Redsea vs all for reef.

[Noodles_Jefferson]

Just an fyi, B-ionic is a great product, but it provides no elements to offset consumption except calcium and alk. All the other elements there simply offset accumulation of sodium and chloride that raises salinity. When salinity is corrected back, these added elements prevent those elements from dropping purely due to the salinity change.

I discuss that sort of issue here:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/how-a...-calcium-system-works-and-why-it-matters.958/

I do remember you saying this. I'm getting conflicting info. others say it provides adequate essential elements. So in your experience I should still be adding trace elements? How does one determine how much to add? I have a 29 gallon tank with some corals.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do remember you saying this. I'm getting conflicting info. others say it provides adequate essential elements. So in your experience I should still be adding trace elements? How does one determine how much to add? I have a 29 gallon tank with some corals.

Others saying it do not understand how it works. They just read that it contains these elements and come to a false conclusion.

ESV tells us this:

In addition to supplying highly concentrated calcium and carbonate alkalinity required for calcification, B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System is also formulated to provide all other important major, minor, and trace elements in the proper ratios to duplicate the composition of synthetic seawater.

Thus, it maintains an ionic balance from salinity change corrections, which is what seawater ratios do. If one were offsetting consumption, it would provide ions in ratios related to consumption.

 

[areefer01]

More of a note to existing TM AFR users but if you find yourself wanting to continue using the product but find yourself making batches more frequently, shoot TM a message. Let them know what your daily dose and that you would like a larger powder container made available to general hobbyist. There is a rumored 5 gallon bucket but that is for public aquariums and LFS. More of us that mention it may help them offer another size for us.

 

[ShadowMan]

Do you use a magnetic stirrer?

I use a magnetic stirring, as it definitely makes it A LOT easier. Bought it off Amazon for £40, best investment ever!

Now I just have a reminder to mix a batch every 6 weeks - takes 15 mins and that's 1Ltr done for another 6 weeks at a fraction of the cost

 

[DanATL]

I've been using AFR powder for about a year and happy with it. I highly recommend a magnetic stirrer to make life easier. Everything seems to be dialed in correctly. I made the command decision when I started to use a BRS dosing pump since it was cheap and AFR is the only thing I'm dosing. Since I doubt that BRS pump flow is consistent and it's easier to mix the AFR I figured I'd halve the AFR concentration and double the flow time. It seems to be working fine. Anyone see any issues with this?

 

[buruskeee]

I figured I'd halve the AFR concentration and double the flow time. It seems to be working fine. Anyone see any issues with this?

Besides more frequent refilling/mixing - nope.

 

[reefteaser]

LOVE All for reef! I mix with a dedicated container and a $20 nano pump. I make 2 liters at a time with 300ml of powder. I dose 30ml a day in a 115 gal mixed reef, lasts over 2 months and very consistent parameters.
Sometimes I add some Mg during a water change.

 

[Rusty_L_Shackleford]

Do you use a magnetic stirrer?

This is a game charger. I got one on Amazon with a 3L beaker for like $35 for both. Just turn on and forget. It's a bit loud so I just put it in the spare bathroom and shut the door.

 

[buruskeee]

More of a note to existing TM AFR users but if you find yourself wanting to continue using the product but find yourself making batches more frequently, shoot TM a message. Let them know what your daily dose and that you would like a larger powder container made available to general hobbyist. There is a rumored 5 gallon bucket but that is for public aquariums and LFS. More of us that mention it may help them offer another size for us.

@Randy Holmes-Farley do you know what the max solubility of the AFR solution is? I stock up every Black Friday on AFR 1600g powder ($55 each), but didn’t want to dose beyond 100ml because that’s only 10 days for my 1L batch. It already gets crusty at the end of my dosing tube, so not sure making it more potent is feasible to rely on AFR further than 100ml a day on standard concentration.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

@Randy Holmes-Farley do you know what the max solubility of the AFR solution is? I stock up every Black Friday on AFR 1600g powder ($55 each), but didn’t want to dose beyond 100ml because that’s only 10 days for my 1L batch. It already gets crusty at the end of my dosing tube, so not sure making it more potent is feasible to rely on AFR further than 100ml a day on standard concentration.

Calcium formate solubility is around 170 g/L and AFR is probably pretty close to that.

 

[buruskeee]

Calcium formate solubility is around 170 g/L and AFR is probably pretty close to that.

I guess it depends on the makeup of AFR. But yes, a solution calls for 160g for 1L. How much do you think is calcium formate?

 

[FernBluffReef]

Currently using RedSea 4-part. I’m happy. Took ~4 months before the dosing ratios stabilized to roughly match their recipe but dramatically improved my corals after 6 months of dosing foundation ABC not realizing there were no traces.

That said I’m using 5 heads. 4 for four part and 1 for NoPox and I need another doser for my smaller tank as now that the main display is working well I want to start working on my other tank.

My dosing is not all that high, I just replaced my first set of bottle after 5 months but consumption is increasing (more than double where i started). If AFR only requires one head maybe I will look at more closely next time I need more additives

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I guess it depends on the makeup of AFR. But yes, a solution calls for 160g for 1L. How much do you think is calcium formate?

Nearly all of it based on weight.

 

[sayurasem]

I’ve been using Red Sea “foundation” supplements for the past few years. Start with their 1L bottle as it becomes your dosing container. Refill 1L bottles with 5L jugs to save money in the long run. I use Red Sea foundation B (alk) because it has the most ph boost properties from other alk supplements.

 

[fishnchips17]

I've been using AFR powder for about a year and happy with it. I highly recommend a magnetic stirrer to make life easier. Everything seems to be dialed in correctly. I made the command decision when I started to use a BRS dosing pump since it was cheap and AFR is the only thing I'm dosing. Since I doubt that BRS pump flow is consistent and it's easier to mix the AFR I figured I'd halve the AFR concentration and double the flow time. It seems to be working fine. Anyone see any issues with this?

The only problem with this is I read one of the makers of AFR comment that you don't want to dilute the recommended concentration because it can cause bacteria growth...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I use Red Sea foundation B (alk) because it has the most ph boost properties from other alk supplements.

I don’t suspect that is actually true. Hydroxide has the biggest pH boost, but very few commercial alk supplements use it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The only problem with this is I read one of the makers of AFR comment that you don't want to dilute the recommended concentration because it can cause bacteria growth...

That’s not the only drawback. I discuss different methods here:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/pros-and-cons-of-alkalinity-and-calcium-dosing-methods.1069/
From it:

 

[sayurasem]

I don’t suspect that is actually true. Hydroxide has the biggest pH boost, but very few commercial alk supplements use it.

I mean I should say from other 2 part based on carbonate for alk.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I mean I should say from other 2 part based on carbonate for alk.

All two parts based on carbonate only should have identical pH effects for a given alk dose. All will have a pH boost relative to bicarbonate or organic forms like AFR.