Dosing question afr or kalk

[Swfiend]

So I’m brand new to dosing, this new territory for me. I’ve run ca reactors in the past but with 2 small kids now I don’t want something as prone to issues if someone touches something they shouldn’t.

My new system is roughly 300 actual gallons after displacement. Plan is a mix reef

Question is with my volume what dosing should I be doing? Kalk or all for Reef? The tank is not stocked as of now as we are finally out of the set up cycle period (got wet in the end of may)


I bought an apex trident to help with testing since we are busy with 2 small people running around, how often should I hand test?

Thanks in advance

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

So I’m brand new to dosing, this new territory for me. I’ve run ca reactors in the past but with 2 small kids now I don’t want something as prone to issues if someone touches something they shouldn’t.

My new system is roughly 300 actual gallons after displacement. Plan is a mix reef

Question is with my volume what dosing should I be doing? Kalk or all for Reef? The tank is not stocked as of now as we are finally out of the set up cycle period (got wet in the end of may)


I bought an apex trident to help with testing since we are busy with 2 small people running around, how often should I hand test?

Thanks in advance

If you have no coral consuming alk/ca/mg, you don't need to dose anything. Once your tank's consumption exceeds what you are able to replace with water changes, then you can decide what element(s) you need to supplement and choose a product accordingly.

 

[Swfiend]

If you have no coral consuming alk/ca/mg, you don't need to dose anything. Once your tank's consumption exceeds what you are able to replace with water changes, then you can decide what element(s) you need to supplement and choose a product accordingly.

I am moving over my current tank to the new system.

Trying to get ahead of it Vs trying to chase it after.


I guess I should be asking pros cons of dosing kalk vs afr or other options?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I am moving over my current tank to the new system.

Trying to get ahead of it Vs trying to chase it after.


I guess I should be asking pros cons of dosing kalk vs afr or other options?

Sorry, I thought you were setting up a second tank. I still think you'll need to test right after a water change and then several days in a row after, to determine the consumption. As for deciding which product to use, I will let others weigh in, as I still dose separate elements by hand...

 

[hexcolor reef]

They both boost Alkalinity while keeping your calc in check.
When you transfer over your coral they will get used to the new tank water parameters. So they would be acclimating won’t consume much. If your looking to start dosing ASAP, start dosing as low amounts as possible and add to dosage weekly as needed
Both you want to dose slowly and let the Alk raise as slow as possible

 

[Swfiend]

I’m trying to decide between the 2 mentioned as I have been reading and the more I read the more confused I get haha

Kalk boosts ph which is good but the afr has trace with no boost

I use tmp salt in all of my tanks since 2011 or maybe before then even.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I’m trying to decide between the 2 mentioned as I have been reading and the more I read the more confused I get haha

Kalk boosts ph which is good but the afr has trace with no boost

I use tmp salt in all of my tanks since 2015 or maybe before then even.

I'm sure you'll get some good advice

 

[hexcolor reef]

I’m trying to decide between the 2 mentioned as I have been reading and the more I read the more confused I get haha

Kalk boosts ph which is good but the afr has trace with no boost

I use tmp salt in all of my tanks since 2015 or maybe before then even.

AFR will boost Alk 2.5ml of AFR will add 2kh of ALK/20gallons which will help balance out your PH as well

If you want more trace elements added then use AFR,

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

AFR will boost Alk 2.5ml of AFR will add 2kh of ALK/20gallons

And?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

AFR is easier to implement, and less concern than kalkwasser if kids mess with it. AFR is more expensive.

I would also consider a two part instead.

AFR can be a little tricky on an automated doser based on alk since its alk is not apparent when first dosed. If you are just auto testing and not controlling the dosing that way, then this is not a concern.

 

[Swfiend]

AFR is easier to implement, and less concern than kalkwasser if kids mess with it. AFR is more expensive.

I would also consider a two part instead.

AFR can be a little tricky on an automated doser based on alk since its alk is not apparent when first dosed. If you are just auto testing and not controlling the dosing that way, then this is not a concern.

