All For Reef Precipitating at dosing line

[aaron186]

I’m having issues with all for reef that is dripped slowly (50ml) over the lighting period daily. I’ve been noticing lately that my line gets solid precipitation eventually partially blocking the tube over the course of a week or two. I knock it off and it works again but would prefer not to deal with that. The line is about 8 inches above the water line. Would ending the line in the tank be a bad idea? Any issues with doing that?

 

[Aaron75]

I submerge my dosing line for that exact reason

 

[Science/G]

I submerge my dosing line for that exact reason

Very smart. I thought there would be leakage.

 

[Science/G]

I just had a bit of a stressful situation last night. After adding eight beautiful little acro frags over the last week, I tested my alkalinity and it had dropped from 8 to 6.6. I hadn't cleaned the AFR dosing pump line in ages, and it was completely plugged up. No All for Reef was flowing into the tank for what I can assume is a couple of days. Needless to say last night I spent about an hour cleaning up my dosing pump and lines. I managed to get the alkalinity up to 7.3 this morning, so slowly but surely I'm getting back to normal. I am going to keep testing though. I think with a line unclogged I'm going to be adding more all for Reef than I was. The last thing I want right now is an alkalinity spike.

 

[Kingsley_Reef]

I’ve seen others on here place the AFR line in a large tube with their ATO line so the ATO “rinses” the AFR line

 

[dwest]

I use soda ash for alkalinity. It clogs up too. For the past 5 or so years I have teed my alkalinity and ATO lines together. No more clogs.

 

[Pistondog]

I just had a bit of a stressful situation last night. After adding eight beautiful little acro frags over the last week, I tested my alkalinity and it had dropped from 8 to 6.6. I hadn't cleaned the AFR dosing pump line in ages, and it was completely plugged up. No All for Reef was flowing into the tank for what I can assume is a couple of days. Needless to say last night I spent about an hour cleaning up my dosing pump and lines. I managed to get the alkalinity up to 7.3 this morning, so slowly but surely I'm getting back to normal. I am going to keep testing though. I think with a line unclogged I'm going to be adding more all for Reef than I was. The last thing I want right now is an alkalinity spike.

I always leave the alk dose alone and add a little baking soda.
A little each day for a couple of days in your case.
Raising 0.3 to 0.5 dkh with baking soda is apparently safe, ime.

 

[Kingsley_Reef]

I always leave the alk dose alone and add a little baking soda.
A little each day for a couple of days in your case.
Raising 0.3 to 0.5 dkh with baking soda is apparently safe, ime.

I have used baking soda solution to make corrections also never had a issue I never correct over 1dkh per day though

 

[aaron186]

I use soda ash for alkalinity. It clogs up too. For the past 5 or so years I have teed my alkalinity and ATO lines together. No more clogs.

Interesting. What are you using to do this?

 

[aaron186]

I’ve seen others on here place the AFR line in a large tube with their ATO line so the ATO “rinses” the AFR line

This is a good idea. The only problem is that I use the apex ATO that has a float switch built in as a backup. I think I would probably lose this feature if it did something like that

 

[Kingsley_Reef]

This is a good idea. The only problem is that I use the apex ATO that has a float switch built in as a backup. I think I would probably lose this feature if it did something like that

I use a float valve also but just gravity from my ATO not using the Neptune optical sensors my solution was a Neptune pmup with smal piece tubing that I have programmed to turn on when the dos kicks on and run for 30 mins it sprays my dosing lines and help create greater flow in my return section keeps the lines clean

 

[exnisstech]

I use AFR and just reach in a rub the end the dosing tube between my thumb and forefinger every couple of days. Been working fine doing that for over a year. I suppose if you travel maybe a Y fitting shared between AFR and ATO water would work to keep it clear. Its what I plan to do but just haven't bothered.

 

[aaron186]

I submerge my dosing line for that exact reason

Do you have issues doing this? I assume there’s no risk of it clogging in the water?

 

[Aaron75]

Do you have issues doing this? I assume there’s no risk of it clogging in the water?

No issues at all. I only submerge it about 1 inch just to keep the tip clean.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’d be interested to know if that works long term. Precipitation of calcium carbonate in it seems a possible concern to me, in addition to possible siphoning concerns depending on the setup.

 

[Bartanto]

I buried my dosing lines under the return water level. Been a year. No big deal….and long as the peristaltic pumps don’t let me down….

 

[Aaron75]

I’d be interested to know if that works long term. Precipitation of calcium carbonate in it seems a possible concern to me, in addition to possible siphoning concerns depending on the setup.

I've been doing it for about a year. I assume a siphon doesn't occur because i think the doser holds pressure

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok, sounds good.

 

[Garf]

I assume a siphon doesn't occur because i think the doser holds pressure

Most of the time, yes, lol. Not an option I would choose to be honest. Have you at least a plastic one way valve setup, to stem/slow the possible reverse flow, if the dosing container is below the water level?

 

[Aaron75]

Most of the time, yes, lol. Not an option I would choose to be honest. Have you at least a plastic one way valve setup, to stem/slow the possible reverse flow, if the dosing container is below the water level?

No, i hadn't put in any failsafes. Never really thought about it, i guess luckily i didn't get burned by it. I'll be breaking that tank down in hopefully a month so I'll consider that for any future setups.