Switching from AFR to 2-Part

[BluesClues]

I’ve been using AFR on my 20 Gal water box but upgraded to a 120 gallon tank a few months back and just kept dosing AFR. The AFR is starting to cost a bit as the corals grow in and I’m having a hard time with my Alk demand being higher than my calcium and magnesium and would like to switch over to 2-part dosing. I’ve purchased a couple 1.5kg tubs of Sodium Bicarbonate, Calcium Chloride and magnesium Chloride. I think I still need to get some magnesium Sulphate tho? For simplicity I hear that one can mix up bigger batches of 2 part and would like to make a 5 gallon batch of each. I was wondering if someone else had done this before and had a recipe or recommendations I could follow to mix up the three solutions. I’m using reef moonshiners for my trace elements going forward but have been dosing 20 millilitre’s of AFR how much should I start dosing of the 2part solution going forward to get close to my AFR all dose, so I can adjust from that point? I greatly appreciate any help go easy on me only been reefing since October last year and the new tank got wet in February, still so much to learn and improve but having an absolute blast!

 

[Miami Reef]

You can use epsom salt for magnesium sulfate; make sure there aren’t any fragrances added.

 

[Miami Reef]

Sodium bicarbonate: 297 g per gallon

Calcium chloride: 250 g per gallon

Magnesium part:
5 cups mag chloride & 3 cups epsom salt per gallon. Add 305mL of this solution every time you finish a gallon of the alk and ca parts.

You should dose equal amounts of the calcium and alkalinity solutions based on your alk requirements.

https://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#12

 

[Miami Reef]

All for reef is 2.3 times to potency of Recipe #2 (the baking soda recipe)

 

[BluesClues]

Sodium bicarbonate: 297 g per gallon

Calcium chloride: 250 g per gallon

Magnesium part:
5 cups mag chloride & 3 cups epsom salt per gallon. Add 305mL of this solution every time you finish a gallon of the alk and ca parts.

You should dose equal amounts of the calcium and alkalinity solutions based on your alk requirements.

https://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#12

If I had a three head Doser could I also dose the magnesium at the same time or is it best to test magnesium and dump all at once?

 

[Miami Reef]

If I had a three head Doser could I also dose the magnesium at the same time or is it best to test magnesium and dump all at once?

Never test magnesium. It’s a waste of time because the kits are super inaccurate.

Add 8% as much magnesium as the other parts.

If you require 100 mL of the alk and ca, add 8 mL of the magnesium solution with the dosing pump.

 

[BluesClues]

If I had a three head Doser could I also dose the magnesium at the same time or is it best to test magnesium and dump all at once?

Never test magnesium. It’s a waste of time because the kits are super inaccurate.

Add 8% as much magnesium as the other parts.

If you require 100 mL of the alk and ca, add 8 mL of the magnesium solution with the dosing pump.

I mixed up the Alk solution in a 5 gallon jug added 4.5gallons of RODI water and added 1336.5 grams Sodium Bicarbonate I stirred it as I slowly poured in the powder then put the lid on and gave it a really good shake for a few minutes. Is it normal that the container pressurized after I aggressively shook the container?

 

[rishma]

I’ve been using AFR on my 20 Gal water box but upgraded to a 120 gallon tank a few months back and just kept dosing AFR. The AFR is starting to cost a bit as the corals grow in and I’m having a hard time with my Alk demand being higher than my calcium and magnesium and would like to switch over to 2-part dosing. I’ve purchased a couple 1.5kg tubs of Sodium Bicarbonate, Calcium Chloride and magnesium Chloride. I think I still need to get some magnesium Sulphate tho? For simplicity I hear that one can mix up bigger batches of 2 part and would like to make a 5 gallon batch of each. I was wondering if someone else had done this before and had a recipe or recommendations I could follow to mix up the three solutions. I’m using reef moonshiners for my trace elements going forward but have been dosing 20 millilitre’s of AFR how much should I start dosing of the 2part solution going forward to get close to my AFR all dose, so I can adjust from that point? I greatly appreciate any help go easy on me only been reefing since October last year and the new tank got wet in February, still so much to learn and improve but having an absolute blast!

No problem switching, but I don’t expect the apparent Alk demand being higher than calcium and magnesium is real. I understand tests can make it look that way. Reef tanks with calcifying organisms reliably consume in the following ratios: For each 2.8 dKH of alkalinity consumed, about 18-20 ppm calcium and 1-2 ppm magnesium are also consumed.
AFR does provide some excess calcium to the ratios above. Water changes are often enough to keep it in check, or the occasional use of alk only supplements can help maintain the balance, but corals are happy over a very wide range of calcium.

All that said, no problem switching, but just a caution against dosing to correct things unless it makes sense. Cheers.

