BRS 2 part to Aquaforest 123 dosing conversion.

[OREGONIC]

have been dosing BRS 2 part for alk, cal and mag but just ordered Aquaforest 123. Has anyone made the same switch, if so will i need to dose more or less of each portion? What is the ratio?

 

[OREGONIC]

Anyone?

 

[Larry L]

For this kind of thing I usually use the calculator here: http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

... but unfortunately it does not include the Aquaforest products... Maybe you can contact the owner and ask for an update?

 

[TbyZ]

have been dosing BRS 2 part for alk, cal and mag but just ordered Aquaforest 123. Has anyone made the same switch, if so will i need to dose more or less of each portion? What is the ratio?

It all depends on the difference in solution concentrations between the brs & the A.F. products.

In any case, you dose Components 1,2 & 3 in equal proportions, daily.

I take it you purchased the pre-mixed, 3 x 5lt containers?

Component 1 (50ml dissolved in 100 l/27 US gal raises Ca by 9 mg).

Component 2+ (50ml dissolved in 100 l/27 US gal raises KH by 1.3 dKH (Alk: 0,46 meg/l)).

Component 3+ (50ml dissolved in 100 l/27 US gal raises Mg by 0.6 mg).

You could take an alk measurement, don't dose for 24 hours, then take another alk measurement to see how much it falls over that period of time to get an idea of how much to dose daily.

Star dosing & start testing daily levels until the elements stabilise.

 

[Martin Kuhn]

As you know your previous dosing AND also the Ca/Alk/Mg containing parts of both recipes are known, the dosing should be clear:
- Component 1+: you need 2,04 times as much (204% of the dosing amount of BRS 2 part)
- Component 2+: you need 2,03 times as much (203% of the dosing amount of BRS 2 part)
(calculations done with AquaCalculators 2-part calculation model)

Component 3+ is different. "controlling" your Mg-value isn't possible/Thought with 3+. Instead AF recommends to dose 50ml per 100L watervolume each day(3+ contains traces and also a certain amount of Mg)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

BRS is twice as potent, so you will need to dose twice as much of the Aquaforest 123.

 

[OREGONIC]

As you know your previous dosing AND also the Ca/Alk/Mg containing parts of both recipes are known, the dosing should be clear:
- Component 1+: you need 2,04 times as much (204% of the dosing amount of BRS 2 part)
- Component 2+: you need 2,03 times as much (203% of the dosing amount of BRS 2 part)
(calculations done with AquaCalculators 2-part calculation model)

Component 3+ is different. "controlling" your Mg-value isn't possible/Thought with 3+. Instead AF recommends to dose 50ml per 100L watervolume each day(3+ contains traces and also a certain amount of Mg)

BRS is twice as potent, so you will need to dose twice as much of the Aquaforest 123.

Thank you guys, i will start with just under 2 times the daily dose. Currently dosing 25 ml of cal and alk from brs so 45 ml should be a safe place to start while testing daily. I would rather have a slight alk drop then have it raise to high.

Do have one more question, i use Aquaforest reef salt and my mag hovers around 1475-1500 checked with both salifirt and red sea test. Will the 1+2+3 raise that? I currently do not dose any mag as i have been trying to get it to drop to around 1400. I currently have salinity at 1.026 and might consider dropping slowly to 1.025 using slightly lower salinity with water changes to see if that helps correct the high mag. What are your thoughts just let it ride that 1500 line and keep salinity at 1.026 or slowly drop salinity to 1.025 and see if that will lower closer to the 1400 mark. Currently not seeing any negative effects from mag levels.

 

[TbyZ]

Thank you guys, i will start with just under 2 times the daily dose. Currently dosing 25 ml of cal and alk from brs so 45 ml should be a safe place to start while testing daily. I would rather have a slight alk drop then have it raise to high.

Do have one more question, i use Aquaforest reef salt and my mag hovers around 1475-1500 checked with both salifirt and red sea test. Will the 1+2+3 raise that? I currently do not dose any mag as i have been trying to get it to drop to around 1400. I currently have salinity at 1.026 and might consider dropping slowly to 1.025 using slightly lower salinity with water changes to see if that helps correct the high mag. What are your thoughts just let it ride that 1500 line and keep salinity at 1.026 or slowly drop salinity to 1.025 and see if that will lower closer to the 1400 mark. Currently not seeing any negative effects from mag levels.

This is one reason i use the mix your own components 1 2 3+. I can leave out the mag powder if i need to.

 

[OREGONIC]

This is one reason i use the mix your own components 1 2 3+. I can leave out the mag powder if i need to.

That’s pretty smart I debated on purchasing everything to mix my own but figured i would buy premixed the first time to see how it did for me, plus get can reuse the jugs in future. You must be using Aquaforest salt and having high mag issues aswell? Did you try the premixed before you started mixing, if so did it raise your mag using the premixed?

 

[TbyZ]

That’s pretty smart I debated on purchasing everything to mix my own but figured i would buy premixed the first time to see how it did for me, plus get can reuse the jugs in future. You must be using Aquaforest salt and having high mag issues aswell? Did you try the premixed before you started mixing, if so did it raise your mag using the premixed?

I'm sure it won't make too much difference, & you can use the mix your own next time.

