Thinking of buying a dosing pump.

[mbaeza64]

I have a 150 gallon tank with a bunch of LPS corals and some SPS corals so I never had one before so what do you guys recommend? What should I dose? What dosing pump should I buy?

 

[TheRealChrisBrown]

Are you getting good growth, and are your water parameters stable? What are you currently dosing?

 

[mbaeza64]

I'm getting great coral growth but as of right now I don't dose anything just waterchanges!

 

[mbaeza64]

https://vimeo.com/134267983 short video of my tank!

 

[TheRealChrisBrown]

Soooooo, if you are happy with coral growth, and don't currently dose anything......you know what I'm about to say.....why do you want to start dosing?

Most people dose calcium and alkalinity, called 2-part dosing. Some aquariums require magnesium to be added as well. What are your Mag, Calc, and Alk levels currently at?

 

[mbaeza64]

Well my calcium and alk drop pretty fast and I haven't testes magnesium

 

[mbaeza64]

Cause my chalice is bleaching from the edges

 

[TheRealChrisBrown]

Do you run a controller like an Apex or Reefkeeper?

 

[mbaeza64]

No I could buy one

 

[TheRealChrisBrown]

I really like this kit (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-2-part-calcium-alkalinity-total-package-with-dosers.html) and I think it saves some cash, I almost bought it on Black Friday I think it was $169 for the full gallon sizes. But around the same time I was looking at this setup, Neptune came out with the Dos for the Apex. I decided to go that route, even if it meant waiting a few months to get a Dos.

 

[opakapaka]

Might want to check this out, plus they're local....http://reefbuilders.com/2015/07/21/reefdoser-evo-4-aqua-medic-remote-control/

 

[Shaunv]

I too am in the process of looking for a good/safe way to dose. I have thought about the BRS 1.1 ml dosers. They get pretty good reviews. However, since I purchased the Apex, I have been really looking at the Apex Dos. It is more expensive but has a step down motor so should last longer than any other doser. Also it looks easy to control and monitor. In regards to the Aqua Medic doser, I can't find much for reviews and I am a little skeptical about the quality of their products in general so seeing a super cheap doser makes me wonder if it will be reliable. Last thing I want is to have my whole jug of 2 part empty into the tank and kill everything.

 

[BrianH]

As far as cheap programmable 3 head dosing pumps go, I have been happy with my magic marine dosing pump. In 3 years I have replaced one of the heads. The replacement heads were 3 for $30. I think magic marine is only sold through ebay.

 

[mbaeza64]

Might want to check this out, plus they're local....http://reefbuilders.com/2015/07/21/reefdoser-evo-4-aqua-medic-remote-control/

I like this doser and usualy what do you guys dose and the cost of the liquid?

 

[tomtom2245]

I have the Bubble Magus and really like it. It spreads a set amount out over the day in equal and smaller amounts and calculates the whole thing for you. I'm sure some of the others will do that as well but the BM is the only one I have experience with.

 

[Haddonisreef]

It's pretty cheep for two part, I was going threw a gallon every five weeks or so. Also didn't see the angel in your video what happen?

 

[mbaeza64]

It's pretty cheep for two part, I was going threw a gallon every five weeks or so. Also didn't see the angel in your video what happen?

He's still there he usually hangs out in his cave and comes out only to eat and swim a portion of the day haha

 

[Haddonisreef]

He's still there he usually hangs out in his cave and comes out only to eat and swim a portion of the day haha

Oh good, keeping parameters stable is key in our reefs. So doseing is a easy way to do so, I recently went from doseing to a ca reactor. Brs has a good info on how to start w two part doseing I'd check out there web site.

 

[mbaeza64]

Oh good, keeping parameters stable is key in our reefs. So doseing is a easy way to do so, I recently went from doseing to a ca reactor. Brs has a good info on how to start w two part doseing I'd check out there web site.

I heard about the calcium reactors never looked into them what do they do? Would you recommend me getting one?

 

[Haddonisreef]

I heard about the calcium reactors never looked into them what do they do? Would you recommend me getting one?

Ca reactor will dose all trace element to the tank. They take a bit to dial in but I wish I would have gone this route long ago. If u do I'd get a controller either a reef keeper or apex to help control the reactor. You need to keep a low ph in reactor 6.5 +/- .20 to melt media. There's also a good video on brs about ca reactors. If u want to stop by I could show ya how it works.