Dosing all for reef with doser

peterat33rpm

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I dose 5 cc AFR per day and I have a doser arriving tomorrow. I’ve been doing it all in one go by hand in the evening, but my question is would it be better to have it do 2.5 cc twice a day. I think this would reduce the parameter swings (although at this low dose not sure how important that is), but I’ve also read that AFR will crystallize at the end of a dosing line, would dosing twice a day help mitigate that?

Thanks!
 

areefer01

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I dose 5 cc AFR per day and I have a doser arriving tomorrow. I’ve been doing it all in one go by hand in the evening, but my question is would it be better to have it do 2.5 cc twice a day. I think this would reduce the parameter swings (although at this low dose not sure how important that is), but I’ve also read that AFR will crystallize at the end of a dosing line, would dosing twice a day help mitigate that?

Thanks!

I've been using AFR for well over 2 years now dosing 90 ml daily and do not see it crystallize at the end of the dosing line. Never experienced that. You are using such a small amount per day I would just do a single shot about an hour after lights on.

Due to the amount I dose I spread it over a couple hours but aways while lights are on.
 

GARRIGA

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I dose 5 cc AFR per day and I have a doser arriving tomorrow. I’ve been doing it all in one go by hand in the evening, but my question is would it be better to have it do 2.5 cc twice a day. I think this would reduce the parameter swings (although at this low dose not sure how important that is), but I’ve also read that AFR will crystallize at the end of a dosing line, would dosing twice a day help mitigate that?

Thanks!
Was thinking along the same lines but after following the discussion on Bolus came to the conclusion I'm going to dose once per night allowing bacteria to break formate down and see how that goes.

Since you're already doing that then try cutting it in half and test your alkalinity both ways. Curious to see if you are recording higher alkalinity from one dose per night vs split day and night.

First I hear of it crystalizing. Have you contacted Lou about why it might be happening? Doubt splitting such an already low dose would make a difference being those with larger tanks likely dosing much more than your single.
 

collinnelson9

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I’d recommend dosing twice a day which I do manually (not fun). And dosing once a day or 5 times a day will have such a small impact on crystallization it doesn’t matter
 

jrill

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Put the end of the line under water to stop the crystals. And no a quality dosing pump will not siphon
 
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peterat33rpm

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Was thinking along the same lines but after following the discussion on Bolus came to the conclusion I'm going to dose once per night allowing bacteria to break formate down and see how that goes.

Since you're already doing that then try cutting it in half and test your alkalinity both ways. Curious to see if you are recording higher alkalinity from one dose per night vs split day and night.

First I hear of it crystalizing. Have you contacted Lou about why it might be happening? Doubt splitting such an already low dose would make a difference being those with larger tanks likely dosing much more than your single.
I thought I saw people mention it in various yt videos and forum posts, but it seems like it’s maybe not as big an issue as I thought, so with this volume I’ll just do one dose per day and see how it goes. As for timing, I’ve been dosing in the evening, I assume it wouldn’t be that big a deal if I dose evening tomorrow and then have the pump set to go in the afternoon after lights on the following day? At these volumes I can’t imagine parameters would swing that much
 

GARRIGA

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I thought I saw people mention it in various yt videos and forum posts, but it seems like it’s maybe not as big an issue as I thought, so with this volume I’ll just do one dose per day and see how it goes. As for timing, I’ve been dosing in the evening, I assume it wouldn’t be that big a deal if I dose evening tomorrow and then have the pump set to go in the afternoon after lights on the following day? At these volumes I can’t imagine parameters would swing that much
My concern isn’t with parameter swings using formate but fact s needs to be broken down and perhaps why most report lower than expected alkalinity. There’s also the assumption corals are taking it directly but not sure how one proves that. Just thinking if dose lights out then perhaps bacteria has had ample time to break the formate down and having more alkalinity available once photosynthesis starts. Seems most logical based on what I know about formate which keeps evolving.
 

SliceGolfer

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I dose 5 cc AFR per day and I have a doser arriving tomorrow. I’ve been doing it all in one go by hand in the evening, but my question is would it be better to have it do 2.5 cc twice a day. I think this would reduce the parameter swings (although at this low dose not sure how important that is), but I’ve also read that AFR will crystallize at the end of a dosing line, would dosing twice a day help mitigate that?

Thanks!
I dosed 7ml daily to my 15g LPS tank, all in one shot. Never noticed any crystallization. AFR does have a minimal effect to pH, so I dosed just before the lights came on to minimize this. I am not convinced there is any benefit to multiple doses versus a single dose given the way the product is designed.
 
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peterat33rpm

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Is it ok to put the AFR into the return chamber of my all in one? Ideally would be a high flow section I think but logistically I’m not sure how I would do that with my setup
 

SliceGolfer

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Yes, a perfect place to add AFR. Attach the output line of your doser with a clip, bracket, zip tie, anything that will hold the line in place. Bleed the dosing line and confirm AFR drips into the last chamber. Be sure you calibrate the doser before use ;)
 
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peterat33rpm

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Yes, a perfect place to add AFR. Attach the output line of your doser with a clip, bracket, zip tie, anything that will hold the line in place. Bleed the dosing line and confirm AFR drips into the last chamber. Be sure you calibrate the doser before use ;)
Great thanks! Just set up my reef factory x1, calibrated and all and clipped in with a dosing tube holder along with my ATO line into the return chamber
 

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