Should I dose TM’s all for reef?

[mrpontiac80]

I am in my first year of saltwater. I have a 65 gal AIO and my corals range from mushrooms and zoas to montipora and a frag or two of acropora. I have never dosed anything and corals are doing pretty good but other than a few soft corals and leathers, I am not noticing any real growth. My parameters are pretty stable while using fritz rpm blue box salt.
I just don’t want to fix what is not broken but if I can improve on things I’m all for it. I will include a pic of my parameters as tested last night. Salinity stays at 1.025 but shows 1.024 as of now because I ran out of salt. Working on getting that back up.

 

[PeterC99]

The only low parameter is Alk. Why not start with dosing a little bit of Alk?

 

[Reef.]

I am in my first year of saltwater. I have a 65 gal AIO and my corals range from mushrooms and zoas to montipora and a frag or two of acropora. I have never dosed anything and corals are doing pretty good but other than a few soft corals and leathers, I am not noticing any real growth. My parameters are pretty stable while using fritz rpm blue box salt.
I just don’t want to fix what is not broken but if I can improve on things I’m all for it. I will include a pic of my parameters as tested last night. Salinity stays at 1.025 but shows 1.024 as of now because I ran out of salt. Working on getting that back up.

easy to work out, text your alk for a week, see how much it drops in 24 hours, then go on the AFR dosing calculator and see how much to dose.

The idea is the AFR will add back into the tank the alk the corals are using in a 24 hour period, it also,adds calcium which normally is in line with the alk usage and some mag, mag is not used so much the two main ones are the alk and calcium, the idea is to keep your alk stable at a figure you choose between 7-12, I aim for 7-7.5.

When you add the AFR the alk will take a couple of days to show up in the tank as the bacteria breaks the AFR down which then raises the alk, so you are always working a few days behind so keep that in mind when dosing.

 

[Billldg]

I agree with above, BUT, have 1 question. What is your WC schedule?

Also, how long has the tank been up and running? Sorry, I actually had 2...LOL!!! ;Facepalm

 

[mrpontiac80]

The only low parameter is Alk. Why not start with dosing a little bit of Alk?

Well I am ignorant in some of this so bear with me. From what I understand is that you can’t or shouldn’t dose one without the other. ( all and calcium).

 

[mrpontiac80]

I agree with above, BUT, have 1 question. What is your WC schedule?

Also, how long has the tank been up and running? Sorry, I actually had 2...LOL!!! ;Facepalm

I finished my cycle and introduced my first corals and fish near the end of may.
My water change schedule is every week I do about a 13.5 gallon exchange. Odd number and percentage due to my 5 gallon bucket measurements. So a bit over 10%.
as of this moment, my tank is fallow of fish due to a velvet outbreak, so those guys are in observation now having gone through qt, and I have about 5 weeks left of a fishless display.

 

[mrpontiac80]

easy to work out, text your alk for a week, see how much it drops in 24 hours, then go on the AFR dosing calculator and see how much to dose.

The idea is the AFR will add back into the tank the alk the corals are using in a 24 hour period, it also,adds calcium which normally is in line with the alk usage and some mag, mag is not used so much the two main ones are the alk and calcium, the idea is to keep your alk stable at a figure you choose between 7-12, I aim for 7-7.5.

When you add the AFR the alk will take a couple of days to show up in the tank as the bacteria breaks the AFR down which then raises the alk, so you are always working a few days behind so keep that in mind when dosing.

So this I think I understand, but was more curious if my alk only drops say .3 dkh in a week, and calcium only drops maybe 10 ppm, would dosing AFR be beneficial for the corals or just not needed.
everyone for the most part talks about how they see better colors and etc.

 

[ninjamyst]

You dose alk and ca to keep those parameters stable. If they are stable via just water change, you are fine. If you are trying to encourage growth, feed your corals =P

 

[Billldg]

I finished my cycle and introduced my first corals and fish near the end of may.
My water change schedule is every week I do about a 13.5 gallon exchange. Odd number and percentage due to my 5 gallon bucket measurements. So a bit over 10%.
as of this moment, my tank is fallow of fish due to a velvet outbreak, so those guys are in observation now having gone through qt, and I have about 5 weeks left of a fishless display.

A 4 month old tank may not be ready for corals, thus the none growth. It may take a while, BUT, the corals will start to grow and surprise you. As a tank matures, it allows the corals to take on and grow in a whole different meaning. I actually started a thread a few years ago asking what the meaning of a mature tank meant, and I didn't get any good explanations. After being in this hobby for a few years, I understand why. Their really isn't a good definition to a mature tank, as, they are all different. I did learn the definition of patience in this hobby. You will know, ONE DAY, when you look at your tank, and it will hit you, the understanding of a mature tank. I truly wish I could give you a better definition of a mature tank, BUT, those of us that have a had a few tanks and seen what the meaning of a mature tank is will understand, their is no definition...JUST...the understanding of it.

