Raise alk and calcium with all for reef

[chemicals]

Hi there,

I just checked my parameters and my alk and calcium are both very low:
Alk ~5 dKH
Calc ~350
I measured both with Hanna Checker. I ordered some all-for-reef to get into dosing but can I also just add a bit more the first several days to get around 8 dKH en 450 calc? After I get to that level I’ll reduce the dosing to keep it at those levels. Or, should I raise them first with some bicarb and calcium chloride before starting?

 

[Crustaceon]

Hi there,

I just checked my parameters and my alk and calcium are both very low:
Alk ~5 dKH
Calc ~350
I measured both with Hanna Checker. I ordered some all-for-reef to get into dosing but can I also just add a bit more the first several days to get around 8 dKH en 450 calc? After I get to that level I’ll reduce the dosing to keep it at those levels. Or, should I raise them first with some bicarb and calcium chloride before starting?

Got any details on your system?

 

[chemicals]

Got any details on your system?

Its a waterbox 130.4 (100 gal). Containing some lps, sps (easy ones) and softies. The tank is around 1 year old

 

[V A R I A N T]

No. AFR is for maintenance, not rebalancing parms to desired levels. Use your favorite alk/ca/mag supplements to get them to preferred, then try AFR to maintain. For the size of your tank, you might consider the powdered form and mix your own to lower costs.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would use calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate for that boost initially.

 

[Crustaceon]

Its a waterbox 130.4 (100 gal). Containing some lps, sps (easy ones) and softies. The tank is around 1 year old

Very cool. Yep, Randy popped in. Go with his recommendation for sure. I'd raise alkalinity no more than .5 dkh per day to avoid shocking your corals.

 

[nereefpat]

+1 CaCl and baking soda. I would raise the alk slowly over a few days. The Ca could probably raise 50 ppm at a time.

But, I would check both of those values with a liquid test kit before doing anything. I don't personally like the idea of a Hanna checker for alk, as alkalinity should be a titration by definition. And lots of people have trouble with the Hanna Ca checker, specifically. It's also probably worth double checking your salinity to make sure it isn't low.

 

[chemicals]

Thanks all! I’ll raise them both with bicrab and calc first! I also did titration with red sea kit, those gave around the same results!

 

[Treefer32]

I'm going away from All for reef on my 340 gallon system. My corals looked so much better dosing baked baking soda, calcium chloride, Magnesium Chloride mixed with magnesium sulfate each separately and then a weekly dose of red sea trace elements. AFR just doesn't seem to maintain my coral colors as well as the red sea trace elements.