Dosing All, Cal, Mag during 3-4 day blackout?

[bryanmc1988]

So my main question is does anyone know if you still continue to dose all the trace elements when doing a 3-4 day blackout?

Would dosing during the blackout raise parameters as the corals might not be using them during this blackout phase?

[bryanmc1988]

No advice? Any one with knowledge that can answer this question above...?

[keepswimming]

Just to clarify, you talking about the 'BIG 3' correct? Calcium, Magnesium, and Alkalinity are not trace elements. The only reason i ask is because some people actually dose trace elements, when water changes are seldom. The trace elements come in the salt and are not absorbed by corals from the water column nearly as fast as the Big 3.

With that being said, you want to keep you parameters as stable as possible. You should dose the same amount everyday, that is until your corals have a higher demand (growing). Then you would adjust your dosing accordingly. So yes, keep dosing during your blackout. What is the purpose of the blackout? Are you trying to get rid of algae or cyano?

[crabbysd]

yea, should be fine. youll have a lightly less use of the big three while lights are out. stony coral use less in the dark, more in the light. you can just test the alk daily if you are concerned. you wont OD on cal or mag. a slow increase in alk wont hurt ( ive done 8-16dkh in two weeks by accident with no probs)SLOW increase. lol

[bryanmc1988]

I am currently dosing 18ml of all and calcium daily @ 6ml 3 times a day with alk dosing every other hour and cal every hour after alk is dosed. ( total 18ml of alk and cal per day). As for mag, I does daily at 5ml per day. Tested the water today and everything look to be in the right parameter:

Alk 9.2
Cal 450
Mag 1395

Does this alk : cal balance seem off? From what I heard, if alk is 9.2 than my cal should be ~420? Or is it ok as to where my parameter is testing at?