All for reef question

[Fredrxn]

Sup guys I have a question about all for reef lately it’s not keeping my alk where I would like it at around 8 dkh…alk has be slowly going down notice this over the last month… I am currently dosing 14 mL of all for reef with my apex dos…tank is waterbox 130 reef….my calcium is on the high side all ready… should I increase my daily dose of all for reef…or what? Here’s a few pics thanks alk is at 7.1 confirmd with Hanna checker

 

[Mele__Reef]

Sup guys I have a question about all for reef lately it’s not keeping my alk where I would like it at around 8 dkh…alk has be slowly going down notice this over the last month… I am currently dosing 14 mL of all for reef with my apex dos…tank is waterbox 130 reef….my calcium is on the high side all ready… should I increase my daily dose of all for reef…or what? Here’s a few pics thanks alk is at 7.1 confirmd with Hanna checker

Ive heard that sediment settles at the bottom of the bottle. Therefore , the dose isnt accurate. Perhaps use a magnetic stirrer? Hope this helps , good luck!

 

[Idech]

I’m in the same process as you and trying to stabilize alk. I’ve read that it takes times and if alk goes down and calcium is fine, then you should not adjust your dose (yet) but just dose baking soda or other to raise your alkalinity.

Then monitor again for the next weeks.

Here is a guide from AFR :

 

[Fredrxn]

Ive heard that sediment settles at the bottom of the bottle. Therefore , the dose isnt accurate. Perhaps use a magnetic stirrer? Hope this helps , good luck!

I’m in the same process as you and trying to stabilize alk. I’ve read that it takes times and if alk goes down and calcium is fine, then you should not adjust your dose (yet) but just dose baking soda or other to raise your alkalinity.

Then monitor again for the next weeks.

Here is a guide from AFR :

I been adding all for reef to this tank for 6 months alk was stable but not now

 

[Idech]

I been adding all for reef to this tank for 6 months alk was stable but not now

Then just fix your alkalinity without changing your dose. That’s what AFR recommends.

 

[Reef_Curiosity]

I been adding all for reef to this tank for 6 months alk was stable but not now

Other factors than coral growth can increase alk demand. Don't forget to keep a clean tank
How much has the calcium increased over the last month and does repeated tests show it? Tests can vary much, and maybe the calcium is stable, but the test pinged high. It happens all the time.

Ive heard that sediment settles at the bottom of the bottle. Therefore , the dose isnt accurate. Perhaps use a magnetic stirrer? Hope this helps , good luck!

No, this is not true.
The liquid is saturated fully with calcium and alk, any sedimentation or precipitate is not affecting this. Some iron precipitate can occur or when people mix too much powder into the water.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'd dose more and not worry about calcium unless it gets above 500 ppm.

 

[Fredrxn]

Sup guys did not want to make a new post I am stilling having trouble with my alk not staying stable…I was doseing 14ml of all for reef…not I am doing 17 mls alk still dropping…calcium went from 450 to 510 with Hanna checker apex trident says cal is at 470..salfert says it’s 460…gonna drop back down to 14ml daily and add alk to my tank with my apex dos…my question is do I have to use the tropic Marin balling b to get alk up…can I just use Red Sea alk and esv alk I have on hand so I can burn it up?

 

[Jeffbear]

Sup guys did not want to make a new post I am stilling having trouble with my alk not staying stable…I was doseing 14ml of all for reef…not I am doing 17 mls alk still dropping…calcium went from 450 to 510 with Hanna checker apex trident says cal is at 470..salfert says it’s 460…gonna drop back down to 14ml daily and add alk to my tank with my apex dos…my question is do I have to use the tropic Marin balling b to get alk up…can I just use Red Sea alk and esv alk I have on hand so I can burn it up?

I am also dosing AFR and I dose Red Sea Foundation B when my Alkalinity drifts from where I want it. Just don't adjust it too much too quickly.

 

[legalizedreefer]

My understanding is to keep a bottle of alk supplement handy to “top up” the alk where the A4R doesn’t meet demand. Then when you see that both alk AND calcium are dropping that is your cue to increase your A4R dose