All for reef vs Aquaforest component 1+ 2+ 3+

[GarciaCO]

Hello I currently use all for reef but I recently got an icp test and my trace elements were low. Would aquaforest component help with that? Does anyone use it or has anyone switched from all for reef

 

[Science/G]

I use AFR and my trace elements have always been in line on ICP tests, except Iodine, which I add weekly now. I would think about just dosing what you need before starting a completely different program, and potentially throwing your stability out of wack.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There are many roads to Rome, and you mention just two.

What trace elements were low?

if you like AFR, then just adding more trace elements at the same time, and maybe inside it, might be simpler than switching to something else.

 

[scotty333]

There are many roads to Rome, and you mention just two.

What trace elements were low?

if you like AFR, then just adding more trace elements at the same time, and maybe insidie it, might be simpler than switching to something else.

You advised me on adding tm a and k which I started on yesterday so nothing to report yet

 

[GarciaCO]

I use AFR and my trace elements have always been in line on ICP tests, except Iodine, which I add weekly now. I would think about just dosing what you need before starting a completely different program, and potentially throwing your stability out of wack.

the icp showed I was low on fluoride, iodine, silicate, vanadium, copper, nickel, molybdenum, chromium, cobalt, barium, and selenium. Thinking about giving the af 1+ 2+ 3+ a try

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

On thing folks need to keep in mind is that trace element dosing based on alk demand has substantial limitations since they are only weakly related.

I’d personally add use of a trace element additive such as TM A and K, rather than trying another fixed mixture. That way you can have some control over trace elements independent of alk demand.

 

[GarciaCO]

On thing folks need to keep in mind is that trace element dosing based on alk demand has substantial limitations since they are only weakly related.

I’d personally add use of a trace element additive such as TM A and K, rather than trying another fixed mixture. That way you can have some control over trace elements independent of alk demand.

AF component a, b and c are like tm a and k right cause I just got those.Also could low trace elements have caused most of my sps corals to die? I did a tank transfer in December as I got a bigger tank but I lost most of my corals and down to 4 lps corals :(

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

AF component a, b and c are like tm a and k right cause I just got those.Also could low trace elements have caused most of my sps corals to die? I did a tank transfer in December as I got a bigger tank but I lost most of my corals and down to 4 lps corals :(

Low trace elements do not usually cause deaths, presumably because things like fish foods and water changes bring in enough to survive.

 

[Aquaforest]

AF component a, b and c are like tm a and k right cause I just got those.Also could low trace elements have caused most of my sps corals to die? I did a tank transfer in December as I got a bigger tank but I lost most of my corals and down to 4 lps corals :(

Hello @GarciaCO,

Thank you for your message.
Component 3 in 1 is a product that provides elements in a similar amount to Component 1+2+3+. It is a product that is great for nano aquariums.

Component A, B and C - are products that are used to supplement minor microelements deficiencies. Component A - provides strontium and barium. Component B - heavy metals. Component C - iodine and fluorine.

 

[North Borders]

Hello @GarciaCO,

Thank you for your message.
Component 3 in 1 is a product that provides elements in a similar amount to Component 1+2+3+. It is a product that is great for nano aquariums.

Component A, B and C - are products that are used to supplement minor microelements deficiencies. Component A - provides strontium and barium. Component B - heavy metals. Component C - iodine and fluorine.

I am not the original poster, but have similar deficiencies with trace elements. My recent ICP analysis shows undetectable levels of Chromium, Copper, Cobalt, Iron, Manganese, Nickel and Zinc. These consistently come back low on ICP analyses. In the past I've individually dosed each of these, but I came upon your products and wonder which would be the better choice of the two?
Both "Component B" and the "Micro E" products contain a mix of the elements I'd like to dose, but confused when you would pick one over another?

Thank you!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am not the original poster, but have similar deficiencies with trace elements. My recent ICP analysis shows undetectable levels of Chromium, Copper, Cobalt, Iron, Manganese, Nickel and Zinc. These consistently come back low on ICP analyses. In the past I've individually dosed each of these, but I came upon your products and wonder which would be the better choice of the two?
Both "Component B" and the "Micro E" products contain a mix of the elements I'd like to dose, but confused when you would pick one over another?

Thank you!