I don't have high mag, but it doesn't seem to get used either. Who knows what may happen in the furure though?

When I do perform a water change I use NSW

 

[radiata]

I converted from ESV to AF. My biggest issue so far relates to Randy's concentration comment above. When doing my Apex dosing calculations on Reeftronics (https://www.reeftronics.net/), I'm now getting caveats saying that I'm running my dosers for a longer duration of time than they were designed to be run at (I've got a pretty large system). The solution will be to either double the number of BRS 1.1 dosers I have (which would be an interesting backup) or to convert back to ESV and thus run my existing dosers less frequently. I'd appreciate any other solution I might have missed...

Note: My conversion to AF was driven by my annoyance with the difficulty I encountered diluting ESV's bulk concentrates. As fate would have it, I've since learned there is an easier way to handle that dilution issue...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I converted from ESV to AF. My biggest issue so far relates to Randy's concentration comment above. When doing my Apex dosing calculations on Reeftronics (https://www.reeftronics.net/), I'm now getting caveats saying that I'm running my dosers for a longer duration of time than they were designed to be run at (I've got a pretty large system). The solution will be to either double the number of BRS 1.1 dosers I have (which would be an interesting backup) or to convert back to ESV and thus run my existing dosers less frequently. I'd appreciate any other solution I might have missed...

Note: My conversion to AF was driven by my annoyance with the difficulty I encountered diluting ESV's bulk concentrates. As fate would have it, I've since learned there is an easier way to handle that dilution issue...

ESV is even more potent than my DIY (BRS), so the drop in potency to AF is even bigger for you.

 

[rob safron]

I made the same switch. Went from 75 mls BRS to 185 mls AF. That is with their pre-mix. Changed to mixing myself and I’m at 120 mls.

 

[Dennis Cartier]

As you know your previous dosing AND also the Ca/Alk/Mg containing parts of both recipes are known, the dosing should be clear:
- Component 1+: you need 2,04 times as much (204% of the dosing amount of BRS 2 part)
- Component 2+: you need 2,03 times as much (203% of the dosing amount of BRS 2 part)
(calculations done with AquaCalculators 2-part calculation model)

Component 3+ is different. "controlling" your Mg-value isn't possible/Thought with 3+. Instead AF recommends to dose 50ml per 100L watervolume each day(3+ contains traces and also a certain amount of Mg)

Hmm, the AF manual recommends dosing all 3 in equal proportion, including 3+, and suggests the average dose is 50ml per 100L of water volume each day. At least the product guide that they have online suggests this. Are you seeing something different somewhere?

Dennis

 

[Dennis Cartier]

As you know your previous dosing AND also the Ca/Alk/Mg containing parts of both recipes are known, the dosing should be clear:
- Component 1+: you need 2,04 times as much (204% of the dosing amount of BRS 2 part)
- Component 2+: you need 2,03 times as much (203% of the dosing amount of BRS 2 part)
(calculations done with AquaCalculators 2-part calculation model)

Component 3+ is different. "controlling" your Mg-value isn't possible/Thought with 3+. Instead AF recommends to dose 50ml per 100L watervolume each day(3+ contains traces and also a certain amount of Mg)

... also Component 3+ is the Salt portion to balance the Calcium Chloride. It also contains Potassium and Boron. Component 1+ is the one that contains the trace elements.

Dennis

 

[TbyZ]

As fate would have it, I've since learned there is an easier way to handle that dilution issue...

What's the secret?

 

[realest20]

My LFS is pushing aquaforest system on me. I would appreciate some input on a cost analysis and results vs a BRS style 2 part from someone who had used both.

One point the LFS guys was siting as a major pro was salinity control as AF introduces less salts.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My LFS is pushing aquaforest system on me. I would appreciate some input on a cost analysis and results vs a BRS style 2 part from someone who had used both.

One point the LFS guys was siting as a major pro was salinity control as AF introduces less salts.

I cannot see how that is true (I don't think it is, but I am not privy to the exact formulation Aquaforest uses), and even if it is, it isn't a cost issue. Both methods necessarily raise salinity.

 

[rob safron]

I did switch from BRS to Aquaforest. I don’t have the exact cost breakdown but you will end up paying more for Aquaforest. The benefit is they add micro elements that you do not get from BRS. I switch looking for better growth and color. I believe I am but still pretty early for me to say for sure.

 

[OREGONIC]

I have noticed my lps all seem to inflate more and colors seem to be a little more vibrant. I believe i am on week 3 of the component 123. I have had a hit and miss relationship with sps but the stylo i have had for a while seems to have colored up a little more. I also added a few acros about 5 days after the switch over from brs and all seem to be doing well with good pe. The acros i tried a while back never did well they would slowly die over a few month period and never saw any type of pe. I dont blame this on brs 2 part as mich as i blame it on my learning curve. As for the cost of the Aquaforest I am currently only dosing 41ml each a day to keep water stable and each part come in a jug of 5000ml so i will get about 120 days off the 49.99 purchase which is quite a bit more then brs 2 part. I will definitely save on salt for water changes since my trace elements are being dosed daily with 123 and i dont have a nutrient issue that i cant keep in check using small amount of carbon dosing. I would say it is probably close to a wash on price when salt and time are factored in.