Hi everyone, help me using All For Reef please <3

[Andrew Dang]

Hi guys, my tank is 50 liters, I just started using All For Reef for 1 week, and the recent Alkalinity is 8.0, this is my target. I daily dose 3ml All For Reef in the morning and test in the evening.

I have 2 questions:

1. Do I need to stop dosing a day to measure the Alkalinity used in my tank? For example, on Tuesday morning I dosed 3 mL of AFR, and tested that evening it was 8.0. Then I stop dosing AFR on Wednesday morning and test the Alkalinity on Wednesday evening to get the consumption. Is it right?

2. I found that 1ml of AFR will increase 0,112 dKH for 50 liters. If the tank's consumption is 0.1 dKH per day, almost 1ml of AFR. So what is the total amount of AFR I have to daily dose to maintain the 8.0 dKH?

(3ml per day + 1ml consumption or just 1ml tank's consumption?)

Thank you so much!!!

 

[rishma]

Hi guys, my tank is 50 liters, I just started using All For Reef for 1 week, and the recent Alkalinity is 8.0, this is my target. I daily dose 3ml All For Reef in the morning and test in the evening.

I have 2 questions:

1. Do I need to stop dosing a day to measure the Alkalinity used in my tank? For example, on Tuesday morning I dosed 3 mL of AFR, and tested that evening it was 8.0. Then I stop dosing AFR on Wednesday morning and test the Alkalinity on Wednesday evening to get the consumption. Is it right?

2. I found that 1ml of AFR will increase 0,112 dKH for 50 liters. If the tank's consumption is 0.1 dKH per day, almost 1ml of AFR. So what is the total amount of AFR I have to daily dose to maintain the 8.0 dKH?

(3ml per day + 1ml consumption or just 1ml tank's consumption?)

Thank you so much!!!

How new is the tank?

As for your questions:
1) I suggest you stop dosing for at least 2 days and measure alkalinity every 24 hrs. I find it is best to have at least 3 data points to determine a trend, especially when using AFR.

It’s little trickier with AFR because of the delayed alkalinity effect. There is some uncertainty in how long it take for the formate to result in alkalinity but I find it takes 24-48 hours in my tank. That means the AfR dosed yesterday might still be adding alkalinity today, making it harder to know what my tank’s actual consumption is. So a longer period without dosing helps.

2) Once you determine your alkalinity demand, you can calculate how much AfR to match the daily demand. i believe there is a calculator that Tropic Marin has to double check the numbers.

my math says about 0.85ml will add 0.1 dKH to 50L. As an example if you’re at 8.0 dKH in the tank and demand it 0.1 dKH per day, you’d add 0.85 ml per day. If you find you are below your target of 8 dKH you can add a little more, if you are above you can add a little less. Note that you should choose a target range rather than a specific number such a target dKH 8-9. Otherwise you’ll be chasing numbers constantly for no benefit.

Good luck

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What are you trying to do?

Is the alk dropping day by day when measured in the evening?

 

[Aaron75]

I wouldn't recommend changing anything. Keep dosing what you're dosing. If Alk climbs, back your dose off. If I understand what you're trying to say and you think you only need 1ml, then try that and adjust accordingly after about a week of consistent dosing.

 

[Andrew Dang]

How new is the tank?

As for your questions:
1) I suggest you stop dosing for at least 2 days and measure alkalinity every 24 hrs. I find it is best to have at least 3 data points to determine a trend, especially when using AFR.

It’s little trickier with AFR because of the delayed alkalinity effect. There is some uncertainty in how long it take for the formate to result in alkalinity but I find it takes 24-48 hours in my tank. That means the AfR dosed yesterday might still be adding alkalinity today, making it harder to know what my tank’s actual consumption is. So a longer period without dosing helps.

2) Once you determine your alkalinity demand, you can calculate how much AfR to match the daily demand. i believe there is a calculator that Tropic Marin has to double check the numbers.

my math says about 0.85ml will add 0.1 dKH to 50L. As an example if you’re at 8.0 dKH in the tank and demand it 0.1 dKH per day, you’d add 0.85 ml per day. If you find you are below your target of 8 dKH you can add a little more, if you are above you can add a little less. Note that you should choose a target range rather than a specific number such a target dKH 8-9. Otherwise you’ll be chasing numbers constantly for no benefit.

Good luck

Cool!!!

How new is the tank?

As for your questions:
1) I suggest you stop dosing for at least 2 days and measure alkalinity every 24 hrs. I find it is best to have at least 3 data points to determine a trend, especially when using AFR.

It’s little trickier with AFR because of the delayed alkalinity effect. There is some uncertainty in how long it take for the formate to result in alkalinity but I find it takes 24-48 hours in my tank. That means the AfR dosed yesterday might still be adding alkalinity today, making it harder to know what my tank’s actual consumption is. So a longer period without dosing helps.

2) Once you determine your alkalinity demand, you can calculate how much AfR to match the daily demand. i believe there is a calculator that Tropic Marin has to double check the numbers.

my math says about 0.85ml will add 0.1 dKH to 50L. As an example if you’re at 8.0 dKH in the tank and demand it 0.1 dKH per day, you’d add 0.85 ml per day. If you find you are below your target of 8 dKH you can add a little more, if you are above you can add a little less. Note that you should choose a target range rather than a specific number such a target dKH 8-9. Otherwise you’ll be chasing numbers constantly for no benefit.

Good luck

6 months. Thank you so much for your support <3

 

[Andrew Dang]

What are you trying to do?

Is the alk dropping day by day when measured in the evening?

I'm still dosing the initial dosage quantity for 3 days (2,5ml per day) and I have never check the fluctuation of Alkalinity. I just want to know if my knowledge about the way to find the demand quantity of my tank is correct or not.

 

[Andrew Dang]

I wouldn't recommend changing anything. Keep dosing what you're dosing. If Alk climbs, back your dose off. If I understand what you're trying to say and you think you only need 1ml, then try that and adjust accordingly after about a week of consistent dosing.

Thanks for helping me

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm still dosing the initial dosage quantity for 3 days (2,5ml per day) and I have never check the fluctuation of Alkalinity. I just want to know if my knowledge about the way to find the demand quantity of my tank is correct or not.

I would adjust on the fly depending on whether alk is rising or falling or staying the same.

 

[Andrew Dang]

I would adjust on the fly depending on whether alk is rising or falling or staying the same.

Thank you so much for helping me <3

 

[rishma]

I would adjust on the fly depending on whether alk is rising or falling or staying the same.

@Andrew Dang - This is better advice than stopping and trying to determine consumption. Ignore my previous post. The only things I’d add:

I would not change the dose based on anything less than 3 tests 24 hours apart unless you see something alarming. Change based on a trend, not a single measurement.

I would also suggest targeting a range rather than a specific dKH. Test inaccuracy, variation in alkalinity consumption, etc can cause your test to vary a little day to day. I think a 0.5 dKH range is fine, maybe even 1dkh range.

For example, my target range is 8.7 to 9.2 dKH. This week I got a measurement of 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, and 9.3. After the 9.3 I reduced the dose and this morning I got a reading of 9.2. I’ll keep watching it until it gets back to about 9.0 then up the dose just slightly to try and keep it steady.

Once things are steady I just test 1 time per week and don’t make any adjustments unless I find I am out of range.