Trace Elements

Hooz

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I have that covered. No LED's but I have 6X 54w Blue Plus T5 Bulbs that run 5 hours of the 12 hour photo period @ 100% and 2X 54w Actinic T5 Bulbs that run for 8 hours @ 100%. All bulbs are less than 5 months old. Let me clarify my question...

For you SPS guys and I guess TM All-for-Reef users... If I'm using All-for-Reef, can/should I add other trace elements (maybe TM K/A or something else) or does the All-for-Reef supply enough as long as it maintains alk, ca, & mg?

All for Reef has a good balance of the major/minor elements.

BUT... After a lot of us long time AFR users noticed that Iodine was consistently low on ICP tests (along with a few other things to varying degrees), Hans suggested an alternate recipe of AFR. The standard mix contains all of the TM A- and K+ elements. Hans suggested adding an additional 50ml of A- elements to every 1L of mixed AFR. That provides more iodine (as well as the other elements in the A- mix).

TM started including more A- elements by default, but I'm not sure that "new recipe" AFR is available here in the States yet.

What I do is mix up the "new recipe" AFR, and then send in quarterly ICP tests and use the Red Sea Trace Color kit to adjust anything I'm lacking. Since boosting the A- elements, I haven't had to do much else, though.
 
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ReefGeezer

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All for Reef has a good balance of the major/minor elements.

BUT... After a lot of us long time AFR users noticed that Iodine was consistently low on ICP tests (along with a few other things to varying degrees), Hans suggested an alternate recipe of AFR. The standard mix contains all of the TM A- and K+ elements. Hans suggested adding an additional 50ml of A- elements to every 1L of mixed AFR. That provides more iodine (as well as the other elements in the A- mix).

TM started including more A- elements by default, but I'm not sure that "new recipe" AFR is available here in the States yet.

What I do is mix up the "new recipe" AFR, and then send in quarterly ICP tests and use the Red Sea Trace Color kit to adjust anything I'm lacking. Since boosting the A- elements, I haven't had to do much else, though.
Thank you so much. Your (& Hans) suggestion squares with my experience where iodine is concerned. I'll start adding some A- elements when I mix up new AFR. Can I add the A- elements directly to the newly mixed AFR?
 

Hooz

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Thank you so much. Your (& Hans) suggestion squares with my experience where iodine is concerned. I'll start adding some A- elements when I mix up new AFR. Can I add the A- elements directly to the newly mixed AFR?

Yep. Mix up 1L of AFR like you normally would, then just dump an additional 50mL of A- in it.
 

GMay

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I’ve also been a long time user of AFR and a recent ICP test showed the only things lacking were iodine and manganese. Two elements that often low or missing in reef systems and are essential for all biological systems.
 

Hooz

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For anyone who is interested, Hans said this about the "new recipe" AFR and how to tell if you have the new (higher A- elements) or old.

For the premixed liquid:

At least in USA it is the ALL-FOR-REEF in the new white bottles with the dosing cap.

There may be a slight overlap with the old bottles elsewhere but in general the All-For-Reef with higher iodide concentration is in the round white bottles.


And for the powdered version:

The batch numbers 141.. or higher for the first three of the five numbers. I think for USA it is mainly batches starting with 2....
 

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