Alkatronic and All For Reef?

[beesnreefs]

Please go easy on me as I'm still very much learning...

Recently won a giveaway and am getting an Alkatronic, along with a HYDROS Control 4, for my 65 gallon AIO mixed reef. I currently utilize the Balling method, manually dosing AF Component 1+, 2+, and 3+ every morning.

I realize the Alkatronic includes a single dosing pump to dose alkalinity and maintain dKH. A thought I had was to switch from Balling to TM All For Reef and have the Alkatronic automatically dose that according to its test results.

Is this feasible? Good/bad idea?

Anyone have experience doing this?

 

[Miller535]

Please go easy on me as I'm still very much learning...

Recently won a giveaway and am getting an Alkatronic, along with a HYDROS Control 4, for my 65 gallon AIO mixed reef. I currently utilize the Balling method, manually dosing AF Component 1+, 2+, and 3+ every morning.

I realize the Alkatronic includes a single dosing pump to dose alkalinity and maintain dKH. A thought I had was to switch from Balling to TM All For Reef and have the Alkatronic automatically dose that according to its test results.

Is this feasible? Good/bad idea?

Anyone have experience doing this?

It would work BUT that method is a lot more money then the other dosing/2 part methods. But if you're ok with that, then it's fine.

 

[beesnreefs]

It would work BUT that method is a lot more money then the other dosing/2 part methods. But if you're ok with that, then it's fine.

It could work, though?

For example, say I have the alkalinity at 8.0 when I install the Alkatronic. I'm envisioning programming it to keep it at 8.0 and testing every 4-6 hours. My thinking is, I'll hook the built in dosing pump to a container of All For Reef so whenever the Alkatronic makes a corrective dose, it is dosing equal parts dKH, Calc, Mag, and trace elements.

It's not a huge tank (only 65 gallons) and not fully packed with coral - right now I'm dosing 6 mL, once a day, of each of Component 1+, 2+, and 3+ and All For Reef is twice as concentrated, right?

So this could work....??

 

[Chris Spaulding]

I use AFR on my tank RedSea Reefer 250 about 60 gallons total. I like the staff as it is easy to do . However I do not think using it in conjunction with an Alkatroinc would work as intended . Why ? Because AFR takes time to works in conjunction with bacteria and not chemical. Where most 2 part is more of a chemical reaction. I could be wrong but this is my understanding.

 

[Miller535]

It could work, though?

For example, say I have the alkalinity at 8.0 when I install the Alkatronic. I'm envisioning programming it to keep it at 8.0 and testing every 4-6 hours. My thinking is, I'll hook the built in dosing pump to a container of All For Reef so whenever the Alkatronic makes a corrective dose, it is dosing equal parts dKH, Calc, Mag, and trace elements.

It's not a huge tank (only 65 gallons) and not fully packed with coral - right now I'm dosing 6 mL, once a day, of each of Component 1+, 2+, and 3+ and All For Reef is twice as concentrated, right?

So this could work....??

It would for sure work.

It doses Alk, cal, and mag, and a few trace. I think there's another trace product that needs added occasionally with it though.

 

[Chris Spaulding]

Yes it should work my tank atm same size using 68.6ml a day spread out over 24 hrs so basically same with alkatronic

 

[Saltees]

I use AFR on my tank RedSea Reefer 250 about 60 gallons total. I like the staff as it is easy to do . However I do not think using it in conjunction with an Alkatroinc would work as intended . Why ? Because AFR takes time to works in conjunction with bacteria and not chemical. Where most 2 part is more of a chemical reaction. I could be wrong but this is my understanding.

That’s my concern with dosing AFR, I’m leaning towards dosing Kalkwasser instead. Primary needs taken care of by Calcium Reactor though. What are your thoughts?

 

[KJoFan]

I have been using AFR successfully since May on my tank controlled by the Trident. So...should be same concept and I don't see why it wouldn't work to be honest.

 

[SliceGolfer]

Soda Ash and All for Reef do not work the same. Testing an hour or two after adding soda ash will show a difference in Alk. All for Reef needs longer time to raise Alk, which is why TM suggests testing 24 hours later. If it were me, I wouldn’t risk over dosing Alk automatically. Best of luck on whatever you choose.