What sort of ICP? ICP-OES may come up none detected for many trace elements when there is an adequate supply. ICP-MS is sometimes needed to detect low enough.

That said, any method that ties trace elements to alk and calcium dosing may come up short in tanks where the alk/calcium demand is not high and there are lots of organisms that use trace elements but not alk/calcium (macroalgae, soft corals, anemones, etc.).

 

[exnisstech]

I'm starting to wonder how those of us that never ICP get by and have coral grow fine. Just lucky maybe?

 

[North Borders]

What sort of ICP? ICP-OES may come up none detected for many trace elements when there is an adequate supply. ICP-MS is sometimes needed to detect low enough.

That said, any method that ties trace elements to alk and calcium dosing may come up short in tanks where the alk/calcium demand is not high and there are lots of organisms that use trace elements but not alk/calcium (macroalgae, soft corals, anemones, etc.).

Thanks for the reply! I've been using ATI's "ICP-OES-EOP" send off kits.
My livestock load is probably around 70% LPS (Lots of torch, frogspawn, hammer, chalices, leptos etc...) with quite a bit of soft corals too (Zoas + a large grouping of ricordia mushrooms). I do have a couple smaller colonies of SPS.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for the reply! I've been using ATI's "ICP-OES-EOP" send off kits.
My livestock load is probably around 70% LPS (Lots of torch, frogspawn, hammer, chalices, leptos etc...) with quite a bit of soft corals too (Zoas + a large grouping of ricordia mushrooms). I do have a couple smaller colonies of SPS.

I don't think that type of ICP is suitable to demonstrate need for dosing of many trace elements. ICP-OES results often state that none detected is OK. Can you post the results?

 

[slingfox]

What sort of ICP? ICP-OES may come up none detected for many trace elements when there is an adequate supply. ICP-MS is sometimes needed to detect low enough.

That said, any method that ties trace elements to alk and calcium dosing may come up short in tanks where the alk/calcium demand is not high and there are lots of organisms that use trace elements but not alk/calcium (macroalgae, soft corals, anemones, etc.).

ATI released an ICP-MS a few months ago. You need to use that test if you want to be able to more reliably track trace elements.

 

[North Borders]

I don't think that type of ICP is suitable to demonstrate need for dosing of many trace elements. ICP-OES results often state that none detected is OK. Can you post the results?

Sure thing! Here's a link they provide. ATI Analysis
I can also try to do a screen snapshot if that's easier to look at!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sure thing! Here's a link they provide. ATI Analysis
I can also try to do a screen snapshot if that's easier to look at!

"My recent ICP analysis shows undetectable levels of Chromium, Copper, Cobalt, Iron, Manganese, Nickel and Zinc. These consistently come back low on ICP analyses. I"


OK, so for several of those, they say none detected is normal (which it may be using this method).

I would not assume you need to dose or raise all of those on your list. :)

 

[North Borders]

ATI released an ICP-MS a few months ago. You need to use that test if you want to be able to more reliably track trace elements.

The kits I have are probably what they're calling the "pro" version now and don't appear to be the newest fancy one.

 

[North Borders]

"My recent ICP analysis shows undetectable levels of Chromium, Copper, Cobalt, Iron, Manganese, Nickel and Zinc. These consistently come back low on ICP analyses. I"


OK, so for several of those, they say none detected is normal (which it may be using this method).

I would not assume you need to dose or raise all of those on your list. :)

Over the years, I've had some of these come back with detectable levels typically after I had individually dosed following an ICP result and then retested in a shorter time frame than I usually would. (i.e. tested again in 6-8 weeks vs. say 4 months later). So something is consuming them. For added info, I don't do ANY water changes unless something is very off. Just Tropic Marin AFR and top off water. I previously used ATI's "Essentials" 2-part system, but switched to AFR last summer when the Essentials was unavailable for sale for several months.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Over the years, I've had some of these come back with detectable levels typically after I had individually dosed following an ICP result and then retested in a shorter time frame than I usually would. (i.e. tested again in 6-8 weeks vs. say 4 months later). So something is consuming them. For added info, I don't do ANY water changes unless something is very off. Just Tropic Marin AFR and top off water. I previously used ATI's "Essentials" 2-part system, but switched to AFR last summer when the Essentials was unavailable for sale for several months.

For sure, all those on your list are consumed by organisms and may also precipitate from the water (iron).