Tropic Marin All for Reef

[kiMxD]

Hey all.

I am thinking to try All for Reef on one of my frag tanks and I'd like to know what are your impressions on this product? I see some reviews here and there, but I am not sure if it is reliable or should I use a different route...

So basically, what are your impressions in regards to:
1- Price -short and long term vs total system gallons (my frag tank is around 300g total)
2 - Reliability - does ti keep levels constant?
3 - Organics - I see it contains trace elements, have you stopped feeding corals because you were dosing AFR?

And basically wherever else you want to advise me about would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[LARedstickreefer]

I use it in my 43g system. It’s probably cost prohibitive once you get up to 75g or so. It works as advertised; alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium stay steady.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It’s a fine product to try. I don’t see it being better than other methods, but not clearly worse. Stability is in how you dose any product, not the product you choose to use.

 

[fermentedhiker]

I think it's fine for a softie tank, which is where I'm using it. Consumption in an SPS system would make it cost prohibitive. Although BRS published the recipe to make your own which drops the price some.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I use it as a supplement to my tropic Marin salt.
As randy stated, I cant say it has enhanced my tank, but nor has it had adverse effects. Thought i'd try it.

 

[Kjames]

Hey all.

I am thinking to try All for Reef on one of my frag tanks and I'd like to know what are your impressions on this product? I see some reviews here and there, but I am not sure if it is reliable or should I use a different route...

So basically, what are your impressions in regards to:
1- Price -short and long term vs total system gallons (my frag tank is around 300g total)
2 - Reliability - does ti keep levels constant?
3 - Organics - I see it contains trace elements, have you stopped feeding corals because you were dosing AFR?

And basically wherever else you want to advise me about would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

I've been using it for a few months. Very predictable and constant levels. Still dose aminos and feed corals. I'm at 90 gallons and think it will become a little too pricey after another 6 months of growth. I'm considering their Carbo Calcium dry product as an alternative. If I understand it correctly, you can mix it with some of their trace elements to create an (almost) complete one product solution at a fraction of the cost.

 

[LARedstickreefer]

I think it’s a great product for small tanks, like mine, and for beginners. Eventually your corals should really make it cost prohibitive.

 

[btmedic04]

Ive been using it for about a year now, initially with a nuvo 20 and now with my 40B mixed reef (47g total volume with sump.) Once I got my dose dialed it, my big 3 have been super stable but as others have said it is cost prohibitive on larger systems. Even in my system, I can only get about 40 days out of a single 1L bottle which has me considering switching to ATI essentials pro

 

[kiMxD]

Thanks for everyone's replies. At this point I am guessing that using something like BRS soda ash and calcium carbonate will be best? Certainly will be cheaper. I dose ESV Bionic on my 220g DT, and it's already becoming very costly as I need around 120ml/day. I keep SPS only and only, the frag tank won't be much different, so I guess even a normal starting dose of AFR will be expensive just because of the sheer volume of the tank, which is around 300ish gallons including my 75g sump.

@Randy Holmes-Farley and everyone else: what other method (excluding carlx) would you consider for this system?

Thank you all for the replies so far.

 

[kiMxD]

I've been using it for a few months. Very predictable and constant levels. Still dose aminos and feed corals. I'm at 90 gallons and think it will become a little too pricey after another 6 months of growth. I'm considering their Carbo Calcium dry product as an alternative. If I understand it correctly, you can mix it with some of their trace elements to create an (almost) complete one product solution at a fraction of the cost.

I thought about the carbocalcium, but will still be expensive apparently.

 

[fermentedhiker]

I'm trying something BRS suggested last year on my newer more sps dominant system. It doesn't have much for corals now so I haven't started dosing. I'll be dosing BRS two part and Tropic Marin part C(for trace), so three dosing heads used. Should be a pretty economical option.

Here's the recipe thread for DIY all for reef to give you an idea of the cost difference.

DIY All-For-Reef Recipe from Tropic Marin! Thanks Zack!

