How to dose all for reef

[brycenelson]

Hey guys I have had my tank for 10 months now and I have been dosing Red Sea a b and c to keep my chemistry in check. I decided to change over to all for reef because of cost efficiency and ease of use. I was wondering how others dialed in how much to dose of the all for reef.
Picture for attention

 

[Quietman]

Start at half dose recommended, check alk for a few days (takes awhile for alk to respond) and adjust. Been dosing it for 3 years now (only got a doser six months ago). Before with softie/lps tank just added 5 - 10 ml every few days. Now it's a daily 7ml (still softie/lps - they've just grow alot).

 

[Snowxcross]

Good choice, i've been using it for a while now. I mix up 6 scoops with 1000ML of RODI. I'm currently dosing 25ml a day (throughout the day) of AFR on roughly 125g tank - I've been steady for months now at 8.5dkh, 450Cal, 1320mg. I also dose 5ML a day of Tropic Marins balling B (alk). I do that because you'll find that if your tank alk starts to drop but your Calcium and Mag stay consistent, adding more AFR wont necessarily increase your alk. One other thing to mention is the end tip of the dosing line will get crusty and hard, so just keep an eye on that.

 

[Grill]

I also went from Red Sea to AFR, you'll be happy with the switch. Easy to make a batch (6 scoops per 1000ml) cost effective and gets good results. Like someone else said start with half the dose. I think I dose around 50-60ml daily on a 240.

 

[brycenelson]

Ok thank you guys got the advise

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I decided to change over to all for reef because of cost efficiency and ease of use.

AFR is a fine way to go, but are you certain it is cheaper than what you are using now? One of the main knocks on it is cost for all but a small tank.

 

[X-37B]

It may not be cheaper based on your systems consumption.

I started dosing A4R 11 days ago in my 20g nano. I was using esv 2 part at 11ml 2x a day to maintain an alk of 7. This system uses 2dkh a day.

I started with the recommended dose of 5ml a day by hand and monitored alk. My ca is 400 when I started.
I used esv alk daily to keep my alk at 7. I upped my dose by the recommended 2.5ml a day.
It took 9 days before I stopped dosing alk. Currently dosing 22ml of A4R once a day.
I did notice that dosing once a day keeps alk stable without the spike I would get dosing esv 2x a day. Alk would go from 7 to 8 dosing esv with no issues.

My ca is still 400. So I will monitor alk and ca for awhile and see how it goes. Corals look good now so time will tell but so far good results.
My 4 month old 20g for reference.

 

[design.maddie]

GI mix up 6 scoops with 1000ML of RODI.

This is not the correct instructions. It is 6 level scoops per 900ML.

 

[X-37B]

This is not the correct instructions. It is 6 level scoops per 900ML.

This is correct you get 1000ml when the A4R's 160 grams are mixed with 900ml of ro/di. Nice catch!

 

[Hooz]

This is correct you get 1000ml when the A4R's 160 grams are mixed with 900ml of ro/di. Nice catch!

You mix 6 scoops with 900ml of water then, when it's completely mixed, you top up with more water (if needed) to get 1000ml total of mixed solution.

As for dosing... Start with half the recommended dose (5ml AFR for every 26g of actual water volume). Test ALK daily while you get things dialed in. Dose the same amount for AT LEAST 3 days at the same time of day before making any changes. After 3 days, adjust your dose up or down as needed until you get 3 days in a row where your ALK doesn't change. That's your starting dose.

It's helpful if you try to test at the same time of the day and dose at the same time of day (not necessarily the same time). When I started I was manually dosing once per day. I tested ALK at 8:00am, then dosed when the lights came on at 8:30am.

As a side note: You certainly CAN dose manually once a day, but I saw more more stability once I put it on a dosing pump and split it into multiple smaller doses. I also had to dose a bit more (daily total) once I split it up over the day/night. I currently have mine set to dose every 2 hours, all day and night.

 

[X-37B]

You mix 6 scoops with 900ml of water then, when it's completely mixed, you top up with more water (if needed) to get 1000ml total of mixed solution.

As for dosing... Start with half the recommended dose (5ml AFR for every 26g of actual water volume). Test ALK daily while you get things dialed in. Dose the same amount for AT LEAST 3 days at the same time of day before making any changes. After 3 days, adjust your dose up or down as needed until you get 3 days in a row where your ALK doesn't change. That's your starting dose.

It's helpful if you try to test at the same time of the day and dose at the same time of day (not necessarily the same time). When I started I was manually dosing once per day. I tested ALK at 8:00am, then dosed when the lights came on at 8:30am.

As a side note: You certainly CAN dose manually once a day, but I saw more more stability once I put it on a dosing pump and split it into multiple smaller doses. I also had to dose a bit more (daily total) once I split it up over the day/night. I currently have mine set to dose every 2 hours, all day and night.