 

[PegasisR]

I would suggest keeping it on a separate doser. Reason being is AFR is meant to keep levels in place and not to raise/correct Alk. For sure it will work as a means to stabilize the big 3 but not for correction dosing

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It could work, though?

For example, say I have the alkalinity at 8.0 when I install the Alkatronic. I'm envisioning programming it to keep it at 8.0 and testing every 4-6 hours. My thinking is, I'll hook the built in dosing pump to a container of All For Reef so whenever the Alkatronic makes a corrective dose, it is dosing equal parts dKH, Calc, Mag, and trace elements.

It's not a huge tank (only 65 gallons) and not fully packed with coral - right now I'm dosing 6 mL, once a day, of each of Component 1+, 2+, and 3+ and All For Reef is twice as concentrated, right?

So this could work....??

I do not recommend this, and neither does Tropic Marin.

They recommend dosing based on calcium since the alk showing up by titration is not immediate, and maybe not effective at all if, as Lou claims, corals use most of the formate directly rather than after it is converted to alkalinity.

 

[beesnreefs]

I do not recommend this, and neither does Tropic Marin.

They recommend dosing based on calcium since the alk showing up by titration is not immediate, and maybe not effective at all if, as Lou claims, corals use most of the formate directly rather than after it is converted to alkalinity.

Thanks, @Randy Holmes-Farley. Since I originally posted that I did a lot more research and came to the same conclusion. In the end I decided to pull the trigger on the Dosetronic as well and intend to link it to Alkatronic and continue with the Balling method (using Aquaforest's Component 1+, 2+, 3+) via the Dosetronic

 

[ReefBeta]

I do not recommend this, and neither does Tropic Marin.

They recommend dosing based on calcium since the alk showing up by titration is not immediate, and maybe not effective at all if, as Lou claims, corals use most of the formate directly rather than after it is converted to alkalinity.

What if using kalkwasser (via dosing pump) as main alk source, all the way to daily evaporation limit, then add AFR in alkatronic as supplement to satisfy the rest? If the alk in formate is directly used by coral, then less alk from kalk will be consume, so the kalk dose will still push the reading up for next test, will it?

 

[Jack Mammon Bifrons]

So this couldn't work atall or?
I was just about to ask this question before i found this thread, i remembered the product ALL FOR REEF and immediately wonderd the same and if anyone had tried the combination with any success????
Im getting rid of my dosetronic as its not worth the hassle , the alkatronic is going too most likely but then i thought of this, guess its not a good idea though right?

 

[PegasisR]

So this couldn't work atall or?
I was just about to ask this question before i found this thread, i remembered the product ALL FOR REEF and immediately wonderd the same and if anyone had tried the combination with any success????
Im getting rid of my dosetronic as its not worth the hassle , the alkatronic is going too most likely but then i thought of this, guess its not a good idea though right?

consensus is no. A singular alternative like red sea alk on the pump would work for alkatronics purpose, but AFR will work standalone with alkatronic monitoring

 

[MartinM]

Thanks for all the info here.

Is dosing calcium based on alk consumption (~20ppm per 1dkh drop) reasonable?

 

[sdenmark]

I was just researching the new Alkatronic Pro and came across the table for using different brands. All For Reef is in their list

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I was just researching the new Alkatronic Pro and came across the table for using different brands. All For Reef is in their list

I would be reluctant to use an alk measuring controller with AFR. I know some folks get it to work, but it sounds like a recipe for problems if the alk dosed cannot be measured for some period of time after dosing, potentially making the device think more and more is needed.

 

[areefer01]

I would be reluctant to use an alk measuring controller with AFR. I know some folks get it to work, but it sounds like a recipe for problems if the alk dosed cannot be measured for some period of time after dosing, potentially making the device think more and more is needed.

You said this back on Nov 25, 202 post #11 and it still holds true today. That is not how the product is intended to be used. As you already know, for those that don't, the delay in alkalinity adjustments using AFR can take anywhere from 6 to 48 hours depending on the system. I personally see 24 to 36 hours if I adjust my daily dose of AFR which could be due to any number of reasons.

Not that you need support in your post just sharing my thoughts as a long time user of AFR. Not something I would recommend either. Actually surprised Alktronic notes it although they do say calculate the dose and split it. Doesn't seem like they know how the product works or believe cutting the dose in half is a safety net. Unless something else is doing the alkalinity heavy lifting.

Hope your day is well.