If I wanted to convert...

[don_chuwish]

Among other options, I'm considering the AF line of supplements for my 1 year old 120G reef.

If I had to choose a tank type from the guide PDF, I'd say it is a "III" - I don't have much SPS but would like to move more in that direction. Some small Acropora, Hammer, Frogspawn, BTA, Toadstool, Acans, a small Blasto, and 2 kinds of plating Monti that grow crazy fast.

Measured today, but I'm working on raising Ca and Mg a little more:
Ca: 360 (RedSea)
Alk: 8.6 (Hanna)
Mg: 1300 (RedSea)
Nitrate: 0 (RedSea)
Phosphate: 0 (Hanna)
Salinity: 1.025 (refractometer)

Up to now I've been using BRS 2-part for Ca & Alk (BRS 1.1ml dosers, 80ml per night each), ESV Mg, and HW Marinemix Reefer salt. I have quite a bit of all these stockpiled and would prefer to continue using them until depleted.
How can I incorporate AF supplements into what I'm already using? Component Strong and AF-AVBE? Component A,B,C?

Thanks for any input!

 

[cbear44]

I haven't done a switch but am 2 mo into a new start. From my reading, if you system is in balance whatever you do - do it very slowly. My rec:

1. Start with AV-BE slowly and monitor carefully. It doesn't sound like you are supplementing your corals or feeding at all - in an ULNS like you have they may benefit.
2. Since you have low nitrates I wouldn't use NP-Pro/ProBioS yet. I'm not sure what you have for biofiltration but you could add some siporax or matrix to increase anaerobic surface area.
3. Start planning for 3 part (1+2+3+) dosing in the future. I went with 3 part instead of the 2 part as I liked the idea of adding trace elements as part of the dosing - something that we don't really measure for usually and isn't built into the BRS 2 part system. I guess you could try ABC components to add these trace elements as it looks like you aren't supplementing yet.
4. Could add probiotic salt to your system by gradually mixing into your water changes.

 

[Anirban]

How big is your tank?
1. Start with changing the salt....and you can start using the reef salt. Slowly start doing 10% water change weekly and after 1-2 months you will be ready for complete switch.
2. Add some siporax in your sump...and start dosing the Bio S for next 14 days but half the recommended dose. After 2 weeks shift to Pro bioS but again half the recommended dose. Keep an eye on the Nitrate and Phosphate.
3. You don't need to add or buy the component 123. Only start dosing it once its required.
4. Also dont start dosing ABEV immediately. Once you converted to AF then started all these.
5. Increase Calcium a bit you Magnesium is almost fine but you can increase that a bit too.

Happy reefing...

 

[don_chuwish]

I haven't done a switch but am 2 mo into a new start. From my reading, if you system is in balance whatever you do - do it very slowly. My rec:

1. Start with AV-BE slowly and monitor carefully. It doesn't sound like you are supplementing your corals or feeding at all - in an ULNS like you have they may benefit.
2. Since you have low nitrates I wouldn't use NP-Pro/ProBioS yet. I'm not sure what you have for biofiltration but you could add some siporax or matrix to increase anaerobic surface area.
3. Start planning for 3 part (1+2+3+) dosing in the future. I went with 3 part instead of the 2 part as I liked the idea of adding trace elements as part of the dosing - something that we don't really measure for usually and isn't built into the BRS 2 part system. I guess you could try ABC components to add these trace elements as it looks like you aren't supplementing yet.
4. Could add probiotic salt to your system by gradually mixing into your water changes.

Thanks for pointing out my missing info - aside from plenty of live rock (Fiji and ReefSafe) and sand, I also have a big block of MarinePure in the 40B sump. The sump has 3 x 4" socks, Vertex Omega 150 skimmer, and a just started chaeto basket with grow light. There must be some phosphate escaping the test because the chaeto seems to be happily growing.
No I haven't supplemented or fed at all.
Another doser is certainly in my future, I want to get Mg dialed in and steady.
So... maybe AV-BE and/or ABC components - slowly.

 

[don_chuwish]

How big is your tank?
1. Start with changing the salt....and you can start using the reef salt. Slowly start doing 10% water change weekly and after 1-2 months you will be ready for complete switch.
2. Add some siporax in your sump...and start dosing the Bio S for next 14 days but half the recommended dose. After 2 weeks shift to Pro bioS but again half the recommended dose. Keep an eye on the Nitrate and Phosphate.
3. You don't need to add or buy the component 123. Only start dosing it once its required.
4. Also dont start dosing ABEV immediately. Once you converted to AF then started all these.
5. Increase Calcium a bit you Magnesium is almost fine but you can increase that a bit too.

Happy reefing...

Thanks for the input! 120G with a 40B sump, maybe 120-130G of actual water once displacement is factored in.
Yeah, I'm adding more Mg & Ca after daily tests & tweaking my dosing.
I have like 3 boxes of HW MarineMix to get through before I start blending & changing over. That'll take a while. I'll run out of 2-part first, then switch over to Component 1+2+3+ (right?).

 

[Anirban]

If you need component 123 then sure you can start dosing. You can start dosing the Bios and ProbioS subsequently. Once your salt is done you can shift to reef salt through water changes.

 

[Aquaforest]

Are you doing Ca 1.1 ml and KH 80ml?

For now you can buy KH Buffer only or KH Plus. If your system will need all macro - Ca, KH, Mg you can buy Component 1+2+3+

 

[don_chuwish]

Are you doing Ca 1.1 ml and KH 80ml?

For now you can buy KH Buffer only or KH Plus. If your system will need all macro - Ca, KH, Mg you can buy Component 1+2+3+

Thanks for the input!

To answer your question - no, I'm dosing 80ml of Ca and 80ml of Alk each night using BRS 2-part and their 1.1ml dosers. Example Apex code for Alk:
Fallback OFF
OSC 000:00/006:37/053:23 Then ON
If Time 08:00 to 20:59 Then OFF
If pH > 8.30 Then OFF
If FeedB 030 Then OFF
If Power Apex Off 000 Then OFF

Ca is offset by 30 mins but dosing the same amount per night.

I've also been manually adding more Ca and Mg over the past week or more to get those numbers up.

I certainly plan to switch over from 2-part to Component 1+2+3+ (and get another doser). But not until I run out of 2-part supplies.
So I was just curious what AF products I could use to 'fill the gaps' while going through my current supplies of salt & 2-part.

Thanks again!