Dosing recommendation in addition to Kalkwasser needed

[Zero_Cool]

System specs:
DT: 230g
Sump: 50g
Total volume: 220g after rocks
Evaporation of approx 2g per day
Alk: 7.9 dropping from 8.2 over a week (preferred to keep at 9.0)
Ca: 450
Mg: 1375
Ph: 8.06 average (would preffer this to be 8.2)

Currently dosing Kalkwasser via reactor at 1200 ml per day with DOS.

Doing AWC at 2 gallons per day with Reef Crystals.

Historically I have bumped ALK up with Sodium Bicarbonate.

I have a Ca reactor but don't think my LPS/softy corals require it yet.

Was considering starting to dose All for Reef in attempt to help with maintaining trace elements and ALK.

Any other recommendations for dosing in addition to Kalk?

 

[blaxsun]

Does All For Reef have all the trace elements? I though there was a companion product to go along with that.

 

[Zero_Cool]

Does All For Reef have all the trace elements? I though there was a companion product to go along with that.

I believe so. Description says it includes:

 

[bushdoc]

Tropic Marin will be very happy if you dose All for Reefs, so your bank manager, your spouse-not so much.
I regard All for Reef as an good product for small to medium reef tank, your tank is going to be Large reef, so I would dose Two Part/Balling and you can add trace elements separately or some two parts have trace elements already in. Dosing two part gives you more flexibility and is less expensive that All for Reef.
I think that if your reef expand , your best option is Calcium Reactor and Kalk for pH stability.

 

[bobnicaragua]

System specs:
DT: 230g
Sump: 50g
Total volume: 220g after rocks
Evaporation of approx 2g per day
Alk: 7.9 dropping from 8.2 over a week (preferred to keep at 9.0)
Ca: 450
Mg: 1375
Ph: 8.06 average (would preffer this to be 8.2)

Currently dosing Kalkwasser via reactor at 1200 ml per day with DOS.

Doing AWC at 2 gallons per day with Reef Crystals.

Historically I have bumped ALK up with Sodium Bicarbonate.

I have a Ca reactor but don't think my LPS/softy corals require it yet.

Was considering starting to dose All for Reef in attempt to help with maintaining trace elements and ALK.

Any other recommendations for dosing in addition to Kalk?

I would continue with the kalk and water changes. You shouldn’t have to really worry about trace elements until your consumption goes up to a point where kalkwasser can’t keep up.

Tanks tend to do better when running kalk, I’d stick with it.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

All for reef in power form isn't so bad cost wise. 16oo grams 75.00 makes 10 liters of solution

 

[cilyjr]

I run a calcium reactor in addition to a kalkwasser reactor. They work well in tandem as one counterbalances a pH effects from the opposing unit.

 

[Zero_Cool]

I would continue with the kalk and water changes. You shouldn’t have to really worry about trace elements until your consumption goes up to a point where kalkwasser can’t keep up.

Tanks tend to do better when running kalk, I’d stick with it.

I run a calcium reactor in addition to a kalkwasser reactor. They work well in tandem as one counterbalances a pH effects from the opposing unit.

Thank you. I will try to up the Kalkwasser dosing then as first step.

I can add the calcium reactor down the road as needed when the reef needs exceed evaporation/Kalkwasser alone.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you. I will try to up the Kalkwasser dosing then as first step.

I can add the calcium reactor down the road as needed when the reef needs exceed evaporation/Kalkwasser alone.

Most people don’t use a CaCO3 reactor as the first step when limewater is not adequate. A two or three part system to supplement is far more common and less up front cost.

 

[exnisstech]

In my 180g about 200ish total I drip kalk 24/7 on a brs dosing pump and supplement with esv alk and brs calcium. I manually dose 30ml 2 part (up from 25ml) to keep alk around 8 and calcium 450. pH runs around 8.3 on all my tanks even the 2 that do not get kalk. I figure water changes do the rest. I've been doing it that way for a few years and the tank is doing well. Its nice and easy the way I try to keep things.

 

[bobnicaragua]

If you only have LPS and softies, kalk may be all you ever need. I’ve never seen a calcium reactor on a non-SPS tank.

 

[Zero_Cool]

Most people don’t use a CaCO3 reactor as the first step when limewater is not adequate. A two or three part system to supplement is far more common and less up front cost.

Thank you. I already have the calcium reactor in storage from my first reef tank years ago but it is cumbersome to use. Supplementing with a 2-part or 3-part may prove to be easier but I have never used such a system.

Looks like more research will be in my future down the road.

 

[willsmithpro12]

Tropic Marin will be very happy if you dose All for Reefs, so your bank manager, your spouse-not so much.
I regard All for Reef as an good product for small to medium reef tank, your tank is going to be Large reef, so I would dose Two Part/Balling and you can add trace elements separately or some two parts have trace elements already in. Dosing two part gives you more flexibility and is less expensive that All for Reef.
I think that if your reef expand , your best option is Calcium Reactor and Kalk for pH stability.

The powder version really helped with the price