Aquaforest 3-part extremely disappointing so far!

[NanoBoxes]

I’ve recently switched over to this product and it is extremely weak compared to Bionic 2-part in regards to raising and maintaining alkalinity. With the Bionic I was dosing only 18ml a day for years now in my 40g mixed reef tank, which kept my alk level around 7.5. The AF I’ve been dosing 20, 30, and now 45ml of each part each day over 3 days now and I can’t get Alk level above 6! Bumping it up more tomorrow. Wish me luck with this overpriced tap water in a jug!
Anyone else have this same experience? Is this product more of a stabilizing type product, where you get it to a level you want via a water change with your salt mix and it maintains it at a certain daily dose? I only want my tank at a daily measly 7.5 for alkalinity!

 

[NanoBoxes]

I just read up further and see that they recommend 50ml per 27g of aquarium water for an average reef tank. So I’ve been under dosing. I will bump it up to a total of 60ml per day and see where that takes me.
In the end though I will be switching back to Bionic 2-part after burning through my AF jugs. The price difference and amount needed to maintain my levels is pretty crazy…going from 18ml a day of a product, to now 60+ml a day, not worth it!

 

[Vested]

Same experience, not worth it at all sticking with brs 2 part

 

[2una]

I just read up further and see that they recommend 50ml per 27g of aquarium water for an average reef tank

If you play with the 2 calculators it comes out saying your 18ml of Bionic should be 55ml of AF for Comp2

Product calculate - Aquaforest

aquaforest.eu

Reef Chemistry Calculator

 

[Reefahholic]

Yep, switching from ESV to AF is a 68% decrease.

Kalk: “Fully Saturated” 114 dKH
Aquaforest: 2500 dKH/L
Randy’s DIY 2-part recipe #2: 2660 dKH/L
BRS: 5300 dKH/L
Randy’s DIY 2-part recipe #1: 5300 dKH/L
Tropic Marin ALL-FOR-REEF & Carbo Calcium: 5600 dKH/L
ESV B-Ionic: 7840 dKH/L
Triton Core7: 9750 dKH/L
Red Sea: (I haven’t calculated this one yet)

 

[NanoBoxes]

After over a month of use, I need to go back on my original statements. Once I got the Alk levels back up to normal, I’ve seen very good growth, good colors, and full looking corals! The biggest plus has been a lot less Alk swings using this product.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

After over a month of use, I need to go back on my original statements. Once I got the Alk levels back up to normal, I’ve seen very good growth, good colors, and full looking corals! The biggest plus has been a lot less Alk swings using this product.

Glad things are working out.

In general, I don't see how alk swings can be an attribute of a product as opposed to how the product is dosed in relation to demand, but lower swings do seem desirable.

 

[NanoBoxes]

Glad things are working out.

In general, I don't see how alk swings can be an attribute of a product as opposed to how the product is dosed in relation to demand, but lower swings do seem desirable.

With the Bionic having a much higher level of alkalinity per ml compared to the AF, when there is a drop in consumption in my tank there is definitely a smaller, more drawn out jump/reaction with the AF compared with the Bionic that jumps higher, faster at an equal amount dosed. I test every few days and don’t use automated alkalinity devices. With the Bionic my numbers shot up in that instance and so far with the AF it’s noticed but less dramatically and a slower rise.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

With the Bionic having a much higher level of alkalinity per ml compared to the AF, when there is a drop in consumption in my tank there is definitely a smaller, more drawn out jump/reaction with the AF compared with the Bionic that jumps higher, faster at an equal amount dosed. I test every few days and don’t use automated alkalinity devices. With the Bionic my numbers shot up in that instance and so far with the AF it’s noticed but less dramatically and a slower rise.

OK, so the swings you mention presumably has to do with how fast (and how often) you are dosing them. If you dose 0.5 dKH with either product over the same time frame, the effect on alk in the tank will be the same.