Components 1+2+3 and ALK

[Acronuts]

I have been dosing Components 1+2+3 for the last 3 weeks.
Components 1+3 @ 20ml per day for 230g volume tank
Components +2 @ 5 ml per day

Why is component +2 @ at 5ml per day? My ALK was at 12 dkh. I slowly over the 3 week period lowered the ALK to 7.6 dkh.

When will I need to start equalizing +2 so that all three are dosing the same ml per day?
Should I start by increasing Comp +2 by 5ml per week till it reaches 20ml?
What will this do to the ALK?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Branespikin]

I am having the same problem. Tough trying to dial this in

 

[jsker]

I alway dose less of 2+ then 1+3+. Our systems consume different elements at different rates. I am at 80 gal water volume and I dose 20 ml 1+3+ and 16 ml of 2+ Total per day. I dose each four times a day the even out the highs and lows.

 

[jsker]

I have been dosing Components 1+2+3 for the last 3 weeks.
Components 1+3 @ 20ml per day for 230g volume tank
Components +2 @ 5 ml per day

Why is component +2 @ at 5ml per day? My ALK was at 12 dkh. I slowly over the 3 week period lowered the ALK to 7.6 dkh.

When will I need to start equalizing +2 so that all three are dosing the same ml per day?
Should I start by increasing Comp +2 by 5ml per week till it reaches 20ml?
What will this do to the ALK?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Just asking, has the calabration of the dosing pumps been checked lately? I have been running 1+2+3+ for almost a year and just recalibrated mine for the reason thing were not adding up

 

[Anirban]

Before starting 123 components I dosed Ca and Mg separately and bring up the level to my desired level. Then I started dosing all of them equally and I observed they were maintained at my desired level. But occasionally I saw there is an imbalance in the level and I dose the one needed a bit more. Depending on your system need you can change your dosing regime and there is no harm in that.

 

[Aquaforest]

We recommend to dose Balling method in equal dose.
Component1+2+3+ contains microelements also.
If your tank is not ready to dose equal you should buy Calcium (or Ca Plus) , Magnesium (or Mg Plus) and dose only pure macro elements - Ca and Mg.

 

[dcraigj]

I'm also having an issue with high alk. I have a 120 gallon beginner reef that currently contains 150# of live rock, (5) 1 inch frags of various sps approximately 15 branch of hammer coral and a 4 inch red Monti plate. I'm currently using Aquaforest Probiotic reef salt and and dosing component 1+2+3+ at 200ml a day. My current parameters are Calcium 450, Magnesium 1280, and Alkalinity 12 dkh.
What do you mean by if your system is not ready to dose equal? What should be done to make it ready? Thank you.

 

[Brew12]

Corals consume Alk and Calc in exactly equal parts. If you are not using them equally than you have some other chemical interaction occurring in your tank to either consume or release these elements. This isn't uncommon in newer tanks, especially ones that were started with dry rock. It can take a long time (over 6 months) for the dry rock to reach a chemical equilibrium with the saltwater. This is one of the less visible "cycles" a new tank goes through.

 

[Catchemall]

So correct me if I'm wrong but I say you need to up both parts equally because as you raise your calcium up more your alk will drop

 

[Acronuts]

We recommend to dose Balling method in equal dose.
Component1+2+3+ contains microelements also.
If your tank is not ready to dose equal you should buy Calcium (or Ca Plus) , Magnesium (or Mg Plus) and dose only pure macro elements - Ca and Mg.

With Ca and Mg I can always dose these macro elements to where I need them to be. I did a 20% water change this weekend and after 48 hrs here are my test results:
As of 01-02-2017
ALK 8.4 dkh - Red Sea
CA 450 - Red Sea
Mg 1300 - Red Sea
No3 0.04 - Red Sea
Po4 0.08 - Red Sea

I want to let the ALK reach the desired level of 7 dkh. I will make the adjustments to components 1+2+3 and report back in a week to let you know where I am at.

 

[cbear44]

I want to let the ALK reach the desired level of 7 dkh. I will make the adjustments to components 1+2+3 and report back in a week to let you know where I am at.

What people are recommending I think is to stop 1+2+3+ dosing. Let the Alk drift down to the desired level. Maintain Ca/Mg during this phase by dosing Ca-Plus/Mg. When your Alk hits around 7 restart dosing 1+2+3+at equal volumes to maintain Alk. Will need to check Alk daily during this period. Once that is set you can then decide if your Ca dosing is too much or not and adjust that appropriately.

This is assuming that your pumps are calibrated.

 

[Aquaforest]

I'm also having an issue with high alk. I have a 120 gallon beginner reef that currently contains 150# of live rock, (5) 1 inch frags of various sps approximately 15 branch of hammer coral and a 4 inch red Monti plate. I'm currently using Aquaforest Probiotic reef salt and and dosing component 1+2+3+ at 200ml a day. My current parameters are Calcium 450, Magnesium 1280, and Alkalinity 12 dkh.
What do you mean by if your system is not ready to dose equal? What should be done to make it ready? Thank you.

