Another All for Reef dosing question...

[MDReefguy]

You are sort of using the product wrong. Note the application & dosing instructions. It notes at the beginning to adjust your systems calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium to your desired levels. Use whatever 2 part or single components to adjust to desired values. Then follow their dosage guidelines. Then the flow chart to adjust.

Your display is new. Have you run a series of tests daily or every other day, or twice a week for a couple weeks to see what your consumption rate(s) are? You need to understand what that is before anything else. It very well could be that a water change alone is enough.

I test twice a week, my dkh drops from 10-7 in about a week to 10 days, calcium from 420-400. In was hoping AFR could hold me closer to my parameters after a water change, but alk jumped quickly, with calcium moving the opposite direction, which just seemed odd to me. I was hoping to just dose 1 product as opposed to a 2 or 3 part with matching containers and dosing pumps.

But alk went to 10 and calcium to 360, which could be a product of increased coral growth with respect to the calcium. I’m going to dial back my dosage to 8-8.5 alk and keep it stable there, and see if I need to dose anything else. Even with water changes my alk drops quickly. Maybe I eventually switch to the balling method or whatever, but wanted to give AFR a run.

 

[areefer01]

I test twice a week, my dkh drops from 10-7 in about a week to 10 days, calcium from 420-400. In was hoping AFR could hold me closer to my parameters after a water change, but alk jumped quickly, with calcium moving the opposite direction, which just seemed odd to me. I was hoping to just dose 1 product as opposed to a 2 or 3 part with matching containers and dosing pumps.

But alk went to 10 and calcium to 360, which could be a product of increased coral growth with respect to the calcium. I’m going to dial back my dosage to 8-8.5 alk and keep it stable there, and see if I need to dose anything else. Even with water changes my alk drops quickly. Maybe I eventually switch to the balling method or whatever, but wanted to give AFR a run.

That seems like a lot of consumption but maybe I missed how mature the display is or how full of corals be it frag or colony. Apologies for missing it.

It does do a good job of keeping it stable at least in my case. As you mentioned I really like the idea of a single dosing solution. I run a mixed reef, about 6 years old, with several large SPS colonies. I aim to keep my alk steady at 8.5. Calcium is between 420 and Mg falls where it is and I don't stress too much about it. I am dosing 85/ml day. I mix up 3600 ml batches using the powder.

I've had to correct Alk a few times and use ESV 2 parts for this. Prior to TM AFR I was using ESV. I only switched because I wanted a single dosing head for that and use the 2nd one for something else. I've been using AFR now for about 2 years. Am I seeing better results compared to when I was running ESV 2 part? Hard to say. Corals are growing. They have color. I can't complain. It is just easier to use if that makes sense.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I test twice a week, my dkh drops from 10-7 in about a week to 10 days, calcium from 420-400. In was hoping AFR could hold me closer to my parameters after a water change, but alk jumped quickly, with calcium moving the opposite direction, which just seemed odd to me. I was hoping to just dose 1 product as opposed to a 2 or 3 part with matching containers and dosing pumps.

But alk went to 10 and calcium to 360, which could be a product of increased coral growth with respect to the calcium. I’m going to dial back my dosage to 8-8.5 alk and keep it stable there, and see if I need to dose anything else. Even with water changes my alk drops quickly. Maybe I eventually switch to the balling method or whatever, but wanted to give AFR a run.

I continue to believe this is a test issue. Calcium cannot be consumed without a fixed amount of alk consumed, and AFR contains about that ratio.

 

[MDReefguy]

Going to order some new/different test kits and check everything again next week. I really don’t want to “chase” numbers, just looking for something to hold me steady. Tank is full of mostly LPS that are growing well. Will update when I test again with my lowered dosage running for a week, and with a new CA test kit.

 

[MDReefguy]

I continue to believe this is a test issue. Calcium cannot be consumed without a fixed amount of alk consumed, and AFR contains about that ratio.

Well, Randy, you're right again. New test kit for calcium, sitting at 440. I had dropped my dosing for the last 4 days to 8ml a day from 12. Dkh still sitting at 10, down from 10.5. Lowered the dose a little bit from 8ml today, but I'll just test weekly from here and adjust. Also po4 bumped up a bit with the lowered dose, now at .05, so I'm pretty happy where I'm at right now!

Thanks all! Many minds are better than just mine.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Glad to hear all is well!

Happy Reefing.

 

[michealprater]

I personally am about done with AFR. Been using it for a couple years now and 3 things always happen. My alk always creeps up, my calcium always creeps down and my mag floats in a good range. Its not "balanced" for my system. Thats not to say it is not a good product for other systems, just doesnt work on mine. I am looking into alternatives.