How to dose all for reef

[mihali]

I ordered all for reef and it just arrived but the instructions to dose are confusing me a bit can I have some help please tank size 36 gal

 

[mihali]

Ok but my test kit doesn’t test decimals

 

[mihali]

Is that ok

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Ok but my test kit doesn’t test decimals

What test kit are you using?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, just follow what I said: test after a week.

 

[mihali]

Ok

 

[Atoll on me]

Well, let's slow down.

What is your desired alk target range?

If the current alk is 8 dKH, and your target is 8 dKH (which is pretty typical), then you should not dose any.

I will also be using All for Reef for the first time today. I estimate my system holds around 75 gallons when I subtract the sand/rock work and add the sump. On 11/4 my dKH was 6. My target is 8. I do not know what my daily alk intake is.

What would you recommend for me to start this dosing process? I have never dosed before. Thank you

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I will also be using All for Reef for the first time today. I estimate my system holds around 75 gallons when I subtract the sand/rock work and add the sump. On 11/4 my dKH was 6. My target is 8. I do not know what my daily alk intake is.

What would you recommend for me to start this dosing process? I have never dosed before. Thank you

It's hard to guess with much accuracy, but unless it is SPS heavy, starting at 0.2 dKH per day and ramping up as needed seems fine.

AFR calculators seem hard to come by, but it is close enough to use my recipe #1 in this calculator for alk and calcium. AFR is just a bit (13%) more potent, which can be ignored for this purpose, IMO.

https://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chem_calc3.html

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

I will also be using All for Reef for the first time today. I estimate my system holds around 75 gallons when I subtract the sand/rock work and add the sump. On 11/4 my dKH was 6. My target is 8. I do not know what my daily alk intake is.

What would you recommend for me to start this dosing process? I have never dosed before. Thank you

Tropic Marin recommends 5ml per 26 gal.

I have a similar water volume on my system, which consumes .25 dKH per day with my current stocking, but I only need about 13ml per day to maintain my alk at 8.5dKH.

The key is figuring your alk consumption and adjust from there.

 

[guibrenande]

All for reef effects are noted (on alk) 2-3 days after ddosing.i use it, and Love.it. but, I recommend, first two weeks, go slow and test everyday. Also, for such increase in alk, use a buffer, not all for reef. Or aim at about 8, 8.5 and go for it.

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

All for reef effects are noted (on alk) 2-3 days after ddosing.i use it, and Love.it. but, I recommend, first two weeks, go slow and test everyday. Also, for such increase in alk, use a buffer, not all for reef. Or aim at about 8, 8.5 and go for it.

I agree. I used Red Sea Reef Foundations B to make my initial corrections to alk spread over 3 days. And then started my AFR base dose. It took me about 3 weeks to figure out and dial in my dosage.

 

[killerkukoo]

Has anyone used AFR in the ato water? if i figured out how much water i evap a day, and how much afr the tank needs per day, could i not add the correct amount to, say 5 gallons of ato water, so that my does is added through day over a few days time?

 

[twentyleagues]

Has anyone used AFR in the ato water? if i figured out how much water i evap a day, and how much afr the tank needs per day, could i not add the correct amount to, say 5 gallons of ato water, so that my does is added through day over a few days time?

So afr works by bacteria converting the formate into alk and calc. Diluting the afr could allow bacteria to form in the container, at full strength this should not happen. If bacteria forms it could cause the "reaction" to happen prematurely. I have heard of people doing it though no idea how well that works.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, that’s what could happen, resulting in precipitation of calcium carbonate if the amount is anything except very dilute.