Carbon Dosing with AFR Questions

[Fish Fan]

So my numbers were NO3 at 34.5ppm, and PO4 was at .03. So the Elimi NP is doing great. My numbers lastnight were 25.4 nitrate, and .05 phosphate. I have used it in the past and it works great.

Thank you, I'll take a look at this product

 

[Fish Fan]

I like the all at 7.5-8, so it worked for me. For a 25g, I think you'll over complicate things by trying to dose kalk as well. I read all of the literature and thought I needed it too, I gave up trying to figure out a good way to dose it.

As for mag, you are correct. For whatever reason All For Reef is low on that. I typically have to add a 5ml shot of mag midweek to my tank, but I just do it manually with a pippette.

Thank you again for your help here! I know you're right, overcomplicating things is what I do best lol!

 

[Fish Fan]

I dose AFR and a combination of RODI/Vodka/Vinegar mixture. I noticed the first week that my Alk skyrocketed! I had to dial back the AFR quite a bit. My AFR is dosed 14ml each over 4 periods throughout the day, and the Carbon mixture goes in all at once, 4ml which maintains about 5ppm nitrate.

Thank you for your help and for sharing your experience here!

 

[rishma]

Sounds good! We can’t mix phosphate with Ca(OH)2 because it will precipitate as calcium phosphate.

Everything else is fine.

I knew that! Need more coffee.

 

[rishma]

Correct.

You technically don’t need to raise pH. You also can technically grow coralline very well at your level, too.


But you can always raise your pH. Is it a PITA? Maybe. Would it increase the rate or coralline and stony coral growth? Likely yes.

My upcoming article is all about this topic.

I keep my pH and alk high because I compete in acro-growing contests.

I am looking forward to your article. I have an unnecessary fascination with tank pH in part because it’s the only thing other than temperature that I can see for weeks at a time while I travel. I’ve done more pH experiments on my tank than anything else.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Excellent. Thank you.

I thought CO2 mixed with water first caused carbonic acid, then the H popped off to form either carbonate or bicarbonate.

I didn’t think it could bypass the carbonic acid step.

It doesn’t bypass that step. It goes through it fast though. :)

 

[foamboy]

Does anyone dose sugar as your carbon source? It’s your first stop on the carbon cycle, then alcohol, then vinegar.

 

[rishma]

Does anyone dose sugar as your carbon source? It’s your first stop on the carbon cycle, then alcohol, then vinegar.

I recall people dosing sugar years ago, though it didn’t gain popularity due to some downsides…I cannot recall what they were.

 

[Miami Reef]

I think the downside was causing very brown corals.

 

[rishma]

I think the downside was causing very brown corals.

That rings a bell

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Does anyone dose sugar as your carbon source? It’s your first stop on the carbon cycle, then alcohol, then vinegar.

If by sugar you mean sucrose, it’s not something I recommend. At least in my tank, it browned up some creatures after a single dose, probably from increased zoox.

That may not be a general result, but I see no reason to prefer it.