Switch salt or dose?

Propane · Jul 2, 2023

Started dosing 2 mls a day of AFR consistently the 15th of June and my numbers are what you see below as of today. I started dosing because alk was at 6.8,mag was 1200 and ca. was at 415. Most everything in the tank seems fine for now which is why I didn’t keep dosing more. What I’m wondering is should I switch from the RS blue to Red Sea coral pro doing 10% water changes to slowly bring numbers up and deal with future needs or should I start dosing alk with ca and alk with mag. instead? Or should I do nothing until something changes? There’s about 13 gallons of water.

My tanks parameters
CA. 415-420
MAG 1230-1250
NO3 8-10
PO4 .08-.10
ALK 7.4-7.6
Salinity 1.026

Salty_Northerner · Jul 2, 2023

I went off red sea black just because how high the alk was. I got alot of precipitation after following there directions. I've moved on away from RS all together.

Propane · Jul 2, 2023

fullinfusion said:
I went off red sea black just because how high the alk was. I got alot of precipitation after following there directions. I've moved on away from RS all together.

Good to know.

Propane · Jul 2, 2023

Could I keep dosing AFR and just dose ca. and mag?

Salty_Northerner · Jul 2, 2023

I was going to try the blue bucket but to black buckets were way off on every water change. That was even trying to mix the salt in the bag really good as well. I just couldn't deal with it anymore tbh.

Salty_Northerner · Jul 2, 2023

Propane said:
Could I keep dosing AFR and just dose ca. and mag?

Yes sir you can

Propane · Jul 2, 2023

fullinfusion said:
I was going to try the blue bucket but to black buckets were way off on every water change. That was even trying to mix the salt in the bag really good as well. I just couldn't deal with it anymore tbh.

I wonder if a lot of people experience this.

Salty_Northerner · Jul 2, 2023

AFR is good but you need to wait and watch the slow rise in the dkH. Once your where you want to be then I found AFR would maintain the perimeters way better but with WC it throw the dosing off

Salty_Northerner · Jul 2, 2023

Propane said:
Could I keep dosing AFR and just dose ca. and mag?

Dosing Cal with AFR you can test in like 30 min to see the change.. the alk you need to give a day at least to see measurable results.

Propane · Jul 2, 2023

I started dosing .5 mls a day more 2 days ago. Do you think I should see where that gets me before making any changes?

Salty_Northerner · Jul 2, 2023

I'd wait and check tomorrow and see where your levels are at. Can you dose just mag tonight?

Also another reason I ditched the black bucket was I wasn't able to use AFR as the dkh is like 12 + as is, and liked the results AFR gave me, but unfortunately with an alk that high it was useless to even think about even using it .. bring the mag up and that should help bring the rest up as well.

Salty_Northerner · Jul 2, 2023

Propane said:
I started dosing .5 mls a day more 2 days ago. Do you think I should see where that gets me before making any changes?

sorry miss read.. I see you said .5 more a day so 2.5 correct.

Propane · Jul 2, 2023

fullinfusion said:
I'd wait and check tomorrow and see where your levels are at. Can you dose just mag tonight?

Also another reason I ditched the black bucket was I wasn't able to use AFR as the dkh is like 12 + as is, and liked the results AFR gave me, but unfortunately with an alk that high it was useless to even think about even using it .. bring the mag up and that should help bring the rest up as well.

fullinfusion said:
.5 ml or 5 ml a day?

I can get mag tomorrow.
.5

Salty_Northerner · Jul 2, 2023

Mag will bring things up for ya for sure..what's your goal for mag?

Propane · Jul 2, 2023

fullinfusion said:
sorry miss read.. I see you said .5 more a day so 2.5 correct.

Correct on 2.5

Propane · Jul 2, 2023

fullinfusion said:
Mag will bring things up for ya for sure..what's your goal for mag?

Probably around 1300 or so. Definitely higher than it is now.

Salty_Northerner · Jul 2, 2023

Propane said:
Probably around 1300 or so. Definitely higher than it is now.

Yeah raising the mag will push the cal/alk scale up for sure. I was having good luck running 1400 plus and had higher cal and more stable alk over in-between WC'S

MrGisonni · Jul 4, 2023

I agree with everyone about the AFR. If you see any of the big three lagging behind, alk calcium or mag, dose that specific component to get it where you want. You can use other products, but being a tropic marin recipe, you should use Balling Part A, B or C to get where you want to be and the AFR will keep levels stable.

Propane · Jul 4, 2023

I got magnesium and started dosing. How soon can I see results with it. I usually do my testing in the morning and was wondering if I should see an increase at that time. I want to make sure it doesn’t come up too fast but want to maximize my dosing to safely make my goal.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 4, 2023

MrGisonni said:
I agree with everyone about the AFR. If you see any of the big three lagging behind, alk calcium or mag, dose that specific component to get it where you want. You can use other products, but being a tropic marin recipe, you should use Balling Part A, B or C to get where you want to be and the AFR will keep levels stable.

I don’t agree.

Parts A and B are ONLY calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate/carbonate. There is zero reason to use any specific brand just because you are using AFR.

There is also mi scenario where Part C is an appropriate additive for making a single ion correction.