Kalk or all for reef?

[TheyGaveItToMe]

Problem with all for reef is.

1. if your calcium is low and alkalinity is high dosing more all for reef won’t fix it will make it worse if the alkalinity is too high causing a swing.

2. same with the opposite. You can’t control each parameter individually to keep the parameters perfect.

3. It doesn’t raise PH. High alkalinity around 10 raises ph and kalkwasser raises PH. It also increases growth rate if you watch bulk reef supply study on coral growth with higher alkalinity. Bulk reef supply also recommends you keep PH 8.4 for max growth as well. Kalkwasser helps a ton achieving that PH. I also use Co2 scrubber and stuff is growing like weeeds maxing my element absorption. My absorption rate for alk and calcium doubled doing this. My red zoanthids started at 1 inch 6 inches in 3 months doing this.

Zoanthids, don't consume calcium... Because they don't have a skeleton, What else?

 

[Dav2996]

Zoanthids, don't consume calcium... Because they don't have a skeleton, What else?

I got 1 hammers, 2 clams 1 inch each, 2 torches, 2 frogspawn, 1 mushroom, 1 scolymia, 4 acans, 1 elegance coral about 6 inches, 1 sea barnacle in my torches, and lots of those small turnicates all over the rocks and walls they use it too which are filter feeders they are everywhere in my sump, and lots of green coralline.

 

[Dav2996]

Zoanthids, don't consume calcium... Because they don't have a skeleton, What else?

I also do 0 water changes. No new calcium any other way but dosing.

 

[TheyGaveItToMe]

I got 1 hammers, 2 clams 1 inch each, 2 torches, 2 frogspawn, 1 mushroom, 1 scolymia, 4 acans, 1 elegance coral about 6 inches, 1 sea barnacle in my torches, and lots of those small turnicates all over the rocks and walls they use it too which are filter feeders they are everywhere in my sump, and lots of green coralline.

2.5 in clam in a 5 gallon. I dose nothing... Calcium 390-420... But, it is clear what you are doing wrong. You're not doing water changes, when AFR requires water changes.

 

[TheyGaveItToMe]

I also do 0 water changes. No new calcium any other way but dosing.

Oh, makes sense now.

 

[Dav2996]

Oh, makes sense now.

I recommend no water changes get better stability. Also more complex on a nano then a giant tank like yours. More advanced. Also less work with the buckets and also no nutrient issues with algae if you check the pictures haha.

 

[Dav2996]

Oh, makes sense now.

Watch bulk reef supply high PH and high alkalinity (2 videos) video. Kalkwasser is great for raising ph which increases coral growth.

 

[TheyGaveItToMe]

I got 1 hammers, 2 clams 1 inch each, 2 torches, 2 frogspawn, 1 mushroom, 1 scolymia, 4 acans, 1 elegance coral about 6 inches, 1 sea barnacle in my torches, and lots of those small turnicates all over the rocks and walls they use it too which are filter feeders they are everywhere in my sump, and lots of green coralline.

Do you think you are consuming more calcium than me? And, I dose 2ml of AFR once a day.

 

[Dav2996]

Oh, makes sense now.

Check these vids out on youtube
PH and growth with corals and higher PH leads to faster growth


alkalinity and growth with higher alk

 

[TheyGaveItToMe]

I recommend no water changes get better stability. Also more complex on a nano then a giant tank like yours. More advanced. Also less work with the buckets and also no nutrient issues with algae if you check the pictures haha.

Bro, when did 15 gallons become a giant tank...

 

[GARRIGA]

Didn’t see it, but I will take your word on it. So what Trace’s will you be using?

No clue. Why I'll be using ICP to supplement.

 

[TheyGaveItToMe]

Check these vids out on youtube
PH and growth with corals and higher PH leads to faster growth


alkalinity and growth with higher alk

I have stable parameters, and good growth with hard coral.

 

[GARRIGA]

Didn’t see it, but I will take your word on it. So what Trace’s will you be using?

My approach is going to be AFR to satisfy calcium requirements and kalk to raise ph. Ph first. Then supplement for calcium, if needed. Supplement for alk, if needed. ICP will solve additional trace needed and testing will tell me how much additional magnesium, if needed.

Main benefit I find with AFR being it is very concentrated and no additional sodium. Latter also a benefit of kalk. Plan is zero WC or very minimal.

Haven’t used kalk in 30 years and just started using a slurry last night. Not going as expected but fine tuning. Ph I believe the main driver of how to deploy both.

Last sentence. First paragraph.

 

[Chris Spaulding]

To the OG of the thread I see nothing wrong with using AFR for smaller lower demand systems. I have used it for several years and still do on 2 smaller systems , 65 gallon and 50 gallon systems. It is easy and a good way to learn about dosing and keeping your tank . Once you get into more advanced or larger systems AFR just IMO does not cut the muster. To cost prohibitive. Minor elements out of wack (ICP Testing ) I tried to use AFR on my larger system and it just got too much had to dose 250+ ml a day.(very Heavy SPS dominate).Main system using Kalk, Calcium reactor and Dosing Alk 8.3.

The bottom line is there is there are different ways to skin this cat all with their pros and cons. No Two systems are alike and as your reefing journey continues do lots of research and gain a understanding of how YOUR reef works. Take it slow and steady. AFR works , Kalk works , 2 Part works, Calcium reactors work. Is one better than another? Nope Its is what works for your system and your degree of commitment to your reef.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You're not doing water changes, when AFR requires water changes.

Why do you think AFR “requires” water changes?

 

[TheyGaveItToMe]

Why do you think AFR “requires” water changes?

See video posted further up in the thread, video from Lou Ekus stream. The whole video, not the 30 second clip edited out of context.

 

[dmiki]

dang, what is the PH of your fresh/RODI water? That doesn't make sense, because TM pro has a base Alkalinity of 7.
This sounds like user error, AFR is used to maintain levels not correct bad parameters. It is literally right there on the bottle.

Low Alkalinity, low magnesium, low boron, zero iodine... Sounds a lot like your dose amount might be low? Did that though ever cross your mind?

I am dosing as to their specifications, anyway, did you really thing I could dose so low to get zero on a ICP test!!! I doubt I am making such a mistake a year and a half of TM Pro, and several yrs.with my previous salt I was mixing correctly. People, just accept the fact that all salts have bad batches. So does TM. This 25kg/55lbs is finished and on we go, back to my old salt.

 

[TheyGaveItToMe]

I am dosing as to their specifications, anyway, did you really thing I could dose so low to get zero on a ICP test!!! I doubt I am making such a mistake a year and a half of TM Pro, and several yrs.with my previous salt I was mixing correctly. People, just accept the fact that all salts have bad batches. So does TM. This 25kg/55lbs is finished and on we go, back to my old salt.

Yeah, I do think that. I also think the internet is full of lies and people who like to argue for the sake of nothing. Not to forget, no one was talking about TM salt until you brought it up.

 

[Dav2996]

See video posted further up in the thread, video from Lou Ekus stream. The whole video, not the 30 second clip edited out of context.

Farley Homes is a scientist wrote some studies/articles on keeping fish he knows a lot. I think a big chemist. Should listen to him he’s got good knowledge.

 

[TheyGaveItToMe]

Farley Homes is a scientist wrote some studies/articles on keeping fish he knows a lot. I think a big chemist. Should listen to him he’s got good knowledge.

Lou Ekus is a bio chemist and the director of US Operations for Tropic Marin. I think that is who I will listen to about how to properly use All For Reef.

A quick Google search can prevented looking foolish.