All For Reef Question

[Nate92483]

I just tested my Alk and it read 7.6dkh. I have a 65 gallon tank. 90 total volume including the sump. I am currently dosing 43ml. 23 at 9am and 23 at 7pm. And it's at 7.6dkh. Does that sound like I am dosing too much? I know I'm supposed to increase the dose by 2.5 everyday until I reach my desired Alk. I'm trying for 9. I figured I'm going to be dosing a lot more than I thought I would have. I don't want to over do it. Thanks

 

[Gatorpa]

I just tested my Alk and it read 7.6dkh. I have a 65 gallon tank. 90 total volume including the sump. I am currently dosing 43ml. 23 at 9am and 23 at 7pm. And it's at 7.6dkh. Does that sound like I am dosing too much? I know I'm supposed to increase the dose by 2.5 everyday until I reach my desired Alk. I'm trying for 9. I figured I'm going to be dosing a lot more than I thought I would have. I don't want to over do it. Thanks

Ya just have to watch it. Every tank‘s needs are different and can fluctuate as well.
If my pH drifts up due to lower CO2 I adjust my two part dosing

Watch it over a few days and look for trends.

 

[HiddenGentleman]

I'm currently dosing 76 ml per day which keeps the ALK in my 165 around 8.

 

[V A R I A N T]

AFR is for maintenance, not raising to your desired level. If you're at 7.6 and you want to go to 9, you should use a supplement to get to 9, then use AFR to maintain 9.

 

[areefer01]

Out of curiosity why are you dosing at those times rather than the course of lights on?

 

[areefer01]

AFR is for maintenance, not raising to your desired level. If you're at 7.6 and you want to go to 9, you should use a supplement to get to 9, then use AFR to maintain 9.

For clarity. It is recommended before starting to adjust to the desired values. Application and dosage instructions below for the OP.

 

[The_Skrimp]

It’s better to go slow than all at once with All For Reef. The alk won’t read immediately after dosing and takes a while before you can actually test for it. I’m dosing 31ml a day in a 50gal so 43ml in a 65 doesn’t sound unreasonable and it doesn’t exceed the daily limit but, how much you dose totally depends on your tank. I agree with the other comments. I’d slowly dose two part to reach your desired levels over the next few days and then maintain that with all for reef.

 

[biom]

AFR is for maintenance, not raising to your desired level. If you're at 7.6 and you want to go to 9, you should use a supplement to get to 9, then use AFR to maintain 9.

^This is a very good advise.

And watch your calcium levels, if you are adding too much AFR, calcium could rise very fast and Alk not. Calcium in AFR is immediately available for corals, but Alk not because there is a lag time before AFR is metabolized to Alk depending of your tank bacteria.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I just tested my Alk and it read 7.6dkh. I have a 65 gallon tank. 90 total volume including the sump. I am currently dosing 43ml. 23 at 9am and 23 at 7pm. And it's at 7.6dkh. Does that sound like I am dosing too much? I know I'm supposed to increase the dose by 2.5 everyday until I reach my desired Alk. I'm trying for 9. I figured I'm going to be dosing a lot more than I thought I would have. I don't want to over do it. Thanks

How long have you been dosing?

FWIW, the recommended dose of AFR doesn't supply very much alk and calcium, and may need to be exceeded in many aquaria.

 

[Nate92483]

How long have you been dosing?

FWIW, the recommended dose of AFR doesn't supply very much alk and calcium, and may need to be exceeded in many aquaria.

I started the All For Reef Jan. 10th. But I have been dosing for a little over a year. I used to dose 2 part with BRS. It worked but I figured I was missing the trace elements and more. So I went to All For Reef.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I started the All For Reef Jan. 10th. But I have been dosing for a little over a year. I used to dose 2 part with BRS. It worked but I figured I was missing the trace elements and more. So I went to All For Reef.

I'd up the dose if you want the alk higher.

 

[biom]

... I used to dose 2 part with BRS. It worked but I figured I was missing the trace elements and more. So I went to All For Reef.

I dont think trace elements should be the main reason for switching to AFR or any other product. This is more a marketing trick and actually trace elements (TE) are in very low concentrations in such products. Most of so called trace elements are not directly connected or consumed during calcification of coral skeletons so there is no biological reason to put them in product designed to compensate calcium and alkalinity depletion. Actually most of the trace elements are needed and used by the all living creatures in our tanks - bacteria, algae, soft corals, fish, snails, other invertebrates not only stony corals. Dosing TE on basis of the calcification rates of the SPS and LPS corals is not biologically sound. In addition some TE are consumed or deactivated very fast in the water others very slow so it is very hard to make real All in one product.

If someone wants to add trace elements in the reef tank then in best case should starting dosing separately based on tests and needs. Or in more practical way but not very precise one is to dose on basis of net water volume and how populated tank is.