All For Reef DIY Kit

[Deej1534]

I am new to AFR but have a larger system so decided to go with the DIY version of AFR and have been following the BRS recommendations for mixing 1000 ml. They said you should use below:

140g Carbo calcium
12 g bio-magnesium
100 ml trace A
100 ml trace k 750 ml rodi water

I followed this formula and am using a auto mixer with different measuring devices and a scale to get everything pretty exact but seem to not be able to get the carbo-calcium and bio-magnesium to fully mix into the solution. There seems to be a lot of excess in the water. Is this pretty common or is the formula above wrong sod too high?

 

[Rocks reef]

I will let @Randy Holmes-Farley chime in on this one. He's the reef chemistry expert!

 

[Shirak]

Looks about right from what I remember. Had to warm and stir for a while…

I switched to the premixed powder once it was available. I think it was less expensive? Don’t know if it still is.

 

[areefer01]

I am new to AFR but have a larger system so decided to go with the DIY version of AFR and have been following the BRS recommendations for mixing 1000 ml. They said you should use below:

140g Carbo calcium
12 g bio-magnesium
100 ml trace A
100 ml trace k 750 ml rodi water

I followed this formula and am using a auto mixer with different measuring devices and a scale to get everything pretty exact but seem to not be able to get the carbo-calcium and bio-magnesium to fully mix into the solution. There seems to be a lot of excess in the water. Is this pretty common or is the formula above wrong sod too high?

You should look at the 1600 g powder version now as it will probably be cheaper. The DIY recipe lowered the cost pre-powder offering.

 

[Deej1534]

Looks about right from what I remember. Had to warm and stir for a while…

I switched to the premixed powder once it was available. I think it was less expensive? Don’t know if it still is.

Interesting I’ll have to look into the premix - I mean water is room temp and I let it mix on the stirrer for about an hour and still have a ton of excess when I moved it into the storage jug. Maybe not a ton but enough to see a presence of it at the bottom

 

[Deej1534]

I am new to AFR but have a larger system so decided to go with the DIY version of AFR and have been following the BRS recommendations for mixing 1000 ml. They said you should use below:

140g Carbo calcium
12 g bio-magnesium
100 ml trace A
100 ml trace k 750 ml rodi water

I followed this formula and am using a auto mixer with different measuring devices and a scale to get everything pretty exact but seem to not be able to get the carbo-calcium and bio-magnesium to fully mix into the solution. There seems to be a lot of excess in the water. Is this pretty common or is the formula above wrong sod too high?

You should look at the 1600 g powder version now as it will probably be cheaper. The DIY recipe lowered the cost pre-powder offering.

What the name of it? I’ll look it up and remember for the next purchase

 

[exnisstech]

I've never use the DIY version but more than once mixing the AFR powder I've had to add extra water before it would all dissolve. I measure correctly using a scale and the same beaker so I have no idea why but it's happened.

 

[areefer01]

What the name of it? I’ll look it up and remember for the next purchase

All For Reef - powder mix. It is the same.

The initial offering from Tropic Marin was in liquid form. A bit expensive and typically only recommended for small sized displays. The DIY recipe came out and a lot of us with medium to larger systems went with the DIY recipe as it was more economical. Tropic Marin somewhere along the line made it in powder form and ever since its release that is what most of us switched to.

1600 g makes 10 liters.

 

[areefer01]

I've never use the DIY version but more than once mixing the AFR powder I've had to add extra water before it would all dissolve. I measure correctly using a scale and the same beaker so I have no idea why but it's happened.

You are so fast! It is like playing a mini game of who can reply faster!!!

Kidding. Hope your day is well.

 

[Deej1534]

What the name of it? I’ll look it up and remember for the next purchase

All For Reef - powder mix. It is the same.

The initial offering from Tropic Marin was in liquid form. A bit expensive and typically only recommended for small sized displays. The DIY recipe came out and a lot of us with medium to larger systems went with the DIY recipe as it was more economical. Tropic Marin somewhere along the line made it in powder form and ever since its release that is what most of us switched to.

1600 g makes 10 liters.

Huh funny that is cheaper by like $20 maybe little more too. I will order this next time. Does this powder include everything or do I still order the trace elements

 

[exnisstech]

It all in one. I've been using it in my acro tank for over a year and am very happy with the results I'm seeing.

 

[Shirak]

You won’t go through the whole container of bio-mag using the diy recipe. Plus less containers etc. maybe that’s why the powder mix is cheaper?

 

[areefer01]

Huh funny that is cheaper by like $20 maybe little more too. I will order this next time. Does this powder include everything or do I still order the trace elements

I believe somewhere in the DIY thread they did a price breakdown. The DIY kit was closer to 110 USD if I remember correctly but don't hold me to that. Powder form in 1600g container is by far the cheapest option out there.

 

[Pod_01]

I am new to AFR but have a larger system so decided to go with the DIY version of AFR and have been following the BRS recommendations for mixing 1000 ml. They said you should use below:

140g Carbo calcium
12 g bio-magnesium
100 ml trace A
100 ml trace k 750 ml rodi water

I followed this formula and am using a auto mixer with different measuring devices and a scale to get everything pretty exact but seem to not be able to get the carbo-calcium and bio-magnesium to fully mix into the solution. There seems to be a lot of excess in the water. Is this pretty common or is the formula above wrong sod too high?

Just make sure the final mix is 1000ml so you may need to add some RODI at the end.

Also magnetic stirrer works wonders…

I use something like this:

 

[Deej1534]

I am new to AFR but have a larger system so decided to go with the DIY version of AFR and have been following the BRS recommendations for mixing 1000 ml. They said you should use below:

140g Carbo calcium
12 g bio-magnesium
100 ml trace A
100 ml trace k 750 ml rodi water

I followed this formula and am using a auto mixer with different measuring devices and a scale to get everything pretty exact but seem to not be able to get the carbo-calcium and bio-magnesium to fully mix into the solution. There seems to be a lot of excess in the water. Is this pretty common or is the formula above wrong sod too high?

Just make sure the final mix is 1000ml so you may need to add some RODI at the end.

Also magnetic stirrer works wonders…

I use something like this:

I use one of these too it’s a game changer. I would never have gone with this option without it haha. I may need to upgrade my scale to be able to read tenths of a gram and that may help me make things more exact. I did realize when I just slowed down the whole process a lot and took my time added the mixtures it worked a lot better. It took about an hour to make 1000 ml but the solution was almost perfectly mixed.

 

[Deej1534]

Is everyone sending off their water for icp tests or just sorta winging it? Also if you are sending it off who are you sending it to? Also haven’t done one of these lol