AFR dose with baking soda

[fiji4118]

10G system. I have been dosing 2 part for some time but wanted to try out AFR. Initially saw that I needed around 6ml/day of AFR to maintain ALK levels but this was also driving up my CA. Dialed it back to 3ml/day AFR and added 6ml of my ALK solution (BRS soda ash). Wondering if it makes sense to use baking soda instead to avoid the PH spike. Haven't dosed baking soda so I would need to figure out dosing. With the 3ml/day AFR alone the ALK drops 13ppm/day.

Also, if I were mixing the AFR myself (bought a bottle of the premixed to start) could I change the components to account for the additional ALK needed?

 

[ryanjohn1]

In 10 gallon system with regular water change your parameters shouldn’t really require dosing. What are you testing with?

 

[fiji4118]

Hanna checker for CA and alk. Not dosing I see an alk decrease of around 25ppm/day that's tapers off as it gets lower. The new SW has an alk of 193ppm. So there's a pretty good spike. I'm just trying to make it more stable overall as there is a significant amount of coral in this tank.

 

[fiji4118]

Pic of tank

 

[ryanjohn1]

Mostly lps and softies?

 

[fiji4118]

Pretty mixed. Entire back is sps.

 

[fiji4118]

Back

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Deleted

 

[fiji4118]

Must have that backwards. Thought it was the other way around

 

[fiji4118]

One thing I have noticed since bringing my elk back up from very low 5s was that my mushrooms are not happy. Before

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Must have that backwards. Thought it was the other way around

It is... I deleted my post. I got it backwards

 

[fiji4118]

After. Shrooms have shrunk but everything else is growing like crazy

 

[Miami Reef]

10G system. I have been dosing 2 part for some time but wanted to try out AFR. Initially saw that I needed around 6ml/day of AFR to maintain ALK levels but this was also driving up my CA. Dialed it back to 3ml/day AFR and added 6ml of my ALK solution (BRS soda ash). Wondering if it makes sense to use baking soda instead to avoid the PH spike. Haven't dosed baking soda so I would need to figure out dosing. With the 3ml/day AFR alone the ALK drops 13ppm/day.

Also, if I were mixing the AFR myself (bought a bottle of the premixed to start) could I change the components to account for the additional ALK needed?

Probably testing error. You cannot readily detect the calcium rise with such a small increase of alk (0.7dKH).

For every 2.8dKH increase of alk, calcium will rise about 20ppm. Most test kits have that much calcium as the resolution. Calcium can range between 400-550ppm in reef tanks.

AFR is balanced in terms of calcium and alkalinity.

Just keep using AFR to maintain alkalinity.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The tiny pH rise from a small dose of sodium carbonate is no concern. It is probably beneficial.

I also agree that calcium is not likely rising as much as you think.

Finally, do not try to mix any alk supplements into AFR. You will precipitate calcium carbonate.

 

[fiji4118]

Thanks Randy. So based on your alk calculator to raise the ALK 25ppm in a 10G tank in looking at 9ishml/day. Seem correct?

 

[gbroadbridge]

I would adjust your Alk to where you want it (suggest around 8dkh) using Soda Ash, then adjust your AFR dosing to maintain it.

That's how I manage my nano (about 10gal tank).

I dose around 12ml a day of AFR (SPS heavy consumers in the small tank).
I ignored Calcium and it settled down at around 450-470 or so.

 

[fiji4118]

I would adjust your Alk to where you want it (suggest around 8dkh) using Soda Ash, then adjust your AFR dosing to maintain it.

That's how I manage my nano (about 10gal tank).

I dose around 12ml a day of AFR (SPS heavy consumers in the small tank).
I ignored Calcium and it settled down at around 450-470 or so.

12ml/day in 10G. Thanks for that. Wondered in I was getting to high already

 

[fiji4118]

Curious if anyone has thoughts on the shrooms closing?

 

[fiji4118]

Same rock before and after.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Randy. So based on your alk calculator to raise the ALK 25ppm in a 10G tank in looking at 9ishml/day. Seem correct?

Are you really measuring alk in ppm calcium carbonate equivalents?

25 ppm alk (1.4 dKH) boost in 10 gallons actual water volume with AFR requires 8.8 mL, so yes.