Components +1,+2,+3

[B-ridge]

I'm reading and doing research am somewhat confused and hoping you guys could help me out.
I've read where this is to be dosed weekly. Other places/forums/people are dosing it daily. Now I know the most important component with this is alk. Wanna keep that stable. The cal and the alk can be dosed separate as to your needs and consumption.
I don't have many corals. Some frogspawn, toadstools, Kenya trees, zoas, mushrooms. I plan on adding some SPS when my levels are ready and stable. I plan on adding pocillopora, monti caps and birdsnest. My question is how much should I dose and how frequently?
My tank is a 240 gallon. Minus rocks and sand I wiukd say 200 gallons. Sump is 125 filled halfway so let's say 55-60 gallons. Fuge is 75 gallons gravity fed into sump. I have nothing but rocks in there and it's almost filled to the top so I would say 60 gallons. I do plan on adding some dragons breath and a light of course but don't know if either are necessary. So total water volume is/would be 315-320 gallons.
I am starting my aquaforest regime on Sunday. I currently have the reef salt which I will be using in conjunction with a 5 gallon water change every day minus the weekends. I have bio S which I plan on using everyday for the first 2 weeks as suggedted. Then I will place the recommended dosage in my 55 gallon saltwater bucket that I'm using for auto water changes. I have the -np pro and pro bio S that I will begin after the 2 weeks of bio S. Unless that is not needed or I don't need to wait
On the way I have phosohate minus, carbon, coral A, coral V and coral B which I will dose at there recommended level. I know coral A and V are to be used together and at night every other day. Coral B is 1-3 drops every day at night.
Anything else you guys suggest or you think I am missing? Thanks

 

[BfishLpond78]

I wouldn't suggest putting the Bio S in your water change barrel. Since it will new water there won't be much for the bacteria to feed on. Unless you plan to feed it.

Also I believe the Bio S is for new tanks to help establish and quicken a cycle where the Pro Bio S is used as a true probiotic on daily basis.

 

[BfishLpond78]

Also in terms of the 1,2,3 you'll have to determine your uptake by your main tank. Are you currently dosing now?

 

[reefwiser]

On your size tank i would use a calcium reactor not a three part solution.
You want to use Pro Bio S and NP Pro daily for bacteria for the ultra low nutrient component.

 

[BfishLpond78]

Sorry I must have been super tired when I wrote that.

You'll have to get your big 3 numbers where you want them and then over the course of a few days do daily testing at the same time each day. This will show you what your tank is consuming on a daily basis. You can then adjust your program to keep up with coral demand.

 

[B-ridge]

No I am not dosing now. I don't have many corals.
How would you guys suggest I get my big 3 numbers up? And what would good respectable numbers be to start off with?
I am using the Hanna checkers to measure cal and alk. Never tested/measured mag. I here conflicting reports on Hanna accuracy

 

[reefwiser]

You want to get your alk steady value 8 dkh to start. Then you use three part you dose the same amount of each 1 2 and 3 I always use the alk level to set how much to dose and raise the amount you dose slowly over a weeks time. So test your alk level then raise the amount you dose say 5 ml and then test again in 24 hours. An then adjust accordingly to maintain the value of 8 dkh. You can use the Hanna checker you hear conflicting reports about everything in this hobby.

 

[B-ridge]

Thanks for your help. I will test Alk later and get back to you with he results.
I beleive my salinity might be a bit low. I know with increasing the salinity slowly this will greatly affect my levels/testing. Also I was using instant ocean salt. Don't know there supposed levels but I am now using aquaforest reef salt. Calculating how I would get salinity of 1.025-1.027 in a 55 gallon water drum. Directions doesn't say much as far as computing how much to use

 

[BfishLpond78]

Thanks for your help. I will test Alk later and get back to you with he results.
I beleive my salinity might be a bit low. I know with increasing the salinity slowly this will greatly affect my levels/testing. Also I was using instant ocean salt. Don't know there supposed levels but I am now using aquaforest reef salt. Calculating how I would get salinity of 1.025-1.027 in a 55 gallon water drum. Directions doesn't say much as far as computing how much to use

What is your currently salinity? What are you testing with? swing arm, hand held refractometer or electronic refractometer?

 

[B-ridge]

Salinity is currently at 1.018. I'm testing with a instant ocean hydrometer. I know I should be testing with a refractometer. I'm actually looking for one. I like the one in the aquaforest video with him mixing the salt that he puts the refractometer into the water and it automatically tells you the salinity. Have to find out what kind that is and where to get it from. Going to test alk right now

 

[B-ridge]

Ok. Tested my alk. According to Hanna it read 119. If I times that by 0.056 I get a reading of 6.664. Way way low

 

[Tweaked]

Low, yes but not by much if going the AF SPS dominant route. In fact they recommend alk low around 7.2.

 

[BfishLpond78]

Low, yes but not by much if going the AF SPS dominant route. In fact they recommend alk low around 7.2.

Correct me if I'm wrong but that low of Alk should only be used for ULNS tanks. I think a safe middle of the road number for someone starting out and correcting parameters should be around 7.8-8.4. This will provide some wiggle room as tank stabilizes.

 

[B-ridge]

So from this point should I concentrate on raising the salinity which will raise the alk or can I start adjusting/adding alk now?

 

[BfishLpond78]

So from this point should I concentrate on raising the salinity which will raise the alk or can I start adjusting/adding alk now?

Get your salinity raised and your Alk will rise along with it.

After that you can focus on getting the big 3 in line.

 

[B-ridge]

Ok I wanna raise salinity slowly. How fast/slow should I raise it to let's say 1.025-1.028?
Also should I just buy some cheap salt like instant ocean or reef crystals to raise it to where I want/need it or should I go ahead and start using my aquaforest reef salt?

 

[BfishLpond78]

I would do it over a couple of days to a week. I would shoot for 1.025 or 1.026. No higher or lower.

Might as well start with the AF instead of buying something else.

 

[B-ridge]

Thanks for all your help and your quick responses.
Now could you help me understand how much salt I should be using. I have a 55 gallon drum that I use for my mixing of saltwater. How many grams/scoops should I use? Of course I want it higher for now to raise salinity. What would be a good/safe number to use/start with? Once I get salinity 1.025-1.026 I can then figure out how many grams/scoops I would need to make up for salinity of 1.025-1.026

 

[BfishLpond78]

AF comes with a measurement scoop for 5 & 10 liters. Each line represents 1 US gallon since the salt mixes at 1.024.

If your using the regular reef salt just mix according to the scoops. I think 55 gallons would equal 27.5 scoops of salt.

 

[BfishLpond78]

Also, start getting used to mixing to the proper level. Also, I believe when you mix salt at cooler temps the salinity will measure lower. So account for that.