All for Reef Problems - Dosing and increases
- Thread starter liam31
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ctopherl
Active Member
I'm still new to this so maybe I'm believing too readily, but BRS videos would have me believe I need to dose:
* Calcium
* Alk
* Mg
* Tropic Marin trace element "A"
* Tropic Marin trace element "K"
* Tropic Marin "part C", aka "everything in salt mixes besides salt, Ca, Alk, Mg" for balance
That's how I got 6. It would be quite a pleasant surprise if you were to tell me these aren't all necessary-it's definitely daunting!
BoxKing
Active Member
I run AFR primarily for trace elements daily, at 33% of what my daily 2 Part (B Ionic) uptake would be, so I raise all accordingly as my demand goes up using Versa pumps.
ESV ALK 8-11 am
ESV CAL 1130-230 am
AFR 330-530
Lights on at 10am (initial ramp up).
ALK 8.4
Cal 430
MAG 1440
PH 8.2
ESV ALK 8-11 am
ESV CAL 1130-230 am
AFR 330-530
Lights on at 10am (initial ramp up).
ALK 8.4
Cal 430
MAG 1440
PH 8.2
arking_mark
2500 Club Member
Interesting dosing strategy
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
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Yes, that is a misconception. It is not even correct to elect to use all of those products at the same time (the magnesium and the Part C should not be used together since both are primarily magnesium and sulfate).
For a two part, one can dose either a mix that is not intended to supplement trace elements, allowing you to add those that you need and not add those that are already fine or maybe even too high (ESV B-ionic, for example), or you can use a two part that combines all of the functionality of those 6 things into 2 bottles, (ATI Essentials PRO is an example).
@ctopherl also, If you are using calcium chloride as a "Part 1" then you can add the TM Trace K to that solution. If you are using sodium bicarbonate, or even sodium carbonate (soda ash) as a "Part 2", then you can add the TM Trace A to that solution as well. That gets you from 6 solutions down to 4. By the way, there is so little of the magnesium sulfate added with the appropriate use when adding the Balling Part C, that in my opinion, it does not preclude the use of additional magnesium sulfate to supplement for Mg uptake.... Just my opinion.
Hincapiej4
Valuable Member
I read english, but understood nothing. LOL Too smart for me.@ctopherl also, If you are using calcium chloride as a "Part 1" then you can add the TM Trace K to that solution. If you are using sodium bicarbonate, or even sodium carbonate (soda ash) as a "Part 2", then you can add the TM Trace A to that solution as well. That gets you from 6 solutions down to 4. By the way, there is so little of the magnesium sulfate added with the appropriate use when adding the Balling Part C, that in my opinion, it does not preclude the use of additional magnesium sulfate to supplement for Mg uptake.... Just my opinion.
sealife4life
Community Member
You’ll get a mixed opinion on that. I personally use the ATI diluted version. I dose the #1 Alk 36ml throughout the night when lights are off to help with PH drop which is 12 hours. 3ml an hour. Same with #2 setup but I dose that when lights are on 3ml an hour for 12hrs. My doser has been setup for almost a month now. Still testing parameters every 3 days and making adjustments as my reef needs.
sealife4life
Community Member
Sorry i forgot lol the reason I do that is to try and keep a more stable water column and less chance of precipitation.
Acros
Valuable Member
I am trying to dial in my dosing. Wondering if I could dose 1ml at once everyday and not have any issues. The tank is only 17g actual water volume. That will correspond to an increase of 0.1dkh (which is my alk consumption at the moment).
sealife4life
Community Member
Do you know other parameter uptake is? How often do you test your water? What doser are you using?
Acros
Valuable Member
I test alk everyday at the same time. I am hand dosing at the moment to get it dialed in. I plan on using the kamore x1 pro doser.
blasterman
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You need to treat BRS videos about as seriously as the "Sham-wow" guy. Sad thing is one time they were objectively informative.
Manual dosing is easy and made to seem more complicated than it is. Also, for most reef tanks calcium testing is either not necessary or can be done infrequently. A half dozen SPS frags and a couple Euyphilia in a 90 gal won't require daily calcium dosing, but reefers are encouraged to do it anyways. A 10-20 drop in calcium per week doesn't require daily calcium dosing.
Next, calcium and magnesium can be mixed so that when you dose calcium it replenishes both given the ratio of consumption by hard corals is fairly fixed. My mag has locked at 1350 since doing this and I no longer test it. I'm committing sacrilege though by eliminating the need for testing something.
This leaves alk which is the easiest to test and dose requiring an opposable thumb and a box of baking soda. Thats too easy though.
Keep your trace element dosing next to your sham wow rag. Maybe strontium for softies....still testing that one. I have to dose lots of phosphate. Most reefers dont.
AFR has always fascinated me, but its limits seem prohibitive. The biggest one being sodium hydroxide is my go to alk component keeping my PH almost .3 higher during the day. If I didn't battle low PH and had a mixed reef I would be on board.
Roli's Reef Ranch
Well-Known Member
It comes with a spoon, buried, buried deep, deep down in the powder...
attiland
2500 Club Member
I know it is not popular but spend £5 on a tiny scale and that will be always better than a spoon. Not to mention the directions always given in grams