 

[oceans deep aquaria]

Not even one year in this hobby and you’re already a moonshiner, sweet. I’ve been in the hobby for almost 20 years and I’m still not a moonshiner lol. Maybe I should consider, considering all the positive feedback I’ve been getting from everyone.

 

[KStatefan]

If I had a three head Doser could I also dose the magnesium at the same time or is it best to test magnesium and dump all at once?

If you have a spare dosing head I would look at the DIY balling.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-balling-method-recipe.1098905/

 

[BluesClues]

Not even one year in this hobby and you’re already a moonshiner, sweet. I’ve been in the hobby for almost 20 years and I’m still not a moonshiner lol. Maybe I should consider, considering all the positive feedback I’ve been getting from everyone.

Honestly probably the only reason my reef tank is thriving being just over 3 months old water changes where dipping my nutrients but lack of changes dropped my micro elements hard it’s really easy to do also.

 

[oceans deep aquaria]

Not even one year in this hobby and you’re already a moonshiner, sweet. I’ve been in the hobby for almost 20 years and I’m still not a moonshiner lol. Maybe I should consider, considering all the positive feedback I’ve been getting from everyone.

Honestly probably the only reason my reef tank is thriving being just over 3 months old water changes where dipping my nutrients but lack of changes dropped my micro elements hard it’s really easy to do also.

Good to know, for when I start up a new reef tank. Makes sense to know what’s going on in the early stages also.

 

[BluesClues]

If I had a three head Doser could I also dose the magnesium at the same time or is it best to test magnesium and dump all at once?

Never test magnesium. It’s a waste of time because the kits are super inaccurate.

Add 8% as much magnesium as the other parts.

If you require 100 mL of the alk and ca, add 8 mL of the magnesium solution with the dosing pump.

I mixed up the Alk solution in a 5 gallon jug added 4.5gallons of RODI water and added 1336.5 grams Sodium Bicarbonate I stirred it as I slowly poured in the powder then put the lid on and gave it a really good shake for a few minutes. Is it normal that the container pressurized after I aggressively shook the container?

 

[Miami Reef]

I mixed up the Alk solution in a 5 gallon jug added 4.5gallons of RODI water and added 1336.5 grams Sodium Bicarbonate I stirred it as I slowly poured in the powder then put the lid on and gave it a really good shake for a few minutes. Is it normal that the container pressurized after I aggressively shook the container?

Yes. It’s normal. Sodium bicarbonate releases CO2 gasses. Totally normal.

 

[Superlightman]

take the powder it is way cheaper than the liquid

 

[BluesClues]

Sodium bicarbonate: 297 g per gallon

Calcium chloride: 250 g per gallon

Magnesium part:
5 cups mag chloride & 3 cups epsom salt per gallon. Add 305mL of this solution every time you finish a gallon of the alk and ca parts.

You should dose equal amounts of the calcium and alkalinity solutions based on your alk requirements.

https://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#12

If I had a three head Doser could I also dose the magnesium at the same time or is it best to test magnesium and dump all at once?

Why do some calculators like BRS use 500g of Calcium Chloride vs the 250g per gallon you recommended?

 

[Miami Reef]

Why do some calculators like BRS use 500g of Calcium Chloride vs the 250g per gallon you recommended?

Sodium carbonate (soda ash) has the corresponding 500 g calcium to match the ratio of calcium carbonate.

Sodium bicarbonate (Baking Soda, like the arm and hammer stuff) has low solubility. It can’t dissolve to fit the exact potency as the above recipe. We can really only dissolve 50% of the alkalinity found in the recipe above. The calcium is reduced by 50% to match it.

 

[BluesClues]

Why do some calculators like BRS use 500g of Calcium Chloride vs the 250g per gallon you recommended?

Sodium carbonate (soda ash) has the corresponding 500 g calcium to match the ratio of calcium carbonate.

Sodium bicarbonate (Baking Soda, like the arm and hammer stuff) has low solubility. It can’t dissolve to fit the exact potency as the above recipe. We can really only dissolve 50% of the alkalinity found in the recipe above. The calcium is reduced by 50% to match it.

Thank you so much. That makes much more sense. On the reef chemistry calculator would I select Randy’s recipe #2? Trying to figure out how to do an adjustment as my dosing line got pinched and want to get my calcium back up 50ppm.

 

[Miami Reef]

Thank you so much. That makes much more sense. On the reef chemistry calculator would I select Randy’s recipe #2? Trying to figure out how to do an adjustment as my dosing line got pinched and want to get my calcium back up 50ppm.

You know, I’ve always disliked the “recipe 1” vs “recipe 2” names in the calculator. They are so confusing. That’s why I prefer the BRS one. Same recipe. Same concentration. It’s just more intuitive IMO.

Recipe 1 = Sodium carbonate
Recipe 2 = Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda like arm and hammer)

Here’s the BRS calculator which I personally use and post for people.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-calculator/alkalinity-calculator-reef