Downsides to All for Reef?

[gordoncheers]

As the title mentions

 

[Gumbies R Us]

The only downside I can think of is it can be costly for larger systems. But for nano tanks it’s a great option as it simplifies dosing.

 

[jmcdona6]

The only downside I can think of is it can be costly for larger systems. But for nano tanks it’s a great option as it simplifies dosing.

Not that costly if you use the powder. Unless you have like a 250G full of high uptake coral.

The real downside is its "balanced" but your uptake almost never is. Over time it's possible for parameters to drift if you don't do water changes or supplemental dosing.

It also requires bacteria to break it down therefore has a delayed impact. Once you get used to this it's not a big deal, but its not something you can test and then dose and see an immediate result.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Compared to other methods, these are the downsides:

1. Cost, which obviously depends on tank size and daily alk demand.

2. Slight pH lowering effect

3. Alk added is not immediately detectable

4. Trace elements are added at a fixed ratio to alk and calcium demand, which is not how most are used in many systems

5. It adds slightly more calcium than needed to maintain alk, just like kalkwasser. Water changes limit this issue, but a no water change system will need other types of corrections.

6. I do not recommend dosing it the way Tropic Marin says based on calcium. Calcium testing is not accurate enough for that. Base the dose on alkalinity.

7. Alk and calcium doses are at a fixed ratio. Corrections may need other products.

That all said, I do plan to use it (or the very similar carbocalcium) in my system, along with additional trace elements from Tropic Marin A and K since I do not think the amount of AFR I will be using will add enough.

This has more:

Pros and Cons of Alkalinity and Calcium Dosing Methods

Pros and Cons of Alkalinity and Calcium Dosing Methods How to decide which is best for you and your aquarium. By Randy Holmes-Farley Supplementing calcium and alkalinity is one of the most important chemistry requirements for most reef...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[gordoncheers]

Can I use AFR with Kalkwasser for additional alkalinity boost?

 

[56longroof]

Can I use AFR with Kalkwasser for additional alkalinity boost?

Yes. I dose 35 ml of AFR and kalk in my ATO.

 

[Bartanto]

It’s been great for me. My system (10 mos old) daily is ~ 52ml AFR, 40ml Part B (alk), so uneven uptake is real.

 

[exnisstech]

My uptake has been pretty balanced on my acro tank having used AFR for over a year. Tank is 65g total and I'm currently dosing 30ml daily. I've had to make tweaks along the way as growth slowed or increased but othe than that I'm not finding anything that I would consider a negative. Just a snap shot of alk but 14 months of calcium test results. This is using AFR only.

EDIT. Thought I should mention I'm am doing water changes but only 2-3 gallons every 7-10 days to vacuum detritus. Maybe they are enough to keep calcium in line?

 

[Bartanto]

My uptake has been pretty balanced on my acro tank having used AFR for over a year. Tank is 65g total and I'm currently dosing 30ml daily. I've had to make tweaks along the way as growth slowed or increased but othe than that I'm not finding anything that I would consider a negative. Just a snap shot of alk but 14 months of calcium test results. This is using AFR only.

Nice! What pump do you trust?

 

[exnisstech]

Nice! What pump do you trust?

I dosed manually for the first few months then started using one head on my reefdose 2 since I had it here.