How to setup DOS for dosing All For Reef

[reefmaster70]

Hi all....I am new to the entire Apex system, but have it all up and running on my 75 gallon reef tank. Today I just connected my first ever Apex DOS. I am going to only be using the LEFT dosing pump for now to dose All For Reef. I have a 2 Liter reservoir to hold the mixed AFR. I have the lines run, the DOS calibrated and tested. Now, what scares me...how to set up the DOS to dose the all for reef liquid without going overboard. So I guess my questions are. #1: How much All For Reef powder should I use/mix into 2 Liters of RO water for dosing. and how do I set up the Apex Fusion software to dose the exact ML's I will need and at a specific time. Should I dose the full amount of needed ML's say between noon and 12:30pm. or ???

Thanks for any insights for this DOS'ing newbie.

 

[DylanE]

I use a triton to help with dosing. I have a new 310g, and I dose 45ml of AFR daily at 6am. I also dose 2L of Kalk overnight between 8p and 4a. Just start small and test often to get an idea of your swings, after that titrate to effect.

 

[hoffmeyerz]

I dose 20ml per/day in my 75gal tank. The amount you dose though is dependent on the consumption rate of ALK in your tank.
To mix 1L of solution follow the directions which say to mix 6 level scoops of powder into 900ml of RO/DI water. To make 2L just double it.
Programming the DOS is very straightforward, I believe there is setup wizard listed for the DOS in the Tasks menu. I have mine set to spread the dose out over the full 24hr period.
You need to get your ALK and Cal levels where you want them to be first, then start with your starting dosing level and re-test in like 3-4 days. Adjust your dose accordingly to stay in your targeted range.

 

[zbrusko]

I’ve read here NOT to use a Trident to dictate dosing with AFR. Mine was originally set up to do that but I have since moved to daily dosing that is manually set and (as said above) spread evenly over 24 hrs. I have noticed (via my Trident, but you can use any testing method) my alk slowly dropping, so every few days I up my daily dose a bit. Once I a have stability, I’ll stand pat at that dose (until my uptake changes due to new or growing corals).

 

[DylanE]

I’ve read here NOT to use a Trident to dictate dosing with AFR. Mine was originally set up to do that but I have since moved to daily dosing that is manually set and (as said above) spread evenly over 24 hrs. I have noticed (via my Trident, but you can use any testing method) my alk slowly dropping, so every few days I up my daily dose a bit. Once I a have stability, I’ll stand pat at that dose (until my uptake changes due to new or growing corals).

I didn't word that very well. I don't tell the apex to dose based on the trident, I use the trident results to make sure my alk/cal swings are minimal and adjust what I'm dosing as needed.

 

[areefer01]

Hi all....I am new to the entire Apex system, but have it all up and running on my 75 gallon reef tank. Today I just connected my first ever Apex DOS. I am going to only be using the LEFT dosing pump for now to dose All For Reef. I have a 2 Liter reservoir to hold the mixed AFR. I have the lines run, the DOS calibrated and tested. Now, what scares me...how to set up the DOS to dose the all for reef liquid without going overboard. So I guess my questions are. #1: How much All For Reef powder should I use/mix into 2 Liters of RO water for dosing. and how do I set up the Apex Fusion software to dose the exact ML's I will need and at a specific time. Should I dose the full amount of needed ML's say between noon and 12:30pm. or ???

Thanks for any insights for this DOS'ing newbie.

All For Reef instructions (clip below, but you should go to their website:

Before starting to dose you need to get your water chemistry to their desired levels. I aim to match what my salt mixes to in case I have an emergency. Everything is close that way. You also need to know what your demand is. I use alkalinity for my reference. Again, the instructions above Tropic Marin gives guidance before starting, preparation of the solution (from powder), dosing, and correction by manual adjustments if required.

As for as the Neptune DOS goes you did the first part by calibrating it. That is a must. Once you know your daily starting does of AFR you can use the Neptune Task for DOS Additive Dosing which will walk you through the rest. Task->DOS Additive Dosing->Select DOS->Select head SIDE->Give it a name->Daily amount->start time->end time->send to Fusion. That is it but don't hold me to that as my memory isn't what it was...

I dose AFR between 0800 and 1200.

 

[zbrusko]

I’ve read here NOT to use a Trident to dictate dosing with AFR. Mine was originally set up to do that but I have since moved to daily dosing that is manually set and (as said above) spread evenly over 24 hrs. I have noticed (via my Trident, but you can use any testing method) my alk slowly dropping, so every few days I up my daily dose a bit. Once I a have stability, I’ll stand pat at that dose (until my uptake changes due to new or growing corals).

I didn't word that very well. I don't tell the apex to dose based on the trident, I use the trident results to make sure my alk/cal swings are minimal and adjust what I'm dosing as needed.