 

[Little c big D]

I'm dosing 6ml a day currently in a newer tank and I test every other day. My numbers have stayed very stable considering the age of the tank. I think AFR is great but test often and adjust your dose. So far I'm happy with it.

 

[attiland]

So this I think I understand, but was more curious if my alk only drops say .3 dkh in a week, and calcium only drops maybe 10 ppm, would dosing AFR be beneficial for the corals or just not needed.
everyone for the most part talks about how they see better colors and etc.

0.3 dkh drop in a week is almost nothing. 10ppm calcium is also low. AFR is not going to work for you yet. Water changes will work.

 

[mrpontiac80]

Thanks guys. I guess I’ll give it more time and keep testing and see how things track.

as for tank maturity and corals, I understand what you mean. I can’t complain though, my alveapora and several others are doing fantastic. I guess I was just worried about some montipora caps and such.

 

[ninjamyst]

Thanks guys. I guess I’ll give it more time and keep testing and see how things track.

as for tank maturity and corals, I understand what you mean. I can’t complain though, my alveapora and several others are doing fantastic. I guess I was just worried about some montipora caps and such.

Montipora cap is one of the fastest growers. Before long, you will regret the montipora cap shading everything and taking up too much space. What are you feeding your corals? Your nitrate and phosphate are at a good level but corals can still benefit from feeding.

 

[mrpontiac80]

Montipora cap is one of the fastest growers. Before long, you will regret the montipora cap shading everything and taking up too much space. What are you feeding your corals? Your nitrate and phosphate are at a good level but corals can still benefit from feeding.

I currently am using rod’s original blend food. Supposed to be a mix for fish and corals. And I’ll be honest, I’m not sure if I need to or not but every other day I am alternating using a cap full of seachems zooplankton or phytoplankton… so roughly 4 days between each dose of the same one. I have thought about a specific coral food, but as of yet have not used any.

 

[Reef.]

So this I think I understand, but was more curious if my alk only drops say .3 dkh in a week, and calcium only drops maybe 10 ppm, would dosing AFR be beneficial for the corals or just not needed.
everyone for the most part talks about how they see better colors and etc.

really only .3 in a week?

My nano drops that a day.

If your parameters are stable then no I wouldn’t dose AFR, AFR is mainly to get your parameters back to where they started from, it is not designed to raise your parameters, just add back what your corals use, though it does also contain trace elements but if you keep up with water changes and your tank isn’t using a lot then those water changes could be enough.

If you are happy with your stability then you don’t need AFR, if you feel your corals could do with a bit more colour or growth, you need to look at different products for that.

 

[PeterC99]

Well I am ignorant in some of this so bear with me. From what I understand is that you can’t or shouldn’t dose one without the other. ( all and calcium).

Yes when your tank is established but since your tank is young and you are doing regular water changes, you might be getting enough calcium from that water change but not enough Alk.

 

[mrpontiac80]

Ninjamyst, for what it’s worth, I have a monti cap near each rear corner of the tank. I have an encrusting fruity pebbles monti on the rear glass and a cyphastrea and another encrusting monti also on rear glass. My devils hand and galaxia are fairly ticked off today but that’s very unusual.

 

[mrpontiac80]

really only .3 in a week?

My nano drops that a day.

If your parameters are stable then no I wouldn’t dose AFR, AFR is mainly to get your parameters back to where they started from, it is not designed to raise your parameters, just add back what your corals use, though it does also contain trace elements but if you keep up with water changes and your tank isn’t using a lot then those water changes could be enough.

If you are happy with your stability then you don’t need AFR, if you feel your corals could do with a bit more colour or growth, you need to look at different products for that.

I have not tested every 24 hours or nothing, just once a week, and it’s normally several hours after a water change. I was just going off of the lowest test I had done in my history.

 

[Reef.]

I have not tested every 24 hours or nothing, just once a week, and it’s normally several hours after a water change. I was just going off of the lowest test I had done in my history.

You should really test the alk 24 hours apart at the same time of the day, see what you are using, it might surprise you.

You need to get your alk testing down to a fine art too, if using something like Salifert etc then one or two drops makes a big difference on the result.

 

[mrpontiac80]

You should really test the alk 24 hours apart at the same time of the day, see what you are using, it might surprise you.

You need to get your alk testing down to a fine art too, if using something like Salifert etc then one or two drops makes a big difference on the result.

I had been using Red Sea, but recently got a Hanna for alk. I was worried about the whole color change deal. Turns out the Hanna matched my Red Sea… but still way easier.