Tanks based on Aquaforest Products:

[Matthias7]

I just pulled the trigger on my af products. Does anyone how comparable it is to dose +1,+2,+3 with the af products vs 2 part. I'm just wondering if I will be dosing in similiar amounts

 

[Anirban]

Update with concerns.. i started with the reef salt last Friday and dose the coral A, coral V, AF build, AF energy.. all as directions one drop to 27gal every other day. I also use the fish V, phyto mix and coral food as directed. I set up a schedule to dose at night but i dont add every thing i only do a couple each night and then alternate.
So my problem is i seam to be building algy, looks like diatoms. Should i just feed the tank every other day until this all works out?

Are you moving from another system or its a new build? Stop dosing the amino and half dose all other food material. Your system already has enough nutrient and you need the probiotic bacteria to populate first before they take down the nutrient level.

 

[Anirban]

I just pulled the trigger on my af products. Does anyone how comparable it is to dose +1,+2,+3 with the af products vs 2 part. I'm just wondering if I will be dosing in similiar amounts

They are different and you will need to play a bit with the doses.

 

[Tbabcock]

My system was 8 month old so its not brand new and all i did in the past was water changes and use IO reef crystals. I wanted to to start the AF program because i was advancing into more coral as well as getting into some SPS so i knew it was just a matter of time before water changes were no longer going to cut it. So it sounds to me like i have enriched my nutrient levels and need to lay off this stuff. How will i know when the probiotic levels are up?
I run GFO and Carbon in separate reactors as well and haven't started the 1+2+3+ yet because my system was balanced and had not fluctuated much at this point.

 

[Tbabcock]

This is where i was just this past Friday and i know the calcium is a little low but i think it was my error on the test.

 

[chrfrancis]

So I am interested in starting on the Aquaforest Program and need some opinions.

My tank is roughly 5 months old 90 Gallon tank with a 30 gallon sump, mostly soft coral and LPS etc. Would you recommend running the Zeo Mix in a reactor along with ProBio S and -NP Pro? And if so, what other items should I be dosing from the Aquaforest line?

I was assuming that I should also pick up

Ca Plus
Mg Plus
Kh Plus
Component A
Component B
Component C

 

[Anirban]

So I am interested in starting on the Aquaforest Program and need some opinions.

My tank is roughly 5 months old 90 Gallon tank with a 30 gallon sump, mostly soft coral and LPS etc. Would you recommend running the Zeo Mix in a reactor along with ProBio S and -NP Pro? And if so, what other items should I be dosing from the Aquaforest line?

I was assuming that I should also pick up

Ca Plus
Mg Plus
Kh Plus
Component A
Component B
Component C

I would say go with reef salt, Pro Bio S and NP pro to start with. You can use zeo, phosminus and carbon in a single chamber. Wait for sometime and when needed start dosing 1+2+3 components. After the system stabilize you can start adding vitamin and amino.

 

[120reefkeeper]

Here is the Aquaforest guide . It will help you choose the right setup for you!

 

[chrfrancis]

Here is the Aquaforest guide . It will help you choose the right setup for you!

I have definitely looked at the guide! I guess my main question is if I should deviate from that if I want to use a reactor with zeo mix since the zeo mix isn't really shown in any of the tank combinations in the guide.

 

[Anirban]

I have definitely looked at the guide! I guess my main question is if I should deviate from that if I want to use a reactor with zeo mix since the zeo mix isn't really shown in any of the tank combinations in the guide.

Yes you can..

 

[Matthias7]

Well I pulled the trigger and my af stuff is in the way(took advantage of a 15% off deal at fosters and smith). I have a well established mixed reef, should I run the zeomix right off the bat? I currently have 0 phosphates and 0 nitrates

 

[Perry]

If you are currently running low nutrients, then maybe no need for Zeo Mix. It may just pull you too low and cause more problems then it is worth. The Zeo Mix is best employed in systems with heavy bioload, like mine, 60 acros, mostly colonies, and 14 fish in a 120 gallon reef, fed at least 3 times per day with frozen high quality food. My system still runs low in nutrients, 2.5ppm NO3 and 0.00 PO4. I use siporax, matrix, and Zeo Mix as extended biological surface area for bacteria to grow. Pro Bio S and NP Pro along side of Probiotic Reef Salt help to keep this environment low, along side my beast of a skimmer

 

[jsker]

Mixed up my first batch of 1+2+3+. Ended up converting the grams to ounces when weighing for the reason that the amount in grams huge. Everything mixed easily. One other thought is my system uses more Mg then Ca. I can now fix that buy mixing a tad more Mg with the 1+ instead of dosing Mg separate.

