) reservoir.
- Ensure your ATO adds water slowly to avoid rapid pH increases.
- Clean ATO equipment regularly to prevent calcium buildup.

Safety and Precautions

Test Regularly: Monitor calcium, alkalinity, and pH frequently.
Avoid Overdosing: Too much Kalkwasser can cause high pH (>8.5), leading to precipitation of calcium carbonate and tank instability.
Never Add Directly to the Tank: Always use a slow dosing method.
Maintain Magnesium Levels: Proper magnesium levels (1250-1350 ppm) help prevent calcium precipitation.

Quick Reference Target Parameters

Salinity: 35ppt (or equivalent specific gravity).
Magnesium: 1350ppm (or higher for Euphyllia).
Alkalinity: 8-12 dkH.
Calcium: 450ppm.
Nitrate: 5ppm.
Phosphate: 0.05ppm.

Quick Reference Dosing Product Strengths

Our products are formulated for precision and effectiveness:

Magnesium Boost+: 1ml increases 1 gallon by 10ppm.
Alkalinity Boost+: 1ml increases 1 gallon by 0.7dkH.
pH/Alk Boost+: 0.5ml increases 1 gallon by 0.7dkH.
Calcium Boost+: 1ml increases 1 gallon by 10ppm.
Nitrate Boost+ (Regular Strength): 1ml increases 25 gallons by 0.02ppm.
Phosphate Boost+ (Regular Strength): 1ml increases 1 gallon by 0.05ppm.
Nitrate Boost+ 5x: 1ml increases 25 gallons by 0.1ppm.
Phosphate Boost+ 5x: 1ml increases 1 gallon by 0.25ppm.

By following these steps and guidelines, you can ensure your reef tank remains stable, healthy, and vibrant. Regular testing and dosing adjustments are key to success, allowing your corals and marine life to thrive in a balanced environment.