Should I use All for Reef?

[tobster]

Tank is 143 gallons with sump. I’m currently only dosing Alk at 15 ml per day. The Ca and Mg are staying stable with weekly water changes.
I’m using liquid Red Sea Alk but have been reading about AFR and how it keeps things stable and replaces trace elements.
Should I switch to that or would it cause Ca and Mg to rise since Alk is the only thing being consumed for now?

 

[KrisReef]

Got corals or just fish?

I don't use the product, but it would help to answer your questions if we new what you are trying to keep up with in the tank by dosing.

GL!

 

[BryanM]

If you're doing weekly water changes I'm not sure why you'd need to dose AFR.

 

[fandaga]

I started off just dosing Alk via alkalin8.3 and then started dosing AFR as well once the CAL was noticeably decreasing. I have a Trident for monitoring. I’m still dosing more alk to maintain my alkalinity at around 8.

To a 47 gallon tank, I’m adding 7 mL alkalin8.3 daily and then 5 mL daily AFR. A month ago, I was up to 10 mL daily AFR but lost a few corals from a BJD outbreak followed by dinos. I finally just got my tank back under control.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Tank is 143 gallons with sump. I’m currently only dosing Alk at 15 ml per day. The Ca and Mg are staying stable with weekly water changes.
I’m using liquid Red Sea Alk but have been reading about AFR and how it keeps things stable and replaces trace elements.
Should I switch to that or would it cause Ca and Mg to rise since Alk is the only thing being consumed for now?

There is no “should”, but it’s a fine way to go.

This has more:

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

 

[LPS Bum]

It’s an effective and easy to use product, but expensive. No need to dose until your calcium and alk are dropping.

 

[tobster]

Got corals or just fish?

I don't use the product, but it would help to answer your questions if we new what you are trying to keep up with in the tank by dosing.

GL!

Both coral and fish. Corals are finally starting to grow. It’s a mixed reef. About half LPS AND HALF SPS.

 

[tobster]

I started off just dosing Alk via alkalin8.3 and then started dosing AFR as well once the CAL was noticeably decreasing. I have a Trident for monitoring. I’m still dosing more alk to maintain my alkalinity at around 8.

To a 47 gallon tank, I’m adding 7 mL alkalin8.3 daily and then 5 mL daily AFR. A month ago, I was up to 10 mL daily AFR but lost a few corals from a BJD outbreak followed by dinos. I finally just got my tank back under control.

That makes sense to wait until the Ca starts depleting. I’m just trying to figure out the best and easiest way to start dosing once the other elements do start to deplete.
Sorry to hear about BJD but glad you got it sorted.

 

[areefer01]

It’s an effective and easy to use product, but expensive. No need to dose until your calcium and alk are dropping.

Expensive is subjective. 1600 g powder container makes 10 liters which goes for 75 USD pre tax, shipping. Obviously price will vary depending on local. As noted above it is one way to do it but there are others that may come in at a lower price point.

 

[LPS Bum]

Expensive is subjective. 1600 g powder container makes 10 liters which goes for 75 USD pre tax, shipping. Obviously price will vary depending on local. As noted above it is one way to do it but there are others that may come in at a lower price point.

Ok. I’ll clarify. It’s expensive compared to kalk, which is also a one part product (albeit without trace elements but with a pH boost). Most reefers will find it significantly more expensive than either kalk or soda ash and calcium chloride.

 

[BigAl07]

I find it well worth the $$ once you get parameters where you want them. I've been using the "Liquid" (Easy Button) source and it IS more expensive. I have the POWDER coming later this week and that is much more "cost effective" although it will be a little more "work".

I've found AFR to be about as easy as it gets for my 120g Mixed Reef and my coral seem to fully agree.

 

[Reefer911]

It’s definitely easy. I’ve never done anything but AFR, and after a downsize to my current 33g tank, I don’t ever see dosing anything but AFR

 

[tobster]

I find it well worth the $$ once you get parameters where you want them. I've been using the "Liquid" (Easy Button) source and it IS more expensive. I have the POWDER coming later this week and that is much more "cost effective" although it will be a little more "work".

I've found AFR to be about as easy as it gets for my 120g Mixed Reef and my coral seem to fully agree.

Is there a danger of overdosing Ca or Mg?
For example, if I’m adding x amount of AFR to maintain the Alk level while my Ca and Mg are not being consumed at the same rate as Alk would it cause problems by increasing Ca and Mg?
Or am I overthinking this?

 

[tobster]

It’s definitely easy. I’ve never done anything but AFR, and after a downsize to my current 33g tank, I don’t ever see dosing anything but AFR

Yep I’ve read a lot of happy reviews and ultimately it seems like 1 dosing pump with this would e the way to go.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That makes sense to wait until the Ca starts depleting. I’m just trying to figure out the best and easiest way to start dosing once the other elements do start to deplete.
Sorry to hear about BJD but glad you got it sorted.

Do not wait for a noticeable drop in calcium. Alkalinity is the bellweather for needing dosing, and by the time you can reliably detect a calcium drop, alk will have dropped too much. :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is there a danger of overdosing Ca or Mg?
For example, if I’m adding x amount of AFR to maintain the Alk level while my Ca and Mg are not being consumed at the same rate as Alk would it cause problems by increasing Ca and Mg?
Or am I overthinking this?

Dose AFR based on alkalinity needs. Calcium may very slow rise over the very long term, but deal with that later if it arises. Ignore magnesium testing entirely, IMO. AFR will dose a fine amount and it will take a very long time to notice any real change that is not test error or salinity driven changes.

 

[KStatefan]

Tank is 143 gallons with sump. I’m currently only dosing Alk at 15 ml per day. The Ca and Mg are staying stable with weekly water changes.
I’m using liquid Red Sea Alk but have been reading about AFR and how it keeps things stable and replaces trace elements.
Should I switch to that or would it cause Ca and Mg to rise since Alk is the only thing being consumed for now?

Your 15ml per day is not providing that much dkh, if my math is correct 0.26dkh per day so in 10 days that would be 20 ppm in calcium so you might not be noticing that depending on how long you have been running.

 

[areefer01]

Do not wait for a noticeable drop in calcium. Alkalinity is the bellweather for needing dosing, and by the time you can reliably detect a calcium drop, alk will have dropped too much. :)

Bellweather - good word of the day.

 

[tobster]

Dose AFR based on alkalinity needs. Calcium may very slow rise over the very long term, but deal with that later if it arises. Ignore magnesium testing entirely, IMO. AFR will dose a fine amount and it will take a very long time to notice any real change that is not test error or salinity driven changes.

Thank you for explaining that. I read the chart you sent in the link yesterday and noticed AFR was marked with a yellow box on the overdosing area so I wasn’t sure.

 

[tobster]

Your 15ml per day is not providing that much dkh, if my math is correct 0.26dkh per day so in 10 days that would be 20 ppm in calcium so you might not be noticing that depending on how long you have been running.

Thanks and yes there is not much change in the Ca when I test weekly so I guess the water changes have been keeping the Ca normal.