Adding more A & K to AFR?

[rishma]

Just thinking ahead as I bought my first ICP-MS oceamo test. I have not sent it in for results.

Can you add additional Tropic Marin A and K to all-for-reef without precipitation issues?

I currently dose about half my alkalinity from kalkwasser and the other half from AFR. The downside to this is I’m not getting the full dose of trace from AFR. In the event I want to dose more trace I am looking at options. Here are the one that can work for my setup.

Shift a higher proportion of alk from AFR

or

Add additional A & K to AFR if that works chemically

Thoughts?

 

[bubbgee]

Here's the DIY recipe for AFR I stumbled on earlier today.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-all-for-reef.703499/
Maybe it'll give you an idea on how to proceed?

 

[bubbgee]

I was debating to go with A and K but ended up going the moonshiner's route. I just bought the traces I am lacking. I hope to get some coloration and growth going after removing excess zinc and aluminum with metasorb.

 

[rishma]

I was debating to go with A and K but ended up going the moonshiner's route. I just bought the traces I am lacking. I hope to get some coloration and growth going after removing excess zinc and aluminum with metasorb.

The simpler trace addition works well for me. I have to have everything in dosing pumps, so the more intricate moonshiner approach would not be an option. I bet your results are good!

I’ve had elevated zinc forever, but haven’t worried about it.

 

[bubbgee]

The simpler trace addition works well for me. I have to have everything in dosing pumps, so the more intricate moonshiner approach would not be an option. I bet your results are good!

I’ve had elevated zinc forever, but haven’t worried about it.

I haven't had significant growth with some of the acros and its around 400% because of a rusted nut I found in the tank that's possibly been there a few months.

 

[rishma]

Mine is 300% of normal. Seems to come from my RODI though I’m not sure why.

 

[Koty]

Just thinking ahead as I bought my first ICP-MS oceamo test. I have not sent it in for results.

Can you add additional Tropic Marin A and K to all-for-reef without precipitation issues?

I currently dose about half my alkalinity from kalkwasser and the other half from AFR. The downside to this is I’m not getting the full dose of trace from AFR. In the event I want to dose more trace I am looking at options. Here are the one that can work for my setup.

Shift a higher proportion of alk from AFR

or

Add additional A & K to AFR if that works chemically

Thoughts?

IME, I am not sure the full dose is that important. I dose TM A & K and use half of what they recommend. I also have a Chaeto refuge that consumes a portion of these trace mixes. I dose TM Balling with the A & K, and I have been doing it for about 3 years.

 

[rishma]

Right! I may find that my half dose is enough.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just thinking ahead as I bought my first ICP-MS oceamo test. I have not sent it in for results.

Can you add additional Tropic Marin A and K to all-for-reef without precipitation issues?

I currently dose about half my alkalinity from kalkwasser and the other half from AFR. The downside to this is I’m not getting the full dose of trace from AFR. In the event I want to dose more trace I am looking at options. Here are the one that can work for my setup.

Shift a higher proportion of alk from AFR

or

Add additional A & K to AFR if that works chemically

Thoughts?

I think that’s a good plan. :)

 

[rishma]

I suppose I can try to add A and K to some AFR and look for precipitates.

What do you expect?

 

[Pod_01]

Going by memory when I asked this particular question the reply was you can add up to 100ml of A and 100 ml of K into AFR per 1000ml of AFR. Potency is impacted. When I used to add extra A and K I was mixing the DYI recipe so I was able to maintain the potency.

But it was highly recommended to keep the extra addition below 50ml and to use ICP to ensure there is no unwanted accumulation of trace elements.

Depending on your AFR dose you may be on the upper limit of A and K recommendation so do be careful.
My experience with trace elements tells me less is more…

Hopefully @Hans-Werner can provide better information/ guidance.

Good luck,

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I suppose I can try to add A and K to some AFR and look for precipitates.

What do you expect?

I don't expect anything to happen unless you really add a lot. The only way that would be likely is if TM uses different chemical forms in AFR and A/K.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

But it was highly recommended to keep the extra addition below 50ml and to use ICP to ensure there is no unwanted accumulation of trace elements.

I don't actually see how that's any concern. He's just replacing one alk source (formate) for an equal amount of another (hydroxide).