All for reef or esv b-ionic - questions

[offthehook]

Original tank was set up a few months then last Monday transferred it all to another tank. So pretty much had a 50% water change. I use aqua forest salt. The LFS that did the transfer uses tropic marine (not that it matters but wanted to mention in case anyone feels that is needed.
A week after the transfer from a 33 to a 66 total gallon system my numbers are as follows
Mag 1260
All 7.3
Calcium 430
I usually do a weekly water change but since we doubled the water volume on Monday I figured I’d wait until next week.

I think my alk and mag is a tad low but I’d like to start dosing as I have 4 or 5 decent size lps and a few easy to keep sps
Was thinking to start all for reef to maintain or I also have the esv b-ionic 2 part (need to pick up magnesium if I use this)

I like the simplicity of all for reef and I will mainly keep softies and LPS. My worry with all for reef is I don’t neccesairiky want my calcium to increase as I have read that some folks experience high calcium numbers when dosing recommended dose. Id like to maintain for now as everything look good, torches, hammers, gonis, Duncan’s are all fully extended and the digitata has nice polyp extension. So I guess im saying all this to ask is the starting dose of 5ml per 25 gallons to maintain the numbers?

Thanks for your help. It’s been many years since I’ve dosed and used c balance back then.

 

[rtparty]

Use the AFR for daily dosing. I doubt you will need the 5ml per 25 gallon recommendation. Start with 5ml total and test after 3 days. If alkalinity rises, back off to 4ml a day.

Calcium will stay in check so long as you keep up water changes.

If you have the ESV, use that for any adjustments that you might need

 

[BriDroid]

I’ve been very happy with all for reef. I dose way more than the “recommended max dose” due to a heavy coral load. I dose to keep alkalinity stable and my calcium and magnesium fall right inline according to ICP tests.

 

[offthehook]

Use the AFR for daily dosing. I doubt you will need the 5ml per 25 gallon recommendation. Start with 5ml total and test after 3 days. If alkalinity rises, back off to 4ml a day.

Calcium will stay in check so long as you keep up water changes.

If you have the ESV, use that for any adjustments that you might need

Thanks starting at 5ml total sounds like a plan . I’ll retest in a few days and resume my weekly water changes this Friday

I’ve been very happy with all for reef. I dose way more than the “recommended max dose” due to a heavy coral load. I dose to keep alkalinity stable and my calcium and magnesium fall right inline according to ICP tests.

Thanks! Gonna try 5ml total daily and retest in a few days. The salifert test are sometimes hard to read are the icp test expensive and do you get one test per purchase?

 

[exnisstech]

I've used both and still do. I use AFR on my SPS tank of approx 65g total. I do minimal WCs on it, never more than 2g every two weeks to vacuum detritus. I've been using it over 2 years and have not had my calcium climb like some report so maybe those small changes are enough. I've always just dosed to keep alk at my target of 8-9 dkH and tweak as needed when consumption increases. For starting dose I've never used a recommended amount per water volume, I always calculate alk consumption and dose to keep that within my target range.
January 2024 my calcium was 430. October 2025 425. I don't test calcium often and never test mag.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’d ignore the magnesium as testing for it is too error prone.

 

[offthehook]

I’d ignore the magnesium as testing for it is too error prone.

Thank you, if I don’t test for it I assume I wouldn’t need to add any either and let calcium and Alk do their thing and it will fall into place?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you, if I don’t test for it I assume I wouldn’t need to add any either and let calcium and Alk do their thing and it will fall into place?

I recommend adding it in proportion to calcium dosing:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/just-say-no-to-magnesium-testing-rmm-is-born.1017528/