I didn’t read it that you were suggesting that. I just wanted the OP to be aware of the advice I saw @Randy Holmes-Farley post re: AFR & Trident-based dosing that I decided to listen to myself.

 

[areefer01]

I didn’t read it that you were suggesting that. I just wanted the OP to be aware of the advice I saw @Randy Holmes-Farley post re: AFR & Trident-based dosing that I decided to listen to myself.

There is a task that will walk them through setting up additive dosing. Easy to use and pretty straight forward. It is not tide to Trident controlled dosing as that is something different. And correct, it is not recommended to use with products like All For Reef due to how the product works.

 

[zbrusko]

I didn’t read it that you were suggesting that. I just wanted the OP to be aware of the advice I saw @Randy Holmes-Farley post re: AFR & Trident-based dosing that I decided to listen to myself.

There is a task that will walk them through setting up additive dosing. Easy to use and pretty straight forward. It is not tide to Trident controlled dosing as that is something different. And correct, it is not recommended to use with products like All For Reef due to how the product works.

Oh, ok. I didn’t know about setup tasks. Someone else set up my system initially & I went in and edited it as I am learning what is best practice.

 

[reefmaster70]

I dose 20ml per/day in my 75gal tank. The amount you dose though is dependent on the consumption rate of ALK in your tank.
To mix 1L of solution follow the directions which say to mix 6 level scoops of powder into 900ml of RO/DI water. To make 2L just double it.
Programming the DOS is very straightforward, I believe there is setup wizard listed for the DOS in the Tasks menu. I have mine set to spread the dose out over the full 24hr period.
You need to get your ALK and Cal levels where you want them to be first, then start with your starting dosing level and re-test in like 3-4 days. Adjust your dose accordingly to stay in your targeted range.

so you spread out 20ml's over a 24 hour period, so less than 1ml per hour, or how to you divide it up? I will figure out what I will need to dose first. How do you setup the DOS to dose each hour, or however often you have it turn on.

 

[reefmaster70]

All For Reef instructions (clip below, but you should go to their website:

Before starting to dose you need to get your water chemistry to their desired levels. I aim to match what my salt mixes to in case I have an emergency. Everything is close that way. You also need to know what your demand is. I use alkalinity for my reference. Again, the instructions above Tropic Marin gives guidance before starting, preparation of the solution (from powder), dosing, and correction by manual adjustments if required.

As for as the Neptune DOS goes you did the first part by calibrating it. That is a must. Once you know your daily starting does of AFR you can use the Neptune Task for DOS Additive Dosing which will walk you through the rest. Task->DOS Additive Dosing->Select DOS->Select head SIDE->Give it a name->Daily amount->start time->end time->send to Fusion. That is it but don't hold me to that as my memory isn't what it was...

I dose AFR between 0800 and 1200.

Thank you for this image, as well as the info. It helps a bunch. I do have my Calcium, Alk and Magnesium pretty much right where I want them. I think I'll start with the recommended 5ml per 24 hours and then test and see where I am sitting. I don't think I'll use a bunch, as I am predominately a soft and LPS tank, with just a couple Montipora's and a small green slimer and birdsnest frag, but that's it for SPS.

 

[zbrusko]

I dose 20ml per/day in my 75gal tank. The amount you dose though is dependent on the consumption rate of ALK in your tank.
To mix 1L of solution follow the directions which say to mix 6 level scoops of powder into 900ml of RO/DI water. To make 2L just double it.
Programming the DOS is very straightforward, I believe there is setup wizard listed for the DOS in the Tasks menu. I have mine set to spread the dose out over the full 24hr period.
You need to get your ALK and Cal levels where you want them to be first, then start with your starting dosing level and re-test in like 3-4 days. Adjust your dose accordingly to stay in your targeted range.

so you spread out 20ml's over a 24 hour period, so less than 1ml per hour, or how to you divide it up? I will figure out what I will need to dose first. How do you setup the DOS to dose each hour, or however often you have it turn on.

You set one (or more) intervals of any length, specify the amount over the interval (in this case 1 interval for 24 hrs), and the DOS does the math.

 

[hoffmeyerz]

You set one (or more) intervals of any length, specify the amount over the interval (in this case 1 interval for 24 hrs), and the DOS does the math.

Yes, it will do the math, mine basically gets .2ml doses every 14ish mins. Just use the DOS setup in the Apex Task menu in Fusion.

 

[exnisstech]

Its fine to dose AFR all at once. No reason to if you have a doser but I wanted to mention it. I manual dosed for about 8 months in my SPS tank.
I'm currently dosing 30ml in 5 doses between noon and 5:00 I don't think you can really dose AFR in a wrong way as long as the correct amount is being dosed because of the delay it actually has before adding the alk (unsure of the correct terminology). It's why Randy doesn't recommend dosing based in an auto tester.
It doesn't really matter but I'm not using a DOS