Red Sea 4 Part Dosing: Simplify Your Reef Care Routine

If you're looking to streamline your reef aquarium maintenance while ensuring optimal coral growth and vibrant colours, the Red Sea 4 Part Dosing system is exactly what you need. This complete reef care supplement program, combined with the ReefDose 4 dosing pump, offers the easiest and most precise dosing routine available. In this guide, I'll walk you through setting up the system from scratch—resetting, priming, calibrating, and dosing—so you can enjoy a hassle-free reef keeping experience.

Table of Contents

• Getting Started: Resetting Your Dosing Heads
• Priming Your Dosing Heads
• Calibrating Your Dosing Heads
• Priming and Calibrating the Remaining Heads
• Setting Your Daily Dose
• Activating the Dosing Schedule
• Starting Your Dosing Cycle
• Why Choose Red Sea 4 Part Dosing?
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Enjoy Your Simplified Reef Care Routine

Getting Started: Resetting Your Dosing Heads

To begin, you need to clear any previous configurations on your ReefDose 4 heads. This ensures the system is ready to work with the Red Sea 4 Part Complete Reef Care program.

Follow these steps:

1. Open your ReefDose settings page on the ReefBeat app.
2. Select dosing head number one.
3. Scroll down to the bottom and press the Delete button.
4. In the pop-up window, confirm by selecting Proceed.

After deleting the old settings, you’ll set up head one to use the 4 Part program:

5. Select Setup Head One.
6. Press Select Brand and choose Red Sea.
7. Press Select Type and pick the 4 Part Program.
8. Press Set.
9. When prompted, select Proceed so ReefBeat erases the other three heads and configures them automatically for the 4 Part supplement program.
10. Confirm by pressing Confirm.

Priming Your Dosing Heads

Once the dosing heads are reset, you need to prime the tubes to prepare them for accurate dosing. Priming ensures the tubes are filled with the supplement and free of air bubbles.

Here’s how to prime head one:

1. Prepare the tubing connected to head one.
2. Press Start Priming.
3. After a few seconds, press Stop Priming.
4. Press Next to proceed.

Calibrating Your Dosing Heads

Calibration is critical for dosing accuracy. It ensures that the ReefDose pump delivers the exact volume of supplement required.

Before starting calibration, keep these important tips in mind:

• Clean and dry your measuring cylinder. Any residual drops affect accuracy.
• Hold the cylinder perfectly vertical when reading volumes.
• Read the liquid level at the bottom center of the meniscus, not the edges.
• The cylinder graduations are in 0.1 ml increments, but you can estimate volumes to the nearest 0.05 ml.
• Always hold the dosing tube tip in the centre of the cylinder to prevent drops sticking to the sides.

Now, let's calibrate head one:

1. Press Start Calibration Dose.
2. When dosing finishes, enter the exact volume dispensed into the app, down to 0.05 ml accuracy, then press Calibrate.
3. Empty and dry the cylinder.
4. Press Dose 4 ml for the confirmation dose.
5. If the confirmation dose is between 3.95 and 4.05 ml, select Yes, Continue. Otherwise, repeat the calibration process.
6. Press Done, then in the pop-up, press OK.

Priming and Calibrating the Remaining Heads

The ReefBeat app automatically configures the other three dosing heads for the 4 Part program, but you still need to prime and calibrate each individually.

Repeat the priming and calibration steps for heads two, three, and four. This ensures all heads dose accurately and consistently.

Setting Your Daily Dose

After all heads are calibrated, it’s time to enter your desired daily dose for part one, which contains calcium and other essential elements.

Follow these instructions:

1. Return to the ReefDose homepage and select head one.
2. Press Dose Per Day.
3. Enter your desired daily dose for part one.

If you are switching from Red Sea’s Foundation A supplement, multiply your current Foundation A dose by 1.3 to get your new daily dose for part one.

Alternatively, you can use the recommended doses provided in the app. Just verify your system type and tank volume, select your reefing goal, and press Set.

Don’t forget to press Save after setting the dose.

Activating the Dosing Schedule

The beauty of the Red Sea 4 Part Dosing system lies in its automatic calculations. Once you activate the schedule, ReefDose uses the part one calcium dose as the baseline and calculates the required doses for the other three parts accordingly.

Here’s how to activate the schedule:

1. Toggle on Activate Schedule.
2. Press Save again to confirm.

This automation means you only need to adjust the calcium dose, and the system handles the rest, keeping all supplements balanced and consistent.

Starting Your Dosing Cycle

To begin dosing, you have two options depending on whether you have already dosed supplements today:

• Dose Full DD: Use this if you haven't dosed any supplements today. It will deliver the full daily dose.
• Dose Relative DD: Use this if you have already dosed some supplements today. It adjusts the dose relative to what remains to be added.

Once you select the appropriate option, your ReefDose 4 is ready to maintain your reef’s chemistry with precision and ease.

Why Choose Red Sea 4 Part Dosing?

The Red Sea 4 Part Dosing system simplifies reef aquarium maintenance by integrating intelligent dosing with a comprehensive supplement program. It targets 36 major, minor, and trace elements critical for coral health, all balanced across four supplement parts.

By focusing on calcium uptake as the key indicator of coral growth, the system automatically adjusts other supplement dosages to maintain ideal water chemistry. This consistent balance promotes optimal coral growth, vibrant colours, and overall aquarium stability.

The ReefDose 4 pump’s precision dosing heads deliver supplements with ±0.05 ml accuracy, ensuring every drop counts. The ReefBeat app makes setup and adjustment intuitive, all from your smartphone.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Red Sea 4 Part Dosing program?

It is a complete reef care supplement system divided into four parts, each containing specific elements essential for coral growth and reef health. It is designed to be used with the ReefDose 4 dosing pump for automated, accurate dosing.

How do I know how much to dose daily?

The system uses calcium uptake as the baseline. You test calcium levels weekly and enter your desired daily dose for part one (calcium). The ReefDose and ReefBeat app automatically calculate and set the correct doses for the other three parts.

Can I use this system if I already dose supplements manually?

Yes. When switching from Red Sea Foundation A supplements, multiply your current dose by 1.3 to find the equivalent part one dose. The system will then calculate the others accordingly.

Why is calibration important?

Calibration ensures the dosing pump delivers the right volume of supplement. Accurate dosing is critical for maintaining stable water chemistry and coral health.

What if my confirmation dose is outside the acceptable range?

If the confirmation dose is not between 3.95 and 4.05 ml, repeat the calibration process until it falls within this range to guarantee accuracy.

Can I dose supplements on a customised schedule?

Yes. The ReefDose 4 and ReefBeat app support multiple dosing schedules, including single daily doses, multiple doses throughout the day, or customised timing to fit your reef’s needs.

What if I miss a dose?

The ReefDose system automatically compensates for missed doses due to power outages or maintenance, rescheduling them to keep your reef chemistry balanced.

Do I need to prime and calibrate all dosing heads individually?

Yes. While the app sets the dosing program automatically for all heads, you must prime and calibrate each dosing head individually to ensure proper function and accuracy.

Is the Red Sea 4 Part Dosing suitable for aquariums with macro algae refugiums?

Red Sea recommends using their 7-part Reef Foundation and Trace Colors system for tanks with macro algae refugiums, as the uptake ratios of elements differ in these setups.

Enjoy Your Simplified Reef Care Routine

With your ReefDose 4 and the Red Sea 4 Part Dosing system set up, you now have a powerful, easy-to-use tool for maintaining your reef’s water chemistry. The combination of precise dosing, smart app control, and balanced supplements will give your corals the environment they need to thrive.

Happy reef keeping!