AllForReef Question

[GrimReefer51]

I'm currently dosing my tank with AllForReef. Recently, a friend gifted me K Elements and A Elements by Tropic Marin, though I’m unsure if adding them is necessary given I'm already dosing AllForReef.

Additionally, I’ve been using CORALIFE "Coral Vite" for trace elements at 3 drops per day, but I’m uncertain about the quality of this product and am considering alternative trace element options.

Could someone advise on the best approach? Should I stick with AllForReef and CoralVite for trace dosing, or is there a better choice? Are K and A elements obsolete in this application?

I do a 30% water change every week. Things seem to be stable at:

0.23 Phosphates
10 ppm Nitrates
8.5. ALK

Thank you in advance

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

No, I dose AFR and I have to dose K usually. You need to send out a ICP-MAS test once in a while to see what your tank is using.
AFR is a dose that is in the correct ratios for seawater. If you have a coral that is using more of one thing, then you have to dose for that. If you have a tank full of softies AFR with water changes may be fine. If you have a lot of fast growing SPS, than no. Remember, your working with a closed system, not the ocean.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

They certainly overlap what they add. Whether any individually is an appropriate dose depends on how much you are adding. Perfect answers with respect to trace elements simply do not exist at any cost. There’s a lot of guesswork and observation needed.

 

[GrimReefer51]

No, I dose AFR and I have to dose K usually. You need to send out a ICP-MAS test once in a while to see what your tank is using.
AFR is a dose that is in the correct ratios for seawater. If you have a coral that is using more of one thing, then you have to dose for that. If you have a tank full of softies AFR with water changes may be fine. If you have a lot of fast growing SPS, than no. Remember, your working with a closed system, not the ocean.

I think you're right, an ICP test would allow me too see into what's being used. I have alot of LPS and Softies.

 

[GrimReefer51]

They certainly overlap what they add. Whether any individually is an appropriate dose depends on how much you are adding. Perfect answers with respect to trace elements simply do not exist at any cost. There’s a lot of guesswork and observation needed.

I appreciate your input, so far things look good but not sure what dosing Coralvite+AllForReed will do in the long run.

 

[areefer01]

Not a fan of overlap and RHF already covered that.

You mentioned you are already using AFR and gifted K Elements and A Elements you could always buy the rest of the DIY components and make a couple batches. 1 liter directions below.

• Step 1: Starting with a clean container with at least 1 liter capacity, add 750 mL RODI water. Room temp water is ok, but warm water will help dissolve the powder more quickly.
• Step 2: Slowly add 140g CarboCalcium powder, stir continually.
• Step 3: Add 12g Bio-Magnesium powder, stir continually.
• Step 4: Add 100 ml Pro-Trace A-
• Step 5: Add 100 ml Pro-Trace K+
• Step 6: Keep stirring. It can take some time for the solution to be clear. Estimate ~20 mins. Solution will be a tint of blue, this is normal.

 

[GrimReefer51]

Not a fan of overlap and RHF already covered that.

You mentioned you are already using AFR and gifted K Elements and A Elements you could always buy the rest of the DIY components and make a couple batches. 1 liter directions below.

• Step 1: Starting with a clean container with at least 1 liter capacity, add 750 mL RODI water. Room temp water is ok, but warm water will help dissolve the powder more quickly.
• Step 2: Slowly add 140g CarboCalcium powder, stir continually.
• Step 3: Add 12g Bio-Magnesium powder, stir continually.
• Step 4: Add 100 ml Pro-Trace A-
• Step 5: Add 100 ml Pro-Trace K+
• Step 6: Keep stirring. It can take some time for the solution to be clear. Estimate ~20 mins. Solution will be a tint of blue, this is normal.

I didn’t realize I could do that. What a great idea! I’m not a fan of the overlap either. Since I already have K Elements and A Elements on hand, getting the remaining DIY components to make a few batches sounds like a fantastic plan. Is this something I can get on amazon?

 

[areefer01]

I didn’t realize I could do that. What a great idea! I’m not a fan of the overlap either. Since I already have K Elements and A Elements on hand, getting the remaining DIY components to make a few batches sounds like a fantastic plan. Is this something I can get on amazon?

We can, I think credit goes to Zack over at BRS who posted the DIY recipe and Tropic Marin for confirming it. It used to be that All For Reef was liquid, premade, only. It was expensive and appeared to be mostly directed to low dosing environments or nano tanks. This came about and we started buying the individual products to make larger batches and it made it a bit more affordable. A bit later Tropic Marin released the powder form and the 1600g container makes 10 liters for $75 USD pre tax and shipping.

I mentioned this as an option since you had two of the products. You can find the other products via BRS, Amazon, or whatever vendor you are comfortable with. I am not pushing one over the other and if it is something you can group up with other things all the better.

Hope you have a good day.

Original source/thread for reference.

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