Help with dosing pico

[Chewy1245]

What additives do you guys dose or add to your tank? I right now only change 25%water every week.

[CatfishSoupFTW]

id like to know as well! rocking a ten gal, and i have no idea what to do. aside from a WC and rotifeast i got nada. hoppin in if you dont mind ! will follow.

[seabass]

Pico tanks aren't that much different than other tanks when it comes to consumption of elements. The main difference is that water changes are relatively fast, easy, and inexpensive. There are some pico keepers that change almost all of the water during water changes. This makes dosing elements (and testing for these elements) practically unnecessary.

If you have a pico that's well stocked with corals, and perform partial water changes, you should test for alkalinity and calcium. If you determine that the consumption rate of these elements is greater than what water changes can replenish, then you should look into two part dosing.

Once you start dosing alkalinity and calcium, you need to be aware of the magnesium level too. Proper magnesium levels make proper alkalinity and calcium levels possible. Don't try to elevate any of these levels higher than what you original salt mixes to; just replenish the consumed elements. If the levels of your mix are lower than what you want, then switch salt mixes.

You don't have to dose trace elements; and you shouldn't dose anything that you aren't testing for.

[Chewy1245]

Thank you I'll get a picture of it tomorrow

Also would something like this work?

[NanoBiscuit]

You really want to measure your levels before you start dosing anything. Even if the directions say something like "add a capful per 25 gallons per day" don't believe it.

[seabass]

Also would something like this work?

Yes, you could use that product to replenish consumed elements.

Shake well before use. Part A: Add 1 ml (8 drops) per 4 gallons tank capacity daily to maintain proper water parameters. Add directly to the system in an area of good water movement. Wait 5-minutes, then add an equal amount of Part B in the same manner. Do not mix with other supplements outside the aquarium.

However, like NanoBiscuit wrote, this doesn't tell you how much 1ml will raise the calcium and alkalinity levels. You could test before, and one hour after dosing, to measure the impact on your tank's water. Then you would have to adjust your dosing accordingly. Keep in mind that (contrary to the directions) you will not have to dose Part A and Part B in equal amounts.

[Chewy1245]

Thanks guys will do I have 2 acan heads about 100 polyps and a feather duster

Any experience with feeding acans? I feed mine a little shrimp every 2 weeks

 

[jservedio]

There is really no reason for dosing on a tank that can do water changes using a large cup (under 5ish gallons). It will be cheaper, faster, and easier to just do big water changes. As long as your salinity is good and your batch of ASW is mixed up properly, everything will be spot on. For a pico you should be doing at a bare minimum 25% weekly, if not more, which even chock full of SPS and LPS should be more than enough. And if it isn't, do more water changes.

 

Think about how long it would take to test Alk, Ca, and Mag every single day in teh beginning when you start dosing to figure out your daily dose. Also, since it is so small, you will be constantly testing as your dose fluctuates with growth. Then, compare that to sucking a few cups of water out and dumping a few cups of water back in. I can do a 50% WC on my pico in under 3 minutes flat.

 

My 2g is a little over 10 months old now and because I do big water changes, I have never once tested anything except for salinity and it is packed with LPS and a couple SPS. Don't over complicate things just for the sake of "doing something." The best "something" you can do is more water changes.

 

This is coming from someone who's primary tank is full of acros and using an automated dosing system and can quickly check Alk with a Hanna and STILL think with all that, it is way faster and easier to just do water changes for a pico.

[pismo_reefer]

I do 100% water changes, weekly, in my 5.5g... My sps are growing at an INSANE rate.

 

Proof is in the pudding.

 

Also, this is the most stable tank ive ever had, out of dozens.

Including professional aquaculture setups.

[CatfishSoupFTW]

interesting reading all this. Been tempted to dose, but every time I have checked my params, they seem on point. and daily water changes as well.

[GMay]

As already stated, dosing on very small systems, < 5 gals, is really not necessary. You could simply replace most of the water once a week, or better yet, do a daily 10% change and nearly every parameter would be constant. This would probably work even on a tank with a relativly high bioload for the volume.

[FlowerMama]

I've had my 8 gallon Evolve for a while now. Have 5 sps in there, frogspawn, mushrooms, zoas, gsp on the back wall. All I've ever done are 2 g. water changes on it, and that's not every week either- never had to dose. If you want higher alkalinity stay w/ Reef Crystals. I heard Red Coral Pro salt was great but my alkalinity dropped immediately and I got more coraline algae faster. I went back to Reef Crystals.

[pismo_reefer]

I use Reef Crystals, as well.

Probably has a lot to do with my stability.