I dont do scoops as I weigh everything.
I get the stability part as one of my systems runs a carx.
I have dosed and still dose my 45 by hand twice a day at 17ml esv.
I guess I should setup the doser I have sitting in the box for 2+ years now, lol.
I wont do it on the nano as I am retired and have plenty of time on my hands.
Anyway A4R may require alk dosing in the future from time to time. I talked with Lou at TM and he explained it pretty well.
Its only been 11 days so see me in 6 months and I will have a better understanding of A4R.
I started at 5ml because I knew my system already consumes 2dkh a day.
If your system is new or your new then starting at half dose makes sense. Just dont be in a hurry.

 

[apb03]

I've been dosing 25ml/day AFR for about 3 months now. So far so good, I really like the simplicity of it. Holding steady at 8-8.5dkh with calc at 500 and mag hovering around 1450.

 

[areefer01]

AFR is a fine way to go, but are you certain it is cheaper than what you are using now? One of the main knocks on it is cost for all but a small tank.

That really isn't an issue anymore since the DIY recipe and powder options available. When it was liquid only without a doubt. 1600g powder container makes a world of difference.

It is a viable tool now but the hobbyist still needs to understand if it is the right tool to use.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That really isn't an issue anymore since the DIY recipe and powder options available. When it was liquid only without a doubt. 1600g powder container makes a world of difference.

It is a viable tool now but the hobbyist still needs to understand if it is the right tool to use.

I do not doubt it is viable, but I question the OP assertion to use it because its cheaper than the two part.

 

[Hooz]

I started with the premixed liquid, and two years later I'm still using the liquid. It's just easier for me and, as I'm only dosing 2 nano tanks, the cost isn't an issue because I don't go through it that fast. In my "bigger", higher demand tank I only dose 10.8ml/day.

Currently building 2 new, bigger tanks, though. If I decide to use AFR in those I will definitely start mixing my own from the powder. But I'm considering going with 2/3 part (with Balling C) on those tanks, so we'll see.

 

[Snowxcross]

This is not the correct instructions. It is 6 level scoops per 900ML.

Welp, i guess tropic marin support was incorrect in telling me that, that is what they had told me via email support.

 

[areefer01]

I do not doubt it is viable, but I question the OP assertion to use it because its cheaper than the two part.

I was merely replying to your comment about the perceived knock on its cost for all but a small tank. That really isn't true since they released the DIY components and 1600g powder offerings. The original liquid format that was a valid concern and typically repeated here and elsewhere. 1600g TM AFR makes up 10 liters for $76 bucks not including taxes. Hobbyist can do the math from there.

Edit: after re-reading this it seems to me that maybe I'm arguing with you. I'm not so apologies if it comes that way to you. Not my intent. Just putting it out there as a hobbyist who uses the 1600g powder offering and doses 90 ml/day. Convenience for me is more important and the cost isn't so bad at the moment. My break point is when I reach 100 - 110 ml/day. Then I'll have to find something different.

 

[areefer01]

Welp, i guess tropic marin support was incorrect in telling me that, that is what they had told me via email support.

Just use their instructions. I personally use a scale.

Tropic Marin | Aquarium | Produktinformationen

Tropic Mairn - The aquatic life science company. Wir stellen hochwertige Salze, Additive und Wassertests vorwiegend für Meerwasseraquarien her. Korallen, Fische und Wirbellose in Ihrem Aquarium fühlen sich mit unseren Produkten wohl.

www.tropic-marin-smartinfo.com

 

[Snowxcross]

Just use their instructions. I personally use a scale.

Tropic Marin | Aquarium | Produktinformationen

Tropic Mairn - The aquatic life science company. Wir stellen hochwertige Salze, Additive und Wassertests vorwiegend für Meerwasseraquarien her. Korallen, Fische und Wirbellose in Ihrem Aquarium fühlen sich mit unseren Produkten wohl.

www.tropic-marin-smartinfo.com

Thanks, i'll go for the scale too.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I was merely replying to your comment about the perceived knock on its cost for all but a small tank. That really isn't true since they released the DIY components and 1600g powder offerings. The original liquid format that was a valid concern and typically repeated here and elsewhere. 1600g TM AFR makes up 10 liters for $76 bucks not including taxes. Hobbyist can do the math from there.

Edit: after re-reading this it seems to me that maybe I'm arguing with you. I'm not so apologies if it comes that way to you. Not my intent. Just putting it out there as a hobbyist who uses the 1600g powder offering and doses 90 ml/day. Convenience for me is more important and the cost isn't so bad at the moment. My break point is when I reach 100 - 110 ml/day. Then I'll have to find something different.

Not a problem. Each reefer will decide what they can spend, and make the cost/convenience trade off.