Question on Component 1 2 3

[Scubabum]

I have a 58 gallon tank with a Trigger system sump. Total water volume approx 60 gallons. I have a mixed reef, softies,LPS and a few SPS. For years I've been maintaining my tank by using Kalkwasser in my auto top off. My parameters are fairly stable and are PH 8.15-8.2 Alk 9 Calc 430 Mag 1320 Nitrate 2-3ppm and Phos. .03. I maintain my Nitrate by using Biopellets and Phos using GFO. I only need to dose Mag every couple of weeks. Recently I've added several corals and the Kalk is no longer keeping up. I want to start dosing Component 1 2 3 using a doser to maintain CA, Alk and Mag and discontinue the Kalk. Is this possible without going to the full Aquaforest program? If so how do I calculate the dose? Is it the same as calculating 2 part? What is the recommended dose and what type of schedule if using a doser? Any advice you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Anirban]

I have a 58 gallon tank with a Trigger system sump. Total water volume approx 60 gallons. I have a mixed reef, softies,LPS and a few SPS. For years I've been maintaining my tank by using Kalkwasser in my auto top off. My parameters are fairly stable and are PH 8.15-8.2 Alk 9 Calc 430 Mag 1320 Nitrate 2-3ppm and Phos. .03. I maintain my Nitrate by using Biopellets and Phos using GFO. I only need to dose Mag every couple of weeks. Recently I've added several corals and the Kalk is no longer keeping up. I want to start dosing Component 1 2 3 using a doser to maintain CA, Alk and Mag and discontinue the Kalk. Is this possible without going to the full Aquaforest program? If so how do I calculate the dose? Is it the same as calculating 2 part? What is the recommended dose and what type of schedule if using a doser? Any advice you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I will try to answer your questions one by one,

Is this possible without going to the full Aquaforest program?
Yes, you can just use the balling method or component 123. You dont need to follow the probiotic part if you dont want to.

If so how do I calculate the dose?
You dont need to. Just bring your Ca, Mg and alk up to the desired level and start dosing equally all 3 components. Then depending on the usage you can dose more or less.

What is the recommended dose and what type of schedule if using a doser?
Try to spread out the dose as evenly as possible.

Happy reefing.

 

[Scubabum]

I will try to answer your questions one by one,

Is this possible without going to the full Aquaforest program?
Yes, you can just use the balling method or component 123. You dont need to follow the probiotic part if you dont want to.

If so how do I calculate the dose?
You dont need to. Just bring your Ca, Mg and alk up to the desired level and start dosing equally all 3 components. Then depending on the usage you can dose more or less.

What is the recommended dose and what type of schedule if using a doser?
Try to spread out the dose as evenly as possible.

Happy reefing.

Perfect. Thank you for answering all my questions. Ordering right now. Eventually I'll switch over to probiotic part after using up my current stock of salt and MB7. Thanks again.

 

[Anirban]

Perfect. Thank you for answering all my questions. Ordering right now. Eventually I'll switch over to probiotic part after using up my current stock of salt and MB7. Thanks again.

you r welcome....go slow

 

[Bdk1786]

For what it is worth, I recently started my dosing of Component 1,2,3 switching from BRS 2 part + Balling Lite Trace 1,2,3.
With a heavily stocked RSM250 with SPS and LPS, I was dosing BRS @ 24ml/day to keep my Alk around 8.2-8.4.
Switching to AF Comp 1,2,3, I wanted to get my Alk a little lower to 7.5 and so far it is taking me 36ml/day of each component. Growth has been quite significant since dosing (1 week ago). Most noticeably in my birdsnest with new budding branches all over the place. My pociis have a much better florescence and everything just seems happier.
For reference, I only use AF Reef Salt, AF C 1,2,3, Biopellets, Chemipure elite, Bubble Magus Curve 5.
I wish my cell pics didn't suck so much so I could properly document the results.

 

[Scubabum]

For what it is worth, I recently started my dosing of Component 1,2,3 switching from BRS 2 part + Balling Lite Trace 1,2,3.
With a heavily stocked RSM250 with SPS and LPS, I was dosing BRS @ 24ml/day to keep my Alk around 8.2-8.4.
Switching to AF Comp 1,2,3, I wanted to get my Alk a little lower to 7.5 and so far it is taking me 36ml/day of each component. Growth has been quite significant since dosing (1 week ago). Most noticeably in my birdsnest with new budding branches all over the place. My pociis have a much better florescence and everything just seems happier.
For reference, I only use AF Reef Salt, AF C 1,2,3, Biopellets, Chemipure elite, Bubble Magus Curve 5.
I wish my cell pics didn't suck so much so I could properly document the results.

It's worth a lot. Sounds like our setups are similar so this gives me so much valuable information. THANK YOU.

 

[Scubabum]

Started dosing the Component 1 2 3 last night. Started at 20ml of each for approx 60 gallons total water volume. Tested my alk this afternoon and it dropped .5dkh. (8.5dkh) from the value I tested yesterday. (9.0dkh) How many ml should I increase my dosage for the .5 drop. Thanks in advance.

 

[Anirban]

Started dosing the Component 1 2 3 last night. Started at 20ml of each for approx 60 gallons total water volume. Tested my alk this afternoon and it dropped .5dkh. (8.5dkh) from the value I tested yesterday. (9.0dkh) How many ml should I increase my dosage for the .5 drop. Thanks in advance.

Its really not possible to tell how much you can increase to bring the Alk 0.5. Increase the dosing a bit like 5-10ml more and take reading after 24 hour. This should tell you how much you really need.

 

[Scubabum]

Started at 21ml of each component and my dkh dropped .5 dkh. I upped the dose to 36 ml and still dropped .4 dkh Currently sitting at 7.0 dkh and 395 calcium. Should I just keep increasing the dose by 10 or so ml until its stable? Any advice helping me dial my dose in will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Anirban]

Keep increasing all three together maybe 10 ml at a time. Keep testing after every 24 hours. You will know how much your system is consuming. We all did it like that. No shortcut...

 

[Scubabum]

Keep increasing all three together maybe 10 ml at a time. Keep testing after every 24 hours. You will know how much your system is consuming. We all did it like that. No shortcut...

Thanks again Anirban. Just making sure I'm on the right track. Since my levels are dropping below optimal parameters , I have some Bionic 2 part I can use, or do you recommend I use the Aquaforest Kh buffer, ca and mag to increase my levels?

 

[Anirban]

Thanks again Anirban. Just making sure I'm on the right track. Since my levels are dropping below optimal parameters , I have some Bionic 2 part I can use, or do you recommend I use the Aquaforest Kh buffer, ca and mag to increase my levels?

Continue component 123 as it will maintain the ratio of all elements.

 

[Scubabum]

Just over a week and I have my dose dialed in. 50 ml and my system is running super stable. Already noticing improved color and corals seem super full. Thanks to everyone for the help on dialing in my dose.

 

[Armydogracing]

Did you stop dosing kalk?

 

[Scubabum]

Did you stop dosing kalk?

Yes I stopped dosing Kalk when starting the component 1 2 3. It took me about 6 days to dial in the correct dose. Now my alk is stable at 7.5 dkh.