All For Reef

[gabelex14]

For those who are using or have used AFR in the past. What made you stay with AFR as your dosing product and if you moved on from it and went to another product, what was your indicator that you had to make a switch? And what did you switch to? Whether that be a calcium reactor or another liquor or powder mix.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Currently with afr about a year and a half.
I stay with it because I can use a single dosing pump, only test alkalinity and everything else follows.

11ml in 20 gal

 

[GHOSTLY]

Im on afr rn and have been for a couple months. In a 20g acro tank, its enough to manage all my needed parameters while being fairly costly effective (3.7ml 20g)

 

[gabelex14]

Currently with afr about a year and a half.
I stay with it because I can use a single dosing pump, only test alkalinity and everything else follows.

I've been dosing AFR as well and enjoy it. Very simple when you get your levels right prior to dosing. Just curious if and when people switch off

 

[sgdnycct]

I started AFR after switching from 2 part ESV. Seems to work better and is easier. Especially when I have friends watching my tank while I travel.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I picked it for potency over kalk and ease of use with a single dosing pump.

 

[jackintheboxfish]

For people who’s switched to/from AFR, how you noticed its impact on Nitrate and Phosphate? As far as I know, the bio matrix it uses to prevent calcium and carbonate from precipitating requires bacteria to break it down, which makes it act as a type of carbon dosing.

 

[Idech]

For people who’s switched to/from AFR, how you noticed its impact on Nitrate and Phosphate? As far as I know, the bio matrix it uses to prevent calcium and carbonate from precipitating requires bacteria to break it down, which makes it act as a type of carbon dosing.

I dosed it for more than 2 years and never noticed that but it doesn’t mean it’s not true.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

For people who’s switched to/from AFR, how you noticed its impact on Nitrate and Phosphate? As far as I know, the bio matrix it uses to prevent calcium and carbonate from precipitating requires bacteria to break it down, which makes it act as a type of carbon dosing.

I do not think there is much organic dosing effect. The available chemical energy in formate is very low.,

 

[Troylee]

Over 3 years I love it!

 

[rtparty]

I run my AIO nano on AFR. It’s 95% LPS and is super easy. Just test alkalinity and on it goes

On my all SPS tank I run the NYOS Ion-B system for a slight pH bump but I don’t think soda ash actually raises pH much and when I run out of my stash, I’m switching to a DIY sodium hydroxide based 2 part. Likely with BRS calcium and NYOS trace elements

 

[DavidA]

For those who are using or have used AFR in the past. What made you stay with AFR as your dosing product and if you moved on from it and went to another product, what was your indicator that you had to make a switch? And what did you switch to? Whether that be a calcium reactor or another liquor or powder mix.

I use AFR in a 40 gallon AIO with lots of LPS, a derasa clam , a few monties and lots of coralline algae. I appreciate the simplicity of a single dosing pump and rick solid stability of KH and calcium

 

[exnisstech]

Nothing but AFR for over 2 years in my SPS tank, mostly acros. It's simple and works well keeping my alk where I want it. I have no reason to change and have no plans to. Some people report a gradual rise in calcium but evidently my random WCs are enough that I have not experienced that.

PS. In addition to my SPS tank I also have a small mixed reef with a few clams and manually dose AFR using a pipette.

 

[dangros]

I picked it for potency over kalk and ease of use with a single dosing pump.

My reactor needs a ton of work so I'm going to try AFR. What dosing pump do you use for it?

 

[Linden13]

I've been using AFR for more than 2 years easy to dose and figure out how much you need to dose due to alk. I also use kalkwasser for my top off water. Currently thinking about getting a calcium reactor just because im using over 100ml of AFR daily and needing to keep increasing the dose so its getting more expensive. No issues with it that I know of

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I always used AFR and loved it! I had a smaller tank, so it was cost-effective for me

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My reactor needs a ton of work so I'm going to try AFR. What dosing pump do you use for it?

I use a BRS 1.1 mL per min doser on an electronic timer.

 

[dnledman]

Switched to AFR from ESV about 6 months ago on a 220g mixed system, SPS and torches mainly.

Incredibly easy to maintain the Alk and ca levels I want, even after I had a pump failure, I only burnt the tips of a small portion of acros when the pump kicked back on.

Plus I bought the bulk powder making it economical and it is surprisingly easy to mix with the right equipment.