For now I do not recommend to dose any macro (Ca,KH,Mg).
Test water every week before water changes.
If you will need you can dose Mg only but for now I think this is not necessary.

With Ca and Mg I can always dose these macro elements to where I need them to be. I did a 20% water change this weekend and after 48 hrs here are my test results:
As of 01-02-2017
ALK 8.4 dkh - Red Sea
CA 450 - Red Sea
Mg 1300 - Red Sea
No3 0.04 - Red Sea
Po4 0.08 - Red Sea

I want to let the ALK reach the desired level of 7 dkh. I will make the adjustments to components 1+2+3 and report back in a week to let you know where I am at.

Did you try to do not dose Component 1+2+3+?
What is your salinity?

 

[dcraigj]

For now I do not recommend to dose any macro (Ca,KH,Mg).
Test water every week before water changes.
If you will need you can dose Mg only but for now I think this is not necessary.

Are you saying my system is not ready for Component 1+2+3+ dosing? If so, when would be the appropriate time to start dosing using Component 1+2+3+. I started dosing calcium and magnesium to get my parameters up to the required reef levels then decided to incorporate Aquaforest products. My system is over a year old and have been using probiotic reef salts for approximately 6 months.

 

[Perry]

What people are recommending I think is to stop 1+2+3+ dosing. Let the Alk drift down to the desired level. Maintain Ca/Mg during this phase by dosing Ca-Plus/Mg. When your Alk hits around 7 restart dosing 1+2+3+at equal volumes to maintain Alk. Will need to check Alk daily during this period. Once that is set you can then decide if your Ca dosing is too much or not and adjust that appropriately.

This is assuming that your pumps are calibrated.

Excellent advise! I agree

 

[Acronuts]

For now I do not recommend to dose any macro (Ca,KH,Mg).
Test water every week before water changes.
If you will need you can dose Mg only but for now I think this is not necessary.



Did you try to do not dose Component 1+2+3+?
What is your salinity?

I have found out why my ALK is up at 8.4 dkh after a water change. As of today 1-5-2017 the salinity is measuring at 38ppm. Yes that is higher than expected. A couple contributing factors for this increase.

1. Trying to pay attention to a brand new calibrated salinity probe instead of paying attention to my refractometer. The probe kept reading lower numbers so I started dosing mixed salt water thru my ATO. Upon realizing that I may be heading towards disaster I reached out on the forums and was guided to follow the refractometer instead of the probe. Not to shock anything I am slowly using RODI water in the ATO to bring down that salinity so that ultimately it is only topping off with RODI water.
2. When you add the salt mixed ATO along with the water change BAM!!!

On my next water change I will mix my solution to make sure the ALK is at 7 dkh and it matches the display and then start dosing Components 1+2+3 in order to maintain appropriate levels.
Thank you and everyone else for your help.

 

[Perry]

I have found out why my ALK is up at 8.4 dkh after a water change. As of today 1-5-2017 the salinity is measuring at 38ppm. Yes that is higher than expected. A couple contributing factors for this increase.

1. Trying to pay attention to a brand new calibrated salinity probe instead of paying attention to my refractometer. The probe kept reading lower numbers so I started dosing mixed salt water thru my ATO. Upon realizing that I may be heading towards disaster I reached out on the forums and was guided to follow the refractometer instead of the probe. Not to shock anything I am slowly using RODI water in the ATO to bring down that salinity so that ultimately it is only topping off with RODI water.
2. When you add the salt mixed ATO along with the water change BAM!!!

On my next water change I will mix my solution to make sure the ALK is at 7 dkh and it matches the display and then start dosing Components 1+2+3 in order to maintain appropriate levels.
Thank you and everyone else for your help.

I hear a new story every day about levels out of whack with AF only to find that there is user error, I myself have made the same mistake, but when minerals seem higher than the spec sheet, it may be worth checking something as simple as calibrating a refractometer. Sadly, I feel many blow the situation up, as if other companies are trying to fuel the flames with loyal users to question AF's integrity, darn shame if you ask me!

 

[Acronuts]

Just thought I'd give a quick update.
Still using Components 1,2,3 finally dialed in!!!
Love the stuff!!!
Very pleased with results I'm getting!!!

 

[Anirban]

Possibly you are one those who did not loose the nerve and now you will see how stable the things can go with the process. Congrats.

 

[120reefkeeper]

Just thought I'd give a quick update.
Still using Components 1,2,3 finally dialed in!!!
Love the stuff!!!
Very pleased with results I'm getting!!!

Awesome! Great to see you worked through things!

 

[Acronuts]

Thx for the encouragement guys! Patience in our hobby is key!