All for Reef Questions

Jjefrrey · Mar 12, 2023

Hello, I have been using All for Reef for a month now. Although I am able to maintain alkalinity at my desire level, the coral polyps (euphyllia and goinopora) are not as extended as before.

They will extend longer after water change but retract again after adding all for reef. 60L nano, adding 3ml in the morning before light on and 3ml in the evening.

Any thoughts?

blaxsun · Mar 12, 2023

You could try switching it up a bit - adding some during the afternoon instead of the evening.

HappyOne · Mar 12, 2023

I think you might be dosing too much. I only use 5ml once a day for 110L and that keeps the dkh stable.

ChiCity · Mar 12, 2023

i was always chasing mg when i used afr…
threw the bottle away

tank is much happier

MyFirstCar · Mar 12, 2023

HappyOne said:
I think you might be dosing too much. I only use 5ml once a day for 110L and that keeps the dkh stable.

Jjefrrey said:
Hello, I have been using All for Reef for a month now. Although I am able to maintain alkalinity at my desire level, the coral polyps (euphyllia and goinopora) are not as extended as before.

They will extend longer after water change but retract again after adding all for reef. 60L nano, adding 3ml in the morning before light on and 3ml in the evening.

Any thoughts?

Yeah, same, I think you're using like 4x too much. I only dose like 2ml on my 110L system

Reef. · Mar 12, 2023

Not sure how anyone can say the OP is using too much AFR, without knowing his tanks alk usage, the OP also says he alk is stable, AFR recommends a max dose of around 25mls a day, so the OP is 19mls under that.

My guess is it’s a coincidence, adding 3ml is hardly going to make a dent in your parameters.

yllwftsh · Mar 31, 2023

Hi, like everyone else, i think you are dosing too much. most importantly, stable kh. how often do you do your testing?

My system is 250-260L and dosing 5.5ml daily of AFR.

Reef. · Mar 31, 2023

yllwftsh said:
Hi, like everyone else, i think you are dosing too much. most importantly, stable kh. how often do you do your testing?

My system is 250-260L and dosing 5.5ml daily of AFR.

My tank is 14g and I dose 3ml a day.

Superlightman · Apr 15, 2023

Without say/ know how are you water parameter after the dosing, this discussion is pointless because you will not know if you dose too much or not enough. you need to monitor you kh and calclium

Oldreefer44 · Apr 15, 2023

Need to know what DKH you are starting with. How heavily stocked with coral your system is. Have used AFR since it was introduced and have dosed as much as twice the recommended amount with no ill affects.

Lasse · Apr 15, 2023

Jjefrrey said:
Hello, I have been using All for Reef for a month now. Although I am able to maintain alkalinity at my desire level, the coral polyps (euphyllia and goinopora) are not as extended as before.

They will extend longer after water change but retract again after adding all for reef. 60L nano, adding 3ml in the morning before light on and 3ml in the evening.

I´m not a native English speaker or writer but I am able to read and understand that your dose is exactly what your aquarium demand according alkalinity (my bold and italic in the quote) However - I have never use that product so I have no idea why your polyps not are extended as they use to be. Calling in @Hans-Werner here - he maybe can help you.

Sincerely Lasse

I never finish anythi · Apr 15, 2023

How many corals are in the tank ? Show a pic .

gbroadbridge · Apr 15, 2023

Jjefrrey said:
Hello, I have been using All for Reef for a month now. Although I am able to maintain alkalinity at my desire level, the coral polyps (euphyllia and goinopora) are not as extended as before.

They will extend longer after water change but retract again after adding all for reef. 60L nano, adding 3ml in the morning before light on and 3ml in the evening.

Any thoughts?

Have you checked your Nitrates and Phosphates?

I dose a similar amount to a 13gal nano which is a mixed reef with fast growing SPS coral.

I find the carbon component of AFR drops Nitrate and Phosphate to low levels (under 0.25 Nitrate/ 0.01 Phosphate) so I have to add those manually.

Lasse · Apr 15, 2023

gbroadbridge said:
I find the carbon component of AFR drops Nitrate and Phosphate to low levels (under 0.25 Nitrate/ 0.01 Phosphate) so I have to add those manually.

It was my first thought too because these corals seems to like a little higher PO4 and NO3 but he also says that it gets better after WC - and my logic says that WC will bring down nutrients even more,

Which salt do you use?

Sincerely Lasse

happyhourhero · Apr 15, 2023

I’ve been using it for the last year and a half or so and have not noticed anything negative. I ran it in a 25 gal and now in my 150. Great stuff imo. I have mostly sps but have gonis, favia, hammers, chalice, etc.

gbroadbridge · Apr 15, 2023

Lasse said:
It was my first thought too because these corals seems to like a little higher PO4 and NO3 but he also says that it gets better after WC - and my logic says that WC will bring down nutrients even more,

Which salt do you use?

Sincerely Lasse

Me or the OP? Mine is RS Blue.

The only thing missing from AFR is Potassium which would get a bump with a waterchange, but I've not found it limiting in a nano with regular water changes even with large SPS demand.

areefer01 · Apr 15, 2023

Why does everyone think the polyp concern is related to TM AFR? I doubt it has anything to do with the OP's concern. The OP said they are able to maintain alk. They didn't mention Ca or Mg nor did they mention any other parameters such as nitrates or phosphates. Maybe that matters, maybe not. All systems are different but of course it would be interesting to know.

With regards to TM AFR acting as a carbon source. Maybe. Again all systems are different. I dose 80 ml/day TM AFR and I have more than enough phosphates to go around. Nitrates also. I dose with lights on starting at 0700 ending at 1900. I just do not see that but maybe it is because I feed heavy. OP can always test and feed more if need be.

If I was the OP I would look at other things to see why the polyps are not showing similar results as to prior use of TM AFR. Goniopora corals can be difficult to care for so I'd also ask what is the age of the display.

Lasse · Apr 15, 2023

gbroadbridge said:
Me or the OP? Mine is RS Blue

OP

Sincerely Lasse

Hans-Werner · Apr 17, 2023

Thanks for calling me in @Lasse !

I think there are at least two different possibilities which have already been mentioned here.

1) The dosage of All-For-Reef is too high for this specific tank. It depends from different factors how much alkalinity and calcium corals will tolerate without adverse reactions, phosphate concentration amongst others.

2) The phosphate concentration is low and the trace element dosage is lowering the already low concentration. In my eyes the bigger effect in this regard comes from the trace elements, not from the organic carbon.

When I used Balling method with my trace element solutions it had a significant lowering effect on nitrate and phosphate concentrations. This is because trace elements where limiting coral growth before. Adding trace elements increased growth and N and P consumption.

When I changed from Balling method with trace elements to All-For-Reef I didn't notice a much different effect, it worked finally the same for our tanks.

MrGisonni · Apr 22, 2023

My 30 gallon mixed reef (113L) only consumes 3.9 mls of AFR over the course of a day dosed 4 times. My DkH stays between 8.6 and 9.4 moving slowly week to week. Calcium and magnesium levels are solid within acceptable range.