How much Ca to dose for 1 frogspawn?

mediabox · 08-07-2007, 09:19 PM

I am a bit puzzled. I am new to this reef thing (1st fish 3weeks ago) and got my 1st coral, a frogspawn frag, about 10 days ago. It's about 4.5" x 2" when full blown and has 2 branches. I think thats the only thing that uses calcium. Just in case, I also have a rock w/ some green and red mushrooms and a green star polyp.

My Ca about a week ago was about 400 (Seachem tester and Instant Ocean salt) w/o any dosing. I picked up some 2 part B-Ionic and began dosing 12ml per day. The recommended dose for my size tank (1mL for each 4gal - per the directions). Thing is, I measured Ca again last nite and it was 225 (measure it twice)! Does this sound right? I'm not sure it matters but I also began dosing Magnesium during this time. Its at 1375ppm now.

How much would you guys guestimate I should put per day?

Thanks,
Jay

Hop · 08-07-2007, 09:23 PM

None... Water changes should be fine for that coral.

Reef chemestry can be tough to get a grasp on. So I don't recomend dosing anything until you understand the relationships and how things effect one another. The good thing is that frogspawn is a hearty coral and waterchanges alone with proper light and flow will keep it going

mediabox · 08-08-2007, 01:47 AM

Okay I'm a goof. I used the wrong pipette to measure my water. My Ca is really 425.

Geoff · 08-08-2007, 01:06 PM

what is your alk?

i also agree, you will not need to dose with just one coral. water changes will keep the Ca/alk in check.

G~

mediabox · 08-08-2007, 02:05 PM

I plan on ramping up in the near term so I wanted to get the Ca up to ideal levels. I'm a little high on alk at 7meq/l. I added 4 extra oz of B-Ionic Ca (12ml of alk + 16ml Ca last nite) to try and bring it down a little.

I will stop my Ca dosing for the time being since I am at ideal levels. When I dosed last nite I though I was still at 225. I will only dose to bring my alk to 3.0-3.75meq/l as B-Ionic recommends.

Jahreefer · 08-08-2007, 02:18 PM

I am on board with everyone in saying that dosing is good, but for you right now, dosing is second to some other important parts to reef keeping. With me for example, I didnt start dosing until after 2 years of reef keeping when I start taking on more calcium dependent corals and had a better understanding of reef chemistry. Just an FYI, too much dosing in a system as young as yours can lead to negative reactions. Weekly water changes will be more than enough for now.

Brent Cone · 08-08-2007, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mediabox

Okay I'm a goof. I used the wrong pipette to measure my water. My Ca is really 425.

Thats just fine!

Brent.

Geoff · 08-08-2007, 09:21 PM

i have 7 clams in my tank. 1 is a 6" Squammie. i also have about 20 colonies of SPS. i only have a kalk reactor for top off. i do not dose other than the kalk. dosing is over-rated and in most cases unnecessary. if you get rid of the phosphates in the tank you will get rid of the need to dose Ca and alk. we make this hobby harder than it needs to be.

G~