Trying out Aquaforest... Low pH

[d2mini]

This weekend I disconnected my calcium reactor and trying out the AF 1+ 2+ 3+ and I'm surprised to see that my pH is the same range throughout the day as it was when running the CaRx. As low as 7.6 in the morning and doesn't even hit 8.0 in the evening.

120g + sump/fuge. I started off with a low dose but I'm up to 240 ml per day now of each element.

Normal?

 

[drawman]

I could totally be wrong but I believe they use sodium bicarbonate so it won't have the pH increasing effects of sodium carbonate

 

[d2mini]

I could totally be wrong but I believe they use sodium bicarbonate so it won't have the pH increasing effects of sodium carbonate

Ah ok, gotcha.
I've used carbonate in the past (soda ash) to help keep ph elevated but does bicarbonate lower it like c02 does?
AF might not be for me then.

 

[Sabellafella]

Ah ok, gotcha.
I've used carbonate in the past (soda ash) to help keep ph elevated but does bicarbonate lower it like c02 does?
AF might not be for me then.

I believe the ph of bicarbonate hovers around 8.

 

[jsker]

Which salt are you using? Are you using the pre mix or mix your own?

 

[d2mini]

Which salt are you using? Are you using the pre mix or mix your own?

Pre-mixed
Aquavitro Salinity salt

 

[jsker]

Pre-mixed
Aquavitro Salinity salt

I have been using the 1+2+3+ for about 2.75 years with great results. I mix my own according the the Aquaforest recipe and save up to %70 over the premixed my PH ranges for 7.4 to 8 and averages around 7.9 daily or higher depending on the time of the year.
I use the Aquaforest reefsalt

 

[d2mini]

I have been using the 1+2+3+ for about 2.75 years with great results. I mix my own according the the Aquaforest recipe and save up to %70 over the premixed my PH ranges for 7.4 to 8 and averages around 7.9 daily or higher depending on the time of the year.
I use the Aquaforest reefsalt

So yours goes as low as 7.4? No issues?

I may look into mixing it myself if I stick with it.

 

[d2mini]

@jsker I was looking into mixing this myself. Am i correct in that the only thing that has changed with the newer mixing instructions is that you are now mixing the Mg flakes in bottle #3 instead of #1 along with the calcium?

My Alk is currently steady at 7.5 and seeing daily pH ranges of around 7.6 - 7.9.

 

[Velcro]

Dennis,
Randy's new sodium hydroxide formula has an even stronger pH effect than soda ash. He said that it gives the same pH increase as fully saturated kalkwasser on a unit-to-unit basis of alk. Meaning if you were to add enough kalk to increase your dKH by 1 it would be the same pH bump if you added enough sodium hydroxide to increase the dKH by 1.

 

[Peter K]

I’ve been using aqua forest on a 210g system for about 8 months and have had great results, however, I’m doing the opposite of you and switching to a calcium factor. Aqua forest is great, however, with the amount I was having to dose for a sps dom tank I was spending over $100-120 a month on additives. If your budget allows this, then you’ll be happy with 1/2/3+ but Randy’s new solution might be more effective in solving your ph problem.

 

[jsker]

@jsker I was looking into mixing this myself. Am i correct in that the only thing that has changed with the newer mixing instructions is that you are now mixing the Mg flakes in bottle #3 instead of #1 along with the calcium?

My Alk is currently steady at 7.5 and seeing daily pH ranges of around 7.6 - 7.9.

Yes

If you so desire you can use the calculators on Aquaforest to dose up to your desired numbers until the Alk, Ca, and Mg are balanced

I do not know if I stated this before, but get the alk were you would like it before Ca +1 and Mg +3 are balanced. I like the new recipe for the reason that is is easier to balance you the parameters.

 

[jsker]

@d2mini I forgot to link the calculator link

 

[d2mini]

I’ve been using aqua forest on a 210g system for about 8 months and have had great results, however, I’m doing the opposite of you and switching to a calcium factor. Aqua forest is great, however, with the amount I was having to dose for a sps dom tank I was spending over $100-120 a month on additives. If your budget allows this, then you’ll be happy with 1/2/3+ but Randy’s new solution might be more effective in solving your ph problem.

Yeah, I tried out the liquids first and my 120g would suck up the entire jugs in two weeks, making it the same $120/month. So going to try out mixing my own now.
I can always try randy's mix to replace just the dry kh buffer, correct? Keep the rest of the AF recipe the same?

 

[jsker]

I’ve been using aqua forest on a 210g system for about 8 months and have had great results, however, I’m doing the opposite of you and switching to a calcium factor. Aqua forest is great, however, with the amount I was having to dose for a sps dom tank I was spending over $100-120 a month on additives. If your budget allows this, then you’ll be happy with 1/2/3+ but Randy’s new solution might be more effective in solving your ph problem.

Were you using the pre mix or the mix your own?

 

[d2mini]

Yes

If you so desire you can use the calculators on Aquaforest to dose up to your desired numbers until the Alk, Ca, and Mg are balanced

I do not know if I stated this before, but get the alk were you would like it before Ca +1 and Mg +3 are balanced. I like the new recipe for the reason that is is easier to balance you the parameters.

Yeah, anywhere in the 7.5-8.5 is fine with me.
I'm running low on liquids and waiting for my dry mixes to come in so I'll leave it there for now and bump up to 8 dkh later.
Thanks for the link.

 

[jsker]

Yeah, anywhere in the 7.5-8.5 is fine with me.
I'm running low on liquids and waiting for my dry mixes to come in so I'll leave it there for now and bump up to 8 dkh later.
Thanks for the link.

Your welcome

I have had low PH issue for over a year. I am using the Apex probe for the reading. As time has gone be I am not relying on the probe reading, have purchased have purchased a digital salinity refractometer and I am going to purchase a PH read also to see what me real reading are. I have tried to calibrate the Neptune classic to no avail.

 

[d2mini]

Your welcome

I have had low PH issue for over a year. I am using the Apex probe for the reading. As time has gone be I am not relying on the probe reading, have purchased have purchased a digital salinity refractometer and I am going to purchase a PH read also to see what me real reading are. I have tried to calibrate the Neptune classic to no avail.

Interesting.... i run GHL but last time my ph probe died and I needed one stat, I grabbed an Apex at my LFS. Maybe I should try the one from my CaRx.
But my tank always has low ph.
My GHL conductivity probe seems to be accurate compared to my refractometer.

 

[Saltyanimals]

I also switched to AF123 just today. Making me a bit nervous because I'm doing a reefer no-no with making a major change before leaving town on Monday for a week. I just didn't have any more of the BRS stuff to refill and AF123 been sitting in a corner waiting for the switch. Took the plunge by going conservative. Worst case my Alk will drift down a bit while I'm away, but hoping I have now 4 days to tune a little.

The portions are a bit odd too for me assuming I following the instructions and dose equally. I was going through 192ml ALK daily, but now doing only 72ml AF equally. That's significantly less. And I'm in a 75G total volume. No previous issue with Ph ranging 8.1 - 8.3 steady throughout the day/night previously. Crossing fingers!

 

[Peter K]

Were you using the pre mix or the mix your own?

I was using the premix, mixing your own is definitely a more cost effective route to take.