What salt mix to use with All-For-Reef?

[HARRISE]

Hello,

I am looking to start dosing with all-for-reef from Tropic Marin. I started my reef tank a little over a year ago with red seas black bucket and about 6 months in switched to the blue bucket because I didn't like where it was putting my ALK (way too high). Now that I have upgraded to an 80 gallon and increased the number of corals in the water, I'm looking to prepare for my new dosing needs. For the ease of use and minor elements appeal I'm looking at using all for reef... but am now thinking this might be a good time to switch to tropic Marin pro-reef salt. Rumor has it though combining their salt with their all for reef dosing makes the minor elements too high. Should I stick with the red sea blue bucket or make the switch???

Some more background information:
I am planning on using an automatic water change system to do about 3gallon a day.
Currently have to use a PH buffer to maintain 8.2
Do not test very frequently but thinking about getting a Trident because I have an Apex... so that might change.

First time posting so I attached some pictures of my setup currently.

 

[lapin]

I would do exactly the same in your new tank. If you find an issue then fix it. 2 tanks can be totally different animals.

 

[Corgigirl]

My tank is up and running 6 months now....for the last 4 months or so I’ve been using Tropic Marin salt and All-for-Reef supplement. So far, the tank seems pretty happy with this set up . Alk consistently hovers around 9.0 +/- 0.4. pH stays steady around 8.2-8.3.
I test the water frequently, 10-15 gallon water changes weekly still, and all my corals are thriving. I may have gone a bit overboard on SPS’s in a tank this young (dang these R2R live sales) but for now it seems to be working.

 

[Schweezy]

You can use any salt mix TBH. All for Reef is dosed based on dKH measurements.

 

[HARRISE]

Thanks for the input everyone, I am considering staying with the red sea salt just because my LFS sells it and thus makes it easy to get ahold of. Although @Corgigirl it does seem to be working great in your setup! What size tank are you running/what's the total water volume and how much are you dosing daily?

 

[Corgigirl]

Thanks for the input everyone, I am considering staying with the red sea salt just because my LFS sells it and thus makes it easy to get ahold of. Although @Corgigirl it does seem to be working great in your setup! What size tank are you running/what's the total water volume and how much are you dosing daily?

I have a 69 gallon RedSea Max e260 It’s an AIO so no sump, but I’m toying around with adding one to get more volume. Of course, I’m also considering an upgrade to a 5’ tank...lol.
I dose 20-25mls daily and it keeps my levels pretty consistent. I’ve been really pleased with coral growth.
I mixed fresh saltwater yesterday and tested alk, it was 6.7 with SG at 1.026. Right after a 15 gallon water change it was 8.6, back up to 8.8 today. I imagine All-for-Reef would work as well it’s Red Sea salt as long as it’s not the pro
Here’s a pic of that Walt Disney when I got it...freshly fragged and mounted Oct. 30th. It took a few weeks to show any growth, but Happily encrusting and growing now .

 

[hamzamal12]

I have a 69 gallon RedSea Max e260 It’s an AIO so no sump, but I’m toying around with adding one to get more volume. Of course, I’m also considering an upgrade to a 5’ tank...lol.
I dose 20-25mls daily and it keeps my levels pretty consistent. I’ve been really pleased with coral growth.
I mixed fresh saltwater yesterday and tested alk, it was 6.7 with SG at 1.026. Right after a 15 gallon water change it was 8.6, back up to 8.8 today. I imagine All-for-Reef would work as well it’s Red Sea salt as long as it’s not the pro
Here’s a pic of that Walt Disney when I got it...freshly fragged and mounted Oct. 30th. It took a few weeks to show any growth, but Happily encrusting and growing now .

Hi sorry just to go over what you said, because i currently use red sea salt mix saltwater from my lfs, thinking to switch to all for reef. Are you doing the same and would the combination of them cause an issue?

 

[Muffin87]

I test the water frequently

I really need your advice then! I've wanted to try all-for-reef, but the website itself says you often can't measure increases in alkalinity or calcium (I've quoted the relevant bits below for you).
Did you find that you could detect an increase in alkalinity when you upped your dosage?
I'm a bit scared that I may up my dosage, then not detect an increase, and be tempted to dose more than I need to.

Thanks a lot!

“why can't I measure an increase in Ca and Alkalinity after dosing Carbo-Calcium or All-For-Reef in my aquarium?”
Carbo-Calcium and All-For-Reef are extremely effective for “maintaining” the levels of calcium and alkalinity in reef aquariums and somewhat less effective at “raising” those levels to desired concentrations. [...]
After dosing, the Carbo-Calcium is present in the water column in a form that cannot yet be measured (by common tests at home) and is only broken down in response to the metabolic demands of the corals. [....] the resulting changes in water parameters are so small they are often undetectable.
[...] These supplied compounds “bypass” a stage where they can be detected in the water column and are taken up by the coral polyps directly.