One of the most crucial elements to any successful reef aquarium is water chemistry. Additionally, one of the first details of this hobby that any participant must understand is the process of testing, evaluating, and adjusting particular elements within their water. Generally, dosing systems are one of the best ways to change one or more parameters or elements within an aquarium.
What Are Aquarium Additives?
Aquarium additives or supplements are chemicals added to the water in either liquid or powder form to change the aquarium’s water chemistry.
What are Dosing Systems?
A dosing system is a set of aquarium additives introduced to the aquarium on a particular schedule to replenish the levels of specific elements within the water. For example, if your tank consumes 20 ppm of calcium per day, 20 ppm of calcium needs to be added.
Types of Dosing Systems (Basic vs. Complete)
We have divided the dosing systems into two main categories; basic and complete dosing systems.
Basic Dosing Systems
These systems can also be referred to as traditional dosing systems. Basic dosing systems include alkalinity, calcium, and in some cases, magnesium. Traditionally sold in two-bottle formats, these systems cover just the essential elements and not much else.
Complete Dosing Systems
Complete dosing systems include alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, and many major and minor trace elements. The addition of these elements generally eliminates the need to dose these components separately and improves coral health, color, and growth. Some of these systems are also available in two-bottle format; however, many use more than two bottles.
Dosing System Comparison Chart
| Dosing System | ATI Essentials | BRS 2-Part Pharma | Red Sea Reef Foundation | Triton Core7 | ESV B-Ionic | Tropic Marin All-For-Reef |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type of System | Complete | Basic | Basic | Complete | Basic | Complete |
| Dosing Method | Manual or with Dosing Pump | Manual or with Dosing Pump | Manual or with Dosing Pump | Manual or with Dosing Pump | Manual or with Dosing Pump | Manual or with Dosing Pump |
| Format | Two Bottles | Three Bottles | Three Bottles | Four Bottles | Two Bottles | One Bottle |
| Additional Element Coverage | Includes 25 additional elements | Includes magnesium coverage | Includes magnesium coverage | Includes many additional elements | Just alkalinity & calcium | Includes 17 additional elements |
| Physical Form | Liquid | Powder | Liquid or Powder | Liquid | Liquid | Liquid or Powder |
| Best For | Balanced, affordable, and trace element coverage | Basic, inexpensive coverage | Want to use the Red Sea Reef Program | Want to use Triton Method | Basic, inexpensive coverage | Easy to dose with plenty of trace element coverage |
Dosing System Cost Comparison Chart
The following chart contains the estimated monthly cost of each dosing system for a 100-gallon mixed reef aquarium. For each of these products, we selected the most cost-effective size. Therefore, you can use this information to calculate what using one of these dosing systems would cost for your aquarium.
| Dosing System | ATI Essentials | BRS 2-Part Pharma | Red Sea Reef Foundation | Triton Core7 | ESV B-Ionic | Tropic Marin All-For-Reef |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost Per Month | $11.99 | $3.65 | $12.80 | $10.25 | $9.27 | $17.92 |
Alternatives to Dosing
Investing in a dosing system is the best way to preserve your water chemistry at the ideal levels, but it is not the only way. You can also replenish the necessary elements by performing frequent water changes with a high-quality salt. Frequent water changes are a good alternative for smaller tanks; however, regular water changes are time-consuming and expensive for larger tanks. Calcium reactors are an excellent alternative to a chemical dosing system for larger aquariums. If operated correctly, calcium reactors should cover all major elements and some trace elements.
Budget
Basic systems tend to be less expensive than complete systems. However, a basic system will not cover major or minor trace elements. Adding any required major or minor trace elements may bring the total cost of the basic system over the price of a complete system. You can also make your dosing regimen more cost-effective by buying chemicals in bulk and buying them dry. If you prefer the convenience of a liquid chemical, buy it in bulk and check its concentration, so you are not paying for a bunch of water.
After choosing a dosing system, the next step is to evaluate your system’s consumption of the essential major and minor elements and determine if you will need to address some of them individually by dosing additional trace elements. Stay tuned for part two of this article, where we will dive into those trace elements and establish some of the best ways to raise their levels individually.
In conclusion, if you have any questions about dosing or which dosing system may make the most sense for your particular system, we suggest contacting our support team.