pH difference between soda ash and all for reef?

[aaron186]

I’m considering switching dosing from soda ash 2 part to All For Reef.

My tank has high environmental CO2 and I need to run a scrubber. Even with soda ash dosing my pH sits around 8.1-8.2

How low of a drop could I expect if I swapped to all for reef from soda ash?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Impossible to say since it depends on how much you were dosing, how strong the tank aeration is, and the CO2 level around the tank.

 

[Jekyl]

I don't think these products are best for overall ph and the alkalinity should be the focus

 

[Adamc13o3]

I’m considering switching dosing from soda ash 2 part to All For Reef.

My tank has high environmental CO2 and I need to run a scrubber. Even with soda ash dosing my pH sits around 8.1-8.2

How low of a drop could I expect if I swapped to all for reef from soda ash?

It lowered my ph a lot when i used AFR, probably because it’s carbon dosing. I did notice a higher PH and higher NO3 level when I stopped using it and went to BRD 2 part (not even the high PH formula).

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

It lowered my ph a lot when i used AFR, probably because it’s carbon dosing. I did notice a higher PH and higher NO3 level when I stopped using it and went to BRD 2 part (not even the high PH formula).

There is no carbon dosing components in AFR that I am aware of. Where did you get that info? @Lou Ekus

 

[gbroadbridge]

There is no carbon dosing components in AFR that I am aware of. Where did you get that info? @Lou Ekus

The Calcium Formate in AFR is a carbon source and it results in reduction of Nitrates.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There is no carbon dosing components in AFR that I am aware of. Where did you get that info? @Lou Ekus

Yes, there is. The whole composition is basically calcium formate. The formate is an organic that gets metabolized.

But formate has very little usable chemical energy and the energy from metabolizing it and the CO2 produced from it is much smaller per molecule than acetate (vinegar) or ethanol.

The pH effect of using AFR/formate is identical to using bicarbonate: a slight pH lowering.

 

[aaron186]

Yes, there is. The whole composition is basically calcium formate. The formate is an organic that gets metabolized.

But formate has very little usable chemical energy and the energy from metabolizing it and the CO2 produced from it is much smaller per molecule than acetate (vinegar) or ethanol.

The pH effect of using AFR/formate is identical to using bicarbonate: a slight pH lowering.

I assume there’s no issue with carbon dosing and AFR together right? Thank you as always Dr Holmes

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

AFR doesn’t raise ph for me. I am using it in a 50 gal. frag tank without a co2 scrubber, and ph is 7.6-7.9 daily. If you want higher ph, you will have to dose something else to compensate. This product doesn’t work well in high alk demanding (sps dominated) tanks either, ime. Also, the nitrates in my frag tank are about 40 ppm. I wouldn’t count on this product to lower nitrates.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I assume there’s no issue with carbon dosing and AFR together right? Thank you as always Dr Holmes

Nope, that’s fine.

 

[gbroadbridge]

AFR doesn’t raise ph for me. I am using it in a 50 gal. frag tank without a co2 scrubber, and ph is 7.6-7.9 daily. If you want higher ph, you will have to dose something else to compensate. This product doesn’t work well in high alk demanding (sps dominated) tanks either, ime. Also, the nitrates in my frag tank are about 40 ppm. I wouldn’t count on this product to lower nitrates.

FWIW, I use AFR in my SPS heavy 13.5 gal Evo.

It works fine although I am dosing around 25-30ml per day.
I have to dose Nitrate as it zeros out rather quickly using AFR, which it didn't when using 3 part dosing

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

FWIW, I use AFR in my SPS heavy 13.5 gal Evo.

It works fine although I am dosing around 25-30ml per day.
I have to dose Nitrate as it zeros out rather quickly using AFR, which it didn't when using 3 part dosing

That’s cool. Yeah this is a product that can go one way or the other depending on the tank. I was having a problem using AFR in my sps tank with the calcium going in the upper 500’s ppm and alk would be around 7 dkh. If I added more to try to get the alk up, the ca would keep going up too. Also PH was always below 8. Nitrates never budged. But I just realized this is on the chemistry forum, and will refer to the expert. Just offering my experience.