 

[Perry]

Mixed up my first batch of 1+2+3+. Ended up converting the grams to ounces when weighing for the reason that the amount in grams huge. Everything mixed easily. One other thought is my system uses more Mg then Ca. I can now fix that buy mixing a tad more Mg with the 1+ instead of dosing Mg separate.

Yes more controllable indeed, I recently added CA Plus, and MG Plus along side dosing Component 123, as it turns out, both my test kits were almost done, and close to expiration. I had this happen before with Salifert, and it happened with both Ca and Mg this time. I dosed with low test readings, then added more when I did not see the test change, added more. I finally ordered new test kits, they arrived, and 480 Ca and 1540 Mg. So I am doing the opposite, I am mixing less of both in my next batch, they way they can both fall, gradually. I figure in a month I should have both in proper range, then just return to normal mixing, based on the recipe

 

[jsker]

Yes more controllable indeed, I recently added CA Plus, and MG Plus along side dosing Component 123, as it turns out, both my test kits were almost done, and close to expiration. I had this happen before with Salifert, and it happened with both Ca and Mg this time. I dosed with low test readings, then added more when I did not see the test change, added more. I finally ordered new test kits, they arrived, and 480 Ca and 1540 Mg. So I am doing the opposite, I am mixing less of both in my next batch, they way they can both fall, gradually. I figure in a month I should have both in proper range, then just return to normal mixing, based on the recipe

Thank you again @Perry for the recipe. Now if I did my conversions correctly the savings is even more than I thought. For Members with large systems, mixing there own makes it so much easier and cost effective to go the way of Balling Method using the AF products.

 

[Matthias7]

So if I'm already a ULNS do I need to raise nitrates and phosphates prior to using np pro and pro bio s?

 

[Perry]

This depends on how you achieved low nutrients. The system is designed to build a bacteria field that helps to remove N&P, bacteria does take time to seed, whether on live rock or media such as siporax, matrix, or blocks. This eventually becomes the breakdown for rapid removal, siporax is very efficient. Soon, we will see AF new version of Life Bio Fil, this will be a media that is similar to siporax or matrix, but seeded with bacteria straight from the container, so no seeding time needed. I plan on adding this to my system as well, in addition to 4 liters of matrix and 2 liters of siporax. There is a good chance that I will pull the matrix and put AF Life Bio Fil in it's place, still waiting on it to get here, should be soon This control ability of nutrients allows for heavy feeding, so to maintain low nutrients, but to be able to have a huge fish population that is well fed is Utopia for SPS tanks, that which I hope to ultimately achieve, I feel I am close I also use the stack method for nutrient control as well, this includes one fluidized reactor, I use a vertex zeolite 1.5 liter reactor myself. In the reactor you place AF Zeo Mix in the bottom, then put AF Carbon on top of that, then I use a sponge in between AF Carbon and place on top of it, AF Phosphate Minus. This also helps in rapid removal of ammonia, which helps to break down the nitrification cycle, so low nitrates can be achieved. Phosphate is maintained low through use of Phosphate Minus, and AF Carbon to clarify the water and remove unwanted chemicals. So many ways to run our tanks, I have personally seen colors that I have not seen in 10+ years with sps Cheers!

 

[Perry]

Oh,
NP Pro and Pro Bio S are used in conjunction to maintain bacteria and to feed the bacteria, a maintenance program if you will for the above medias

 

[Matthias7]

My nutrients are controlled via a decent sized refugium,daily automated water changes, and a large skimmer. I am surprised that they are so low really. Currently not using ant gfo or carbon

 

[Branespikin]

I am going to place my order tonight for AF products. I already got the reefsalt so i can start with water tomorrow. Its a brand new tank. I am mostly an LPS guy. Plan on adding some SPS for first time in this tank too. Nothing craxy just a few. What would you guys reccommend i start my tank with and how to continue using in future. I have reefer 250 which is 65g total volume. I want to order everything tonight.
Also this will be my first time cycling tank. My last tank was already established so i just did a transfer.