Yes I read it’s 24 hours before it’s testable with afr. I have extremely limited stand space for multiple dosing containers. I was worried about the overdose issues with kalk but that can be crontrolled easily with ph shut down with apex correct? The afr I would have to slowly bring it up and just watch 24-48 hours after any increases correct?

Any recommendations for dosing pumps no matter which route I go?

 

[slingfox]

You may also want to look into dosing 2-part. AFR, 2-part, and Kalk all have their pros and cons.

 

[Swfiend]

You may also want to look into dosing 2-part. AFR, 2-part, and Kalk all have their pros and cons.

The tank needs to be as hands off as possible
The wife and kids enjoy the tank as do I when I get to look at it but I work 16-18hr days so when I get home tweaking on it isn’t ideal which is why I looked into kalk or afr in the first place it keeps making me want to figure out how to just make a ca reactor work in this system when it’s grown in

 

[haitian_reefer]

I dose both. I’ve found Kalk alone can’t keep up with my ALK demand and AFR is much more expensive than Kalk. If I would pick one, I would go with Kalk cuz of the PH boost. Best thing I did for my tank.

 

[t5Nitro]

Im using a combination of the two. Rather than continuing to bump the afr volume, I implemented kalkwasser on an doser, and I’m currently titrating that to goal stability.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes I read it’s 24 hours before it’s testable with afr. I have extremely limited stand space for multiple dosing containers. I was worried about the overdose issues with kalk but that can be crontrolled easily with ph shut down with apex correct? The afr I would have to slowly bring it up and just watch 24-48 hours after any increases correct?

Any recommendations for dosing pumps no matter which route I go?

A shut down helps, but like all tech, may fail. In any case, many of us have had lots of kalk overdoses without lasting problems.

If you do not have room for a two part, and are willing to spend on AFR, I'd suggest that route to start.

 

[Seansea]

I dose afr on my 72 gal red sea reefer g2. It is the easiest to dose of all the dosing options IMO. I use a bubble magnus doser that is ultra easy to set up and adjust according to your alk changes. Ill list the pros and cons for you to decide.

PROS
-Super easy to impelement with only one easy to use doser needed.
-gives you calcium, alk and magnesium plus traces in one solution.
- keeps alk rock solid. I adjust every so often with demand changes. Really easy to do.
-much safer than kalk but i wouldnt leave it around for kids to mess with.
-not quite as expensive as people think. I dose 32 ml a day and my 4 liter jug has lasted about 4 1/2 months.

Cons
-absolutely no ph benefit. My tank stays at 8.1 night and day but that extra .2-3 does make a diffrence in coral growth. Kalk way better for this
-the trace elements in it will not keep up with demands of fuge and to a much greater extent algae scrubber.
I use an algae scrubber and harvest algae about every 10 days and you will come up low on iodine, iron magnanese and magnesium. I have to use captiv8 mt and also a mannganese supplement in my ato container to keep up. I icp test quarterly.

So in the end if you looking for safe easy solution Afr is great. If you want explosive growth than kalk is better bet. Im working right now but ill take pic of my set up when i get home

 

[Swfiend]

This is great info and the reason I posted it. Like I said I have no idea how any of the dosing is and might aswell be considered a newb since so much has changed since my last builds

With kalk do I need to invest in a reactor or just hand mix?

I read more on afr and supplementing overnight to keep ph stable

Wife keeps the house closed up with the ac on during the summer so maintaining ph with it would be a huge plus

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

This is great info and the reason I posted it. Like I said I have no idea how any of the dosing is and might aswell be considered a newb since so much has changed since my last builds

With kalk do I need to invest in a reactor or just hand mix?

I read more on afr and supplementing overnight to keep ph stable

Wife keeps the house closed up with the ac on during the summer so maintaining ph with it would be a huge plus

I prefer dosing kalkwasser from a settled reservoir, like a brute can.

 

[Swfiend]

I prefer dosing kalkwasser from a settled reservoir, like a brute can.

So a settled reservoir being a super concentrate without precipitation or with kalk mixed and extra on bottom? Sorry for my ignorance I’m trying to learn haha

Side note should I worry at all about orp? The new apex came with the probe so I set it up and orp sits around 250 260 never higher