Tropic Marin All for reef vs other methods?

[bobnicaragua]

I’m dosing carbo calcium, which is all for reef without trace elements, and kalkwasser on my SPS tank.

Kalk is dosed constantly and carbo calcium doses are spread out every few hours.

In the past I’ve used kalk and 2 part and my sand bed hardened, this shouldn’t happen with carbo calcium.

 

[Kato]

I've used AFR for the last 2 years and have very good experience with it (mixed SPS/LPS 90gallon). In the last 3 months I also added kalkwasser on the side for a PH boost. Just mix to low demand and ALK can be kept relatively stable with good PH boost (well in my experience the boost in PH will increase growth so ALK consumption goes up and is covered nicely by the kalk)

Tank rarely sees waterchanges (perhaps 2 smaller ones per year)

 

[PeterC99]

Just go with the A4R. Great product with great results. 2 part is too much work…

 

[exnisstech]

Just go with the A4R. Great product with great results. 2 part is too much work…

Tank looks awesome . How long have you been using a4r and do you dose anything else?

 

[ReeferK]

Just go with the A4R. Great product with great results. 2 part is too much work…

That monti cap is gorgeous!

 

[PeterC99]

Tank looks awesome . How long have you been using a4r and do you dose anything else?

Full disclosure - I run a calcium reactor 24/7 BUT I supplement 30 ml of A4R during the day to keep my Alk & Calc stable. Love A4R.

 

[ReeferK]

I have a versa dosing pump and can choose to dose all at once, throughout the day or have it run continuously. What would be the best way to dose A4R

 

[bobnicaragua]

I have a versa dosing pump and can choose to dose all at once, throughout the day or have it run continuously. What would be the best way to dose A4R

It would be best to spread it out, either continuously or so much every hour or three.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have a versa dosing pump and can choose to dose all at once, throughout the day or have it run continuously. What would be the best way to dose A4R

There’s no drawback to spreading it out that I’m aware of.

 

[Kato]

I see a big benefit to spreading it out. Seems to take roughly 12 hours for the alk to take effect (at least until I can measure it). I spread it during lights on hours and it seems to keep it quite stable during a 24 hour period (alk consumption during night much lower). Perhaps its just me?

Using KH director to measure ALK 4 times in a 24 hour period and dial it in that way. Some times when I get my kalkwasser mix a bit off, I have to either decrease or increase it a bit as to not raise/lower ALK.

 

[92Miata]

AFR is suboptimal in that it's a preset ratio of alk/ca. Now, if you are doing DIY version, you can adjust the amounts of each as desired, but if using the powder version, if you want to adjust one independently, it's not as straightforward. The ease and convenience makes up for it for me and many others.

It's worse than that - it's a preset ratio of Alk:Ca:Trace:Carbon (although the carbon dosing is really minor).

My general view with aquarium dosing is that I want my products to be as narrow as possible. I'd rather buy a bottle of sodium phosphate than potassium phosphate because sodium basically doesn't count (it's at like 12000ppm), and potassium does. I want to be able to control things independently.

Tying alkalinity to calcium to trace to carbon pretty much guarantees that you're going to be over dosing, or under dosing something.

My other issue is the delayed effect. It makes it harder to validate that changes are happening in the way you expect - you can't just test an hour later and make sure your alk is where its supposed to be. (calcium reactors behave the same way - but are more predictable because they're chemical and not biological)

 

[Superlightman]

some long term reviews?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

some long term reviews?

Many folks have used it successfully long term. I compare it to other methods here:

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

 

[bobnicaragua]

I went back to kalkwasser and the balling method. With kalk and all for reef my calcium went over 500.

I’m also much more focused on PH these days. Soda ash increases PH and all for reef slightly lowers it.

The high calcium issue is from mixing kalk and carbo calcium. Dosing kalk at night really kicks off SPS growth, I wouldn’t give that up!

 

[Pico_Reefs]

I use AFR and I have to supplement it. I kind of hit my threshold as to what I could dose and keep my calcium in a good range. My tank in its current state consumes way more alk than cal. I have a 15g nano and I’m currently dosing:

3ml AFR
3ml of Alk
1ml of neo phos

I add magnesium as needed. Usually just buffer my water when I mix up salt I add 20ml per 5 gallons.

 

[Pico_Reefs]

.

 

[SoggyNW]

I'm using all for reef in my 40b sps tank and I've had zero issues. I have bottles of Bionic 2 part on hand to make adjustments but I've only boosted the calcium slightly in the last 3 years. I'm currently dosing 75ml per day.

If you do go for AFR do yourself a favor and get a digital kitchen scale for measuring and a cheap blender for mixing. Make sure to stick to the correct ratio, I tried to dilute the solution and got a lot of brown precipitates in the bottom of the holding container.

 

[ccole]

I use all for reef on my 230 gallon mixed reef system and it works well for me. I’m currently dosing 110 mL a day so it does get expensive. I do like how easy it is to deal with and how consistent it keeps my alkalinity.

I’ve used it for about 3 years now and keep a little bit of everything.

Pictures from today:

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I use AFR and I have to supplement it. I kind of hit my threshold as to what I could dose and keep my calcium in a good range. My tank in its current state consumes way more alk than cal. I have a 15g nano and I’m currently dosing:

3ml AFR
3ml of Alk
1ml of neo phos

I add magnesium as needed. Usually just buffer my water when I mix up salt I add 20ml per 5 gallons.

How high did calcium get?

 

[Beruka]

I am always fascinated by breeder tanks run very simply and life AFR in that aspect.

My breeder tank has hang on back Lifereef, 2 MP40s on low, and Tunze Osmolator. I dose kalk though BRS automated pump at night. I think pH boost for SPS growth is critical for long term success. I have never had the APEX jr fail on heating and dosing pump basically. Chemical costs are low.