Like the title suggest just looking for some info sharing about the method. I have been doing this for about the last year utilizing a 250g stock tank as a reservoir feeding 2 separate systems, one is about 180g and the other is about 360g. This is by far the best system I've used in my opinion, but it's not perfect. I don't think I've lost any corals at all since starting this method and growth has never been better for me. For comparison sake other methods I've used for keeping stable parameters and lowering nutrients include:
Regular large partial water changes.
2 part dosing.
Triton products and testing.
Ca reactor.
LC dosing for po4.
Gfo.
Activated carbon.
If there's anything else I didn't list I've probably tried it.
For those that don't know what I'm talking about, the simple description is you mix enough saltwater to last a while and continuously drip that water into your system. Need to have a way for water to exit the system also to avoid the obvious problem of overflowing your system. Will need to do some easy calculations to figure out how to accomplish the drip at the correct flow for what your trying to accomplish.
For me, I go through about 20g per day for both systems. I do no other dosing for any elements and depend on the continuous supply of new saltwater to maintain all my levels. In the beginning I've found for my systems that amount won't maintain ca or alk sufficiently. So what I've done to combat that issue is when I mix new water I boost the ca and alk and that seems to work for me.
Obviously there are still variables like the brand of salt you use. I use fritz rpm because it's the cheapest buying it in bulk. It also happens to mix low for ca and alk. Maybe spending more on better salt could eliminate the need to boost those.
Some pros to the method...
Very stable once you figure out your needs.
Simple to maintain.
Very low maintenence.
No need for expensive equipment.
Eliminates need for daily or weekly testing.
Nutrient removal combined into dosing.
Eliminates need for water top off.
Some cons
Expensive to buy salt. Although I'm not using much more than doing regular changes anyway.
Space requirements to keep mixed water.
Lines getting clogged...
Which leads me to my first question to others that enjoy this method. I use 1/4 inch ro tubbing to dose from my large water tank. Several times it's become clogged from calcification, this time so clogged that I cannot clear it. I'm going to try upgrading to 3/8 Silicon tubing in hopes that will solve the problem. Anyone else have any methods to stop that from happening?
The run that I have that problem with is about 30 feet long. I have a shorter run to my other system and haven't had that issue.
Regular large partial water changes.
2 part dosing.
Triton products and testing.
Ca reactor.
LC dosing for po4.
Gfo.
Activated carbon.
If there's anything else I didn't list I've probably tried it.
For those that don't know what I'm talking about, the simple description is you mix enough saltwater to last a while and continuously drip that water into your system. Need to have a way for water to exit the system also to avoid the obvious problem of overflowing your system. Will need to do some easy calculations to figure out how to accomplish the drip at the correct flow for what your trying to accomplish.
For me, I go through about 20g per day for both systems. I do no other dosing for any elements and depend on the continuous supply of new saltwater to maintain all my levels. In the beginning I've found for my systems that amount won't maintain ca or alk sufficiently. So what I've done to combat that issue is when I mix new water I boost the ca and alk and that seems to work for me.
Obviously there are still variables like the brand of salt you use. I use fritz rpm because it's the cheapest buying it in bulk. It also happens to mix low for ca and alk. Maybe spending more on better salt could eliminate the need to boost those.
Some pros to the method...
Very stable once you figure out your needs.
Simple to maintain.
Very low maintenence.
No need for expensive equipment.
Eliminates need for daily or weekly testing.
Nutrient removal combined into dosing.
Eliminates need for water top off.
Some cons
Expensive to buy salt. Although I'm not using much more than doing regular changes anyway.
Space requirements to keep mixed water.
Lines getting clogged...
Which leads me to my first question to others that enjoy this method. I use 1/4 inch ro tubbing to dose from my large water tank. Several times it's become clogged from calcification, this time so clogged that I cannot clear it. I'm going to try upgrading to 3/8 Silicon tubing in hopes that will solve the problem. Anyone else have any methods to stop that from happening?
The run that I have that problem with is about 30 feet long. I have a shorter run to my other system and haven't had that issue.
Last edited:
