I dont get it with all for reef.

[Science/G]

I have to dose sodium bicarbonate and afr to keep my dkh at 9.0, 60 gallon tank dosing 42ml afr and 6ml bicarbonate. I have been increasing total afr by 2ml each week to see if I can use it alone. Seems to never keep up.

I add Balling B to keep up with my alkalinity consumption which always seems to lag behind calcium and magnesium.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I add Balling B to keep up with my alkalinity consumption which always seems to lag behind calcium and magnesium.

You should be dosing AFR to maintain Alk.

Ignore Ca and Mg as they will settle down at an appropriate level. In my case Ca settled at around 520ppm, Mg I don't bother measuring.

 

[Science/G]

You should be dosing AFR to maintain Alk.

Ignore Ca and Mg as they will settle down at an appropriate level. In my case Ca settled at around 520ppm, Mg I don't bother measuring.

I don't know about 520 calcium to get and keep my alkalinity at 7.5- 8. I like to my parameters close to NSW. My magnesium would be over 1600 if I just relied on AFR. I'm following the Tropic Marin instructions.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I don't know about 520 calcium to get and keep my alkalinity at 7.5- 8. I like to my parameters close to NSW. My magnesium would be over 1600 if I just relied on AFR. I'm following the Tropic Marin instructions.

My Salinity is 35 psu, Alk is 7.5, Ca 520 and as I said Mg is not worth measuring.

Been stable there for almost 2 years.

 

[Science/G]

My Salinity is 35 psu, Alk is 7.5, Ca 520 and as I said Mg is not worth measuring.

Been stable there for almost 2 years.

Not me. My reef is 30 gallons, and at this point over 50% SPS. Before all of my recent Acropora additions, things were easy and stable, now I'm in a race, and alkalinity is always lagging behind.

 

[Miami Reef]

If you ever wanted to lower calcium, temporarily switch AFR to sodium bicarbonate, carbonate, or hydroxide, and wait for the calcium to drop through consumption. Every 2.8 dKH alkalinity consumed will drop 20 ppm calcium.

 

[painter1982]

Seems to never keep up.

It can keep up with most any tank if you add enough.

I’m sure it can but I don’t want 500+ calcium. Tropic Marin says to use the calcium level to achieve dosage amount. I keep it at 440. If I dosed to maintain alkalinity then calcium would always rise. I’m looking for stability.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I’m sure it can but I don’t want 500+ calcium. Tropic Marin says to use the calcium level to achieve dosage amount. I keep it at 440. If I dosed to maintain alkalinity then calcium would always rise. I’m looking for stability.

Calcium will not always rise, it will stop and stabilise.

As I said above, in my case it settled around 550ppm and then dropped back to 520 where it has been for 2 years.

550 ppm is not an issue at all.

It is a lot easier to dose based on Alk demand rather than Calcium which is difficult (almost impossible) to measure accurately unless you are sending away monthly ICP tests.

 

[buruskeee]

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

1600G powder AFR is cheaper than any 2 part and includes trace.

 

[gbroadbridge]

1600G powder AFR is cheaper than any 2 part and includes trace.

Ummn, $100 for 1.6kg AFR vs $3 for 1kg baking soda + $5 for 1kg Calcium Chloride from the supermarket :-)

So not always.

 

[buruskeee]

Ummn, $100 for 1.6kg AFR vs $3 for 1kg baking soda + $5 for 1kg Calcium Chloride from the supermarket :-)

So not always.

Of course if you make your own 2 part from raw ingredients. I know this was said tongue in cheek, but I do want to illustrate to the average reefer who buys BRS or some other brand for those who are curious and don’t know.

Let’s do some math shall we?

AFR 1600g for $75 (I get the $65 Petco deals) is 10,000ml of solution.

For my 150g tank, every 10ml adds 0.1dkh ($1.33/dKh)

For 2 part, 5G BRS packs (19,000ml) plus magnesium, you’re looking at $130 or so depending on how much mag mix and sulfate you need.

For my 150G tank, every 10ml of soda ash solution also adds 0.1dkh ($1.46/dkh)

The 2 part doesn’t even include trace dosing cost (plus dosing another 10ml or so of calcium and 2ml or so of mag - meaning 3 dosing heads utilized).

FWIW - Kalk dosing at night at 80% lowest evap rate of the year with Isol8 trace drops as the base dose, plus AFR on top is a very effective method.

Once I’m at 200ml per day (2 month supply or $30 per month), I will switch to calcium reactor and Kalk.

Also to OP, no matter the dosing method, it will never be stable unless your growth is stunted. Seeing alk consumption increase over time is the goal, as it indicates growth.

 

[disaster999]

Holy tariffs, You guys pay $75 for 1600g of AFR? They cost under $40 here in Hong Kong.

 

[buruskeee]

Holy tariffs, You guys pay $75 for 1600g of AFR? They cost under $40 here in Hong Kong.

For 1600G? The 1600G has been $70-80 for a few years now here.

The 800G is about $40 or $50.

 

[disaster999]

For 1600G? The 1600G has been $70-80 for a few years now here.

The 800G is about $40 or $50.

Yes the 1600g. I was kind of surprised at the price too.

 

[buruskeee]

Yes the 1600g. I was kind of surprised at the price too.

Can you ship some here for $10 a bucket?

I think the cost is similar to US in the EU too. Wonder how they determine pricing for regions lol. Now I’m jealous!

I do know they can custom order larger sizes for bulk savings too. I was thinking about doing that but right now 1600G lasts me 4-5 months.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Can you ship some here for $10 a bucket?

I think the cost is similar to US in the EU too. Wonder how they determine pricing for regions lol. Now I’m jealous!

I do know they can custom order larger sizes for bulk savings too. I was thinking about doing that but right now 1600G lasts me 4-5 months.

$100 AUD in Australia which is about $US70

 

[rtparty]

I’m sure it can but I don’t want 500+ calcium. Tropic Marin says to use the calcium level to achieve dosage amount. I keep it at 440. If I dosed to maintain alkalinity then calcium would always rise. I’m looking for stability.

If you’re looking for stability, basing it off calcium is not the way to go. Calcium test kits are not precise enough to detect the small changes. Calcium tests tend to have a +-20ppm margin of error in the best case scenario.

If you’re doing water changes, calcium will not rise to dangerous levels. I’ve yet to find any actual evidence that calcium at 500-550ppm is actually bad.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m sure it can but I don’t want 500+ calcium. Tropic Marin says to use the calcium level to achieve dosage amount. I keep it at 440. If I dosed to maintain alkalinity then calcium would always rise. I’m looking for stability.

I do not think their advice is a good way to go, and there's no evidence that 440 ppm is any better than 500 ppm calcium.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

1600G powder AFR is cheaper than any 2 part and includes trace.

That is simply not true. AFR is among the highest cost way of supplementing ALK and calcium in the US.

 

[areefer01]

I do know they can custom order larger sizes for bulk savings too. I was thinking about doing that but right now 1600G lasts me 4-5 months.

There is a 5 gallon bucket but my understanding after a bit of searching is that it really isn't a cost savings. It is more for store(LFS) and public aquariums use and quantity.

I know there are a hobbyist that would really appreciate a larger offering at a slightly reduced price. As the daily dose increases the 1600g container is a bit of an inconvenience it we are being honest.

Any AFR users I would encourage you to send a friendly note to Tropic Marin and suggest it if you haven't already. If you are a higher daily dosing user that is or resupply frequently. Maybe the feedback can show a trend and they can do something.

The size could also be related to logistics and cost and that they found this being the most cost effective. Not sure.