Dosing Frequency - AFR / new tank

[harlequinfanaticyert]

Hello!

My tank is fully cycled and I was about to begin dosing. I have a 25G tank w/o corals, but with live rock and coralline. I’m leaving for a 4 day vacation on Wednesday and will not be able to test or dose until Sunday. I have already dosed 5ml yesterday, and 2.5ml today.

I do not yet have any alk test kits. I was going to get the Hanna but was not able to just yet. All testing has been done at LFS.

Do I hold off on further dosing until I have an alk test kit and I can dose on a schedule? I got ahead of myself but don’t see how such an initial small amount can do much.

 

[GARRIGA]

Do you have corals that are consuming alkalinity? Then to what extent

 

[pooootiqe]

No need to dose just yet until new corals are added.

Any colorimetric kh kits would suffice, Hanna kh reagent’s kinda expensive.

It may be worth noting that the kh addition from AFR won’t be immediately measurable.

 

[harlequinfanaticyert]

Do you have corals that are consuming alkalinity? Then to what extent

No corals, no idea of consumption rate

 

[harlequinfanaticyert]

No need to dose just yet until new corals are added.

Any colorimetric kh kits would suffice, Hanna kh reagent’s kinda expensive.

It may be worth noting that the kh addition from AFR won’t be immediately measurable.

I will hold off until after vacation and test kits.

 

[areefer01]

Do you have corals that are consuming alkalinity? Then to what extent

They said 25g tank, no corals.

 

[areefer01]

Do I hold off on further dosing until I have an alk test kit and I can dose on a schedule? I got ahead of myself but don’t see how such an initial small amount can do much.

You noted no corals. Water changes will be fine. You shouldn't start dosing until you can test on your own and see what the demand is or is going to be. Trends.

Cart before the horse in this case.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Before dosing, you should have corals, and the corals should start dosing. You should have test kits. You should have a proper understanding of why you are dosing and what should be done, you should do some research.

 

[harlequinfanaticyert]

You noted no corals. Water changes will be fine. You shouldn't start dosing until you can test on your own and see what the demand is or is going to be. Trends.

Cart before the horse in this case.

Would there be any cause for concern that I dosed and don’t have a test kit? There’s live rock and algae, I can’t see a single dose doing too much

I am going to get test kit asap

 

[RedReefer]

Would there be any cause for concern that I dosed and don’t have a test kit? There’s live rock and algae, I can’t see a single dose doing too much

I am going to get test kit asap

I doubt that small dose one time will cause any issues.

 

[harlequinfanaticyert]

I doubt that small dose one time will cause any issues.

Nice.

 

[areefer01]

Would there be any cause for concern that I dosed and don’t have a test kit? There’s live rock and algae, I can’t see a single dose doing too much

I am going to get test kit asap

No. As another member already stated a single dose isn't going to be a concern. You noted there are no corals currently in the display. The size is small enough that a frequent water change will take care of the current needs and therefore no dosing required. Frequency can be weekly, bi weekly, etc. Just depends on your schedule.

 

[GARRIGA]

No corals, no idea of consumption rate

Then no need to dose AFR. Might still want to track alkalinity as that might need to be replaced as nitrification will steal base.

 

[GARRIGA]

They said 25g tank, no corals.

I know. Just emphasizing the point having corals and consumption drive dosing.

 

[exnisstech]

Many people with smaller tanks maintain parameters with water changes alone. As stated no corals no need to dose. Once your back from vaca and have test kits maybe test just to see where your alk is at and proceed from there. First thing is you'll have to decide is where you even want to keep your alk level. Using a salt that mixes at or close to to the level you want to keep makes things easier.

 

[STEEZY]

I am going to go against the grain here. I have noticed alk consumption without corals. I believe some forms of the dry rock consume it, or at least something is. But yeah, you will need a test kit to check it.

 

[harlequinfanaticyert]

I’m getting the alk test kit and will slowly begin dosing with significantly smaller doses than usual. Idea is to minimize water changes and grow coralline. I’ll under stock and test regularly

 

[IceNein]

I am going to go against the grain here. I have noticed alk consumption without corals. I believe some forms of the dry rock consume it, or at least something is. But yeah, you will need a test kit to check it.

I think people mean that alkalinity will not typically be lowered enough to warrant dosing without corals. Yes, there are many things in your tank that will use alkalinity like coralline algae, micro crustaceans, and your clean up crew's shells.

 

[STEEZY]

I think people mean that alkalinity will not typically be lowered enough to warrant dosing without corals. Yes, there are many things in your tank that will use alkalinity like coralline algae, micro crustaceans, and your clean up crew's shells.

My alk was in the 5s without dosing and nothing in the tank. I actually don’t know if that’s ok for fish only but I didn’t want to find out.