Did you know you could make your own Tropic Marin All-For-Reef....cheaper than the premixed solutions?? @Zack@BRS put together the list of ingredients and demonstrates how to mix your own All-For-Reef for a fraction of the cost and the BEST part is that it's scaleable! Make a little or make a...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[kiMxD]

I'm trying something BRS suggested last year on my newer more sps dominant system. It doesn't have much for corals now so I haven't started dosing. I'll be dosing BRS two part and Tropic Marin part C(for trace), so three dosing heads used. Should be a pretty economical option.

Here's the recipe thread for DIY all for reef to give you an idea of the cost difference.

DIY All-For-Reef Recipe from Tropic Marin! Thanks Zack!

Did you know you could make your own Tropic Marin All-For-Reef....cheaper than the premixed solutions?? @Zack@BRS put together the list of ingredients and demonstrates how to mix your own All-For-Reef for a fraction of the cost and the BEST part is that it's scaleable! Make a little or make a...

www.reef2reef.com

I ordered just a pound of each brs part and will try dosing that as well, I might get the parc C from Tropic Marin then and do the same as you. Good suggestion man. Thanks.

 

[fermentedhiker]

Here's the video I was referring to where they talk about using tropic marin part C with their 2 part.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for everyone's replies. At this point I am guessing that using something like BRS soda ash and calcium carbonate will be best? Certainly will be cheaper. I dose ESV Bionic on my 220g DT, and it's already becoming very costly as I need around 120ml/day. I keep SPS only and only, the frag tank won't be much different, so I guess even a normal starting dose of AFR will be expensive just because of the sheer volume of the tank, which is around 300ish gallons including my 75g sump.

@Randy Holmes-Farley and everyone else: what other method (excluding carlx) would you consider for this system?

Thank you all for the replies so far.

I would generally use a two part of some sort for any but the very largest systems.

 

[Miguel Negron]

All for reef is perfect for nanos. Currently I run a 20G mixed reef and dosing 4ml daily maintains my ALK above 8.5-9 and my CAL around 440-450. It’s super easy and I can results already!

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I'm trying something BRS suggested last year on my newer more sps dominant system. It doesn't have much for corals now so I haven't started dosing. I'll be dosing BRS two part and Tropic Marin part C(for trace), so three dosing heads used. Should be a pretty economical option.

Here's the recipe thread for DIY all for reef to give you an idea of the cost difference.

DIY All-For-Reef Recipe from Tropic Marin! Thanks Zack!

Did you know you could make your own Tropic Marin All-For-Reef....cheaper than the premixed solutions?? @Zack@BRS put together the list of ingredients and demonstrates how to mix your own All-For-Reef for a fraction of the cost and the BEST part is that it's scaleable! Make a little or make a...

www.reef2reef.com

Ahhhh, disappointed. I thought it was going to be instructional video going to the basic ingredients, but it was just how to use various Tropic Marin products to make hard to get Tropic Marin product.

Curious how its done - in regards to one solution for cal & alk (apart from Kalk) cause when you mix a solution of calcium chloride with a solution of sodium bi-carbonate it precipitates.

Randy would know of course.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

All in one products are generally calcium acetate or calcium formate. Usually with other stuff such as magnesium. The acetate or formate is consumed by bacteria or other organisms to boost bicarbonate.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

All in one products are generally calcium acetate or calcium formate. Usually with other stuff such as magnesium. The acetate or formate is consumed by bacteria or other organisms to boost bicarbonate.

Thank Randy

 

[Scrubber_steve]

All in one products are generally calcium acetate or calcium formate. Usually with other stuff such as magnesium. The acetate or formate is consumed by bacteria or other organisms to boost bicarbonate.

Are there any advantages to using the above type of all in one over Kalkwasser ???

 

[andrew.jones50]

Hey all.

I am thinking to try All for Reef on one of my frag tanks and I'd like to know what are your impressions on this product? I see some reviews here and there, but I am not sure if it is reliable or should I use a different route...

So basically, what are your impressions in regards to:
1- Price -short and long term vs total system gallons (my frag tank is around 300g total)
2 - Reliability - does ti keep levels constant?
3 - Organics - I see it contains trace elements, have you stopped feeding corals because you were dosing AFR?

And basically wherever else you want to advise me about would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

It’s dope, and it’s cheap. I was skeptical when I tried it on my SPS dom 45g, but my alk has remained stable, the colors on my corals are nice (possibly even improved), and I’m now on my 2nd 1000ml bottle.