Dosing All For Reef questions…

[grimreefer001]

I’m currently running an innovative marine 40L. I have a mix of LPS and SPS.

I’m looking to start dosing or adding all for reef but I have a few questions.

I use Reef Crystal salt mix which is a bit higher on the alk. Will dosing all for reef be an issue with this?

I currently do a five gallon water change every 7-10 days. I will start testing my alkalinity and cal soon to really see how much my tank is consuming. Just wondering on if I’m going to have issues with AFR.

Also is it okay to be doing a water change weekly like I do while still adding AFR?

TIA

 

[Justfebreezeit]

No issues with either of what you stated.

Definitely just test fairly frequently to dial it in

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I do water changes weekly and use AFR. It just takes a lot of testing to get it all dialed in correctly.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

AFR is a fine way to go if testing shows a need for alkalinity. :)

I would personally not bother testing calcium if you use AFR (I don't test it).

 

[exnisstech]

First determine if you even need to dose to maintain alk. Next you'll need to determine the amount of your tanks consumption to determine how much you need to dose. Decide on a target level you want and aim for that. I target 8.5 so I'm good with 8-9 dkH it doesn't have to be the exact number. I find it easier to avoid swings by using a salt brand that mixes close to my target number so IO purple works for me. AFR is fine used with regular WCs tho I stretch mine out and they can be a bit random. I use AFR on 3 tanks including my SPS tank that's has been on it for over 2 years. I've been very happy with AFR.

 

[Pistondog]

I’m currently running an innovative marine 40L. I have a mix of LPS and SPS.

I’m looking to start dosing or adding all for reef but I have a few questions.

I use Reef Crystal salt mix which is a bit higher on the alk. Will dosing all for reef be an issue with this?

I currently do a five gallon water change every 7-10 days. I will start testing my alkalinity and cal soon to really see how much my tank is consuming. Just wondering on if I’m going to have issues with AFR.

Also is it okay to be doing a water change weekly like I do while still adding AFR?

TIA

Start with recommended dose.
Wait at least a day between testing alk before more afr adjustments.
Adjust afr amount based on alk trend. If trend is decreasing, adjust up, for example. I used baking soda to make adjustments back to alk target during this process.

 

[exnisstech]

Start with recommended dose.
Wait at least a day between testing alk before more afr adjustments.
Adjust afr amount based on alk trend. If trend is decreasing, adjust up, for example. I used baking soda to make adjustments back to alk target during this process.

I used to increase mine with ESV alk supplement when needed. I'm pretty sure I've read somewhere not to use AFR to increase alk only to maintain it. For the last six months or so I've had an increase in consumption after bumping my pH and decided to just increase my AFR amount instead of adjusting it up with another supplement. It did surprisingly well. Nothing wrong bumping it with a supplement I just wanted to mention it because I was under the impression I had to use a supplement to raise alk if needed. I still think it's easiest to use a supplement if alk needs to be increased before starting AFR.

 

[NeutronMan]

I used to increase mine with ESV alk supplement when needed. I'm pretty sure I've read somewhere not to use AFR to increase alk only to maintain it. For the last six months or so I've had an increase in consumption after bumping my pH and decided to just increase my AFR amount instead of adjusting it up with another supplement. It did surprisingly well. Nothing wrong bumping it with a supplement I just wanted to mention it because I was under the impression I had to use a supplement to raise alk if needed. I still think it's easiest to use a supplement if alk needs to be increased before starting AFR.

I, too, just bump the AFR dosing up or down based on testing. Easy and works well as far as I can tell.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I did AFR and water changes and didn't have issues!

 

[grimreefer001]

I did AFR and water changes and didn't have issues!

Will using reef crystals affect the alkalinity at all? Since I think afr runs a little lower and reef crystals
Is higher around 10-12

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Afr runs wherever you want it to.

 

[exnisstech]

Will using reef crystals affect the alkalinity at all? Since I think afr runs a little lower and reef crystals
Is higher around 10-12

It depends on what alk level you run the tank at. If you run the tank at say 8 using a salt mix 10-12 could cause a spike if you do a large enough water change. I'll defer to those better at math to comment on how large a change would be needed to cause a spike. Some people adjust their fresh saltwater alk to match the tank. Its one reason I like to run a salt that mixes close to what I run the tank at. It will have no effect on using AFR because as mentioned you control your tanks alk level by how much you dose.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Will using reef crystals affect the alkalinity at all? Since I think afr runs a little lower and reef crystals
Is higher around 10-12

AFR can be used at any alk level. It has no preference. I use it with normal IO and run my tank in the 7-9 dKH range.

 

[Double monti 61]

I add it 3 times a week,Monday, Wednesday and Friday in a 15 gallon tank I add just a little more than 5ml slowly over a few hours and have had no problems