I dont get it with all for reef.

[Notsolostfish]

My tank is almost 2 years always used afr, but lately after i started mixing my own. I measure 160G mix with rodi 900ml. Wait 30-40 min and put it in my mixing container. I keep increasing 5ml everytime. And i cant keep my alk at 8.5. I raise my alk to 8.5 it drops to 7.9-7.8 the next few days. My tank is 150G total water volume

I do have a lot of corals. I get that. But still i dont get when increasing afr will stop

 

[JTP424]

Sorry if I'm confused. Do you raise your ALK with AFR or do you raise it and then use AFR to maintain?

 

[Notsolostfish]

Sorry if I'm confused. Do you raise your ALK with AFR or do you raise it and then use AFR to maintain?

Raise alk seperately and try to maintain it with afr.

 

[JTP424]

More questions!
Tank size?
Daily dose?
Other parameters?

 

[Notsolostfish]

More questions!
Tank size?
Daily dose?
Other parameters?

150G total water volume, daily dose 24 hours seperated by the hour which is 3.1ml a hour.

My calcium stays stable 420-450 iv seen it hit the highest. Same for calcium 1370-1380.

 

[Fasthandsslowmind]

AFR was never meant for tanks that large. Go with 2 part or a calcium reactor.

 

[rtparty]

AFR was never meant for tanks that large. Go with 2 part or a calcium reactor.

Why? Tank size is irrelevant here when talking about adding alkalinity and calcium from AFR.

The only reason it may not be the best choice for a larger tank is cost

 

[areefer01]

AFR was never meant for tanks that large. Go with 2 part or a calcium reactor.

That is misinformation.

The original liquid form was cost prohibited but still possible if one choose to do so. Later Zac over at BRS worked out a list to make your own AFR using Tropic Marin's over the counter single products. This drastically lowered the cost and those of us with larger systems started going that route. Later Tropic Marin created a powder formula, tested it with the European hobbyist, then brought it here to the US which again drastically lowered the cost. The 1600 g container makes 10 liters. 1600 g container pre tax, shipping, is $75 USD.

Tropic Marin does have a daily maximum dosage guideline and/or recommendation which is not to exceed a daily dose of 25 ml per 100 liters (26 US-gal) of aquarium system volume. There are some of who go over that without issues or concerns.

 

[braaap]

I don’t understand why anyone uses it. Basic 2 part is all you need. And it’s cheap.

 

[areefer01]

150G total water volume, daily dose 24 hours seperated by the hour which is 3.1ml a hour.

My calcium stays stable 420-450 iv seen it hit the highest. Same for calcium 1370-1380.

Do you trust your Alkalinity test results? Also are you dosing anything else like Kalkwasser or other?

 

[areefer01]

I don’t understand why anyone uses it. Basic 2 part is all you need. And it’s cheap.

Different strokes for different folks. Convenience. Single product. Feels good. Lots of reasons. 2 part is also fine as are other methods.

 

[BryanM]

I don’t understand why anyone uses it. Basic 2 part is all you need. And it’s cheap.

Trace elements is why.... at least in my case. I don't specifically use it to maintain alk, I do it to maintain trace and not do water changes.

 

[BryanM]

My tank is almost 2 years always used afr, but lately after i started mixing my own. I measure 160G mix with rodi 900ml. Wait 30-40 min and put it in my mixing container. I keep increasing 5ml everytime. And i cant keep my alk at 8.5. I raise my alk to 8.5 it drops to 7.9-7.8 the next few days. My tank is 150G total water volume

I do have a lot of corals. I get that. But still i dont get when increasing afr will stop

My understanding is coraline algae is a big consumer of alk, and you appear to have a lot of it, and a lot of other alk consumers as well, and a decent size tank.

You probbaly need to dose more AFR than you're doing today, or figure out a different way to maintain alk and trace elements, with the alk portion being much more efficient than AFR is.

 

[braaap]

Trace elements is why.... at least in my case. I don't specifically use it to maintain alk, I do it to maintain trace and not do water changes.

I don’t do water changes. I can’t imagine AFR has the trace elements you need with the dosing instructions they offer. I just dose a few trace elements a couple times a week. I should make a mix and dose it automated but I haven’t gotten around to it.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

Hey so I have a 120g system. I dose 1000ml kalkwasser in the morning. Than through out the day I dose around 60ml of AFR to keep that stable. Sometimes I’ll dose more kalk. Hope that regimen helps!

 

[areefer01]

Hey so I have a 120g system. I dose 1000ml kalkwasser in the morning. Than through out the day I dose around 60ml of AFR to keep that stable. Sometimes I’ll dose more kalk. Hope that regimen helps!

One thing to remember is that with the addition of Kalkwasser and the amount of alkalinity derived from that you are actually getting less trace elements from the AFR dose. Lou talks about it below.

I know some like the ph boost from Kalkwasser but something to know if you don't already. 49 minute marker I believe.

 

[Science/G]

150G total water volume, daily dose 24 hours seperated by the hour which is 3.1ml a hour.

My calcium stays stable 420-450 iv seen it hit the highest. Same for calcium 1370-1380.

Add Balling B or another alkalinity additive

 

[Science/G]

One thing to remember is that with the addition of Kalkwasser and the amount of alkalinity derived from that you are actually getting less trace elements from the AFR dose. Lou talks about it below.

I know some like the ph boost from Kalkwasser but something to know if you don't already. 49 minute marker I believe.

Makes sense. I've realized the same thing dosing Balling B to get my alkalinity up. Calcium and magnesium are lower than I want.

 

[Troylee]

One thing to remember is that with the addition of Kalkwasser and the amount of alkalinity derived from that you are actually getting less trace elements from the AFR dose. Lou talks about it below.

I know some like the ph boost from Kalkwasser but something to know if you don't already. 49 minute marker I believe.

Don’t listen to this newb! :grinning-face-with-sweat: Kidding! He knows what’s up! I top off with fully saturated kalk and still use 150ml daily of all for reef to keep my alk stable! My tank is over 300 gallons wet with the sump going.. heavy bioload and heavy coral load! All for reef could keep up but I like my ph higher so I do what I do! I still change my water but all for reef lets me change it when I want without worries and not stressing out! It’s a great product I don’t care what anyone says it’s easy to use it works and the proof is in the pudding! Look at my tank or Sunny x or anyone else running it!

 

[areefer01]

Don’t listen to this newb! :grinning-face-with-sweat: Kidding! He knows what’s up! I top off with fully saturated kalk and still use 150ml daily of all for reef to keep my alk stable! My tank is over 300 gallons wet with the sump going.. heavy bioload and heavy coral load! All for reef could keep up but I like my ph higher so I do what I do! I still change my water but all for reef lets me change it when I want without worries and not stressing out! It’s a great product I don’t care what anyone says it’s easy to use it works and the proof is in the pudding! Look at my tank or Sunny x or anyone else running it!

Here I was thinking we are pals and had something special : (

Teasing you :) AFR newbs unite! Hope all is well with you.