All for Reef Users: How much does your tank use?

[exnisstech]

Currently 35ml a day 65g total volume. I'm getting ready to raise it a little as alk has dropped to 8.2 and I like it 8.5 - 9 . I use regular IO salt and do very minimal WCs of 2g every week or two so I can vacuum detritus that collects in a corner. Nothing else being dosed. I don't test mag.

EDIT: I think it really hard to even compare the amount used between tanks because there are so many things that can be different between tanks. Mostly the amount of stoney corals and how well they are growing. More growth - more AFR

 

[skey44]

Using both is fine, but I would not literally combine them. The high calcium in AFR will limit kalk solubility and some trace elements won’t be stable at high pH.

I have a separate container for AFR with dosing pump and plan to just add kalk to my top off.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Wow!! that's quite a spread. Not very scientific since we don't know what the stocking levels are. On top of that what species the livestock is (soft, LPS, SPS).
Not too many takeaways except the average was about 0.4 ml per gal. the smallest consumption of 0.133 ml/gal. and the largest 1.38 ml/gal

We know how much alk is in AFR. Dosing differences just reflect different alk demand and different alk targets. Knowing what someone else uses is of limited value.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I have a separate container for AFR with dosing pump and plan to just add kalk to my top off.

Sounds good.

 

[Pistondog]

I am really just curious but I have a 130 gallon tank with a good amount of corals and I dose 40ml. AFR daily. I also have to dose 50ml. magnesium daily to keep that stable. How does that compare to others? What size tank do you have and how much do you dose? And do you need to supplement with Magnesium or does the AFR keep that up too?
Thanks!

72 ml per day. With some sodium hydroxide.
125 total gallons.
Lots of plating monti and a huge green slimer.

 

[fandaga]

We know how much alk is in AFR. Dosing differences just reflect different alk demand and different alk targets. Knowing what someone else uses is of limited value.

At least for me, the one take away of this discussion is people can go much higher than the AFR directions without any apparent ill effects.

I do wonder what bacteria species is oxidizing the AFR formate.

 

[jhadaway]

I was at 170ml per day in a waterbox 100.3. I switched to 2 part about 2 months ago because of the cost. I love the AFR but it was killing me cost wise.

 

[Spare time]

Back when I had my 75 gallon I'd dose 100ml a day

 

[areefer01]

I was at 170ml per day in a waterbox 100.3. I switched to 2 part about 2 months ago because of the cost. I love the AFR but it was killing me cost wise.

Anyone who uses AFR in a large daily dose should reach out to Tropic Marin and ask for a larger container size to be available to hobbyist. 1600 g container does make 10 liters for 75 USD pre tax and shipping but it is still on the expensive side of things.

In your case 10 liters at 170 ml/day will last you a tick under 60 days. I think I am close to 90 days give or take.

 

[Featherweight]

Anyone who uses AFR in a large daily dose should reach out to Tropic Marin and ask for a larger container size to be available to hobbyist. 1600 g container does make 10 liters for 75 USD pre tax and shipping but it is still on the expensive side of things.

In your case 10 liters at 170 ml/day will last you a tick under 60 days. I think I am close to 90 days give or take.

They make a 3 part for increased usage. It's my understanding the afr was intended for smaller systems, not huge loads

 

[areefer01]

It's my understanding the afr was intended for smaller systems, not huge loads

This is true for the liquid. It became popular for a few reasons one being a single product and ease of use.

Enter Zach over at BRS who put together a list of Tropic Marine over the counter components hobbyist can buy to make All For Reef in our homes at a lower price point. Thread below for reference in case you are not aware of the back story.

Tropic Marin noticed the product gaining traction in popularity, supported the DIY component bundles, and at some point started working on the powder formula. Europe got the powder before the US markets and then one day the 1600 g container was released and, well, the rest is history.

75 USD pre tax and shipping makes 10 liters. Hobbyist will do their own math to see what makes dollars and cents for them. Rumor on the street is that there is 5 gallon bucket for maintenance or farms. There is another rumor on the street that Europe has access to something in between.

TL; DR - very aware of the original thought process but both users of the product and Tropic Marin are aware of it being used in larger systems with great success. Short clip of my mixed reef below from September 2024.

Hope your day is well.

Note I do not know or claim to know the history of AFR, powder vs liquid, and popularity. It is popular though and a lot of us with larger systems use it.

DIY All-For-Reef Recipe from Tropic Marin! Thanks Zack!

Did you know you could make your own Tropic Marin All-For-Reef....cheaper than the premixed solutions?? @Zack@BRS put together the list of ingredients and demonstrates how to mix your own All-For-Reef for a fraction of the cost and the BEST part is that it's scaleable! Make a little or make a...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

if my ph is fine- (8.4 peak) and can keep my KH steady with AFR, do I really need Kalk? The only thing im noticing is that my Ca is 400-405 which is on the low end of normal for a mixed reef.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

At least for me, the one take away of this discussion is people can go much higher than the AFR directions without any apparent ill effects.

I do wonder what bacteria species is oxidizing the AFR formate.

Yes, that is true. The AFR “limit” is based on oxygen concerns, but TM has not seen reports that O2 is a real problem from users, and I recommend folks dose whatever they need to maintain alk by dosing in the early to mid morning.

 

[areefer01]

I recommend folks dose whatever they need to maintain alk by dosing in the early to mid morning.

Single shot vs over time?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

if my ph is fine- (8.4 peak) and can keep my KH steady with AFR, do I really need Kalk? The only thing im noticing is that my Ca is 400-405 which is on the low end of normal for a mixed reef.

how low does pH get at night?

AFR is not short on calcium, but if you need more, add calcium chloride.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Single shot vs over time?

Once a day manual dosing in the morning is fine. But so is spread out dosing.

 

[drolmaeye]

I dose a total of 5-6 mL daily (2.5 - 3.0 mL twice). This is based on a target alkalinity of 8.5. I use the Kamoer KH Carer to automatically test alk and subsequently dose AFR. It modifies the scheduled dose a bit up or down depending if measured alk is lower of higher than 8.5. Most recent tests (Hanna) on other parameters came back with Ca at 435, Mg at 1540 (although I think the Mg level from an ICP test would come back a bit lower based on experience).

It is an LPS-dominated frag tank, approximately 100 liters (25 gallons) total water volume, approximately 30 coral.

 

[areefer01]

Once a day manual dosing in the morning is fine. But so is spread out dosing.

I spread mine out between 0830 (I think that is when I start) and 1700. I have tried a few other timelines and didn't see anything really different is why I was asking. I have not tried a single dose though.

Thanks again - hope your day is well.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

how low does pH get at night?

AFR is not short on calcium, but if you need more, add calcium chloride.

8.2- also use a scrubbber

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I spread mine out between 0830 (I think that is when I start) and 1700. I have tried a few other timelines and didn't see anything really different is why I was asking. I have not tried a single dose though.

Thanks again - hope your day is well.

I personally would not dose as late as 1700 out of concern of O2 depleting later that night.