UNS 30A (Dual) AIO Reset (Closed)

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

@Randy Holmes-Farley tried to send you PM to respond here with some context but stated I can not. Hopefully I haven't said something upsetting. I wanted to get your opinion on this so I will just paste here what I had planned on sending

Paste start:
Since I am getting ready to be a new dad, I am looking at ways to cut cost and mess. I am looking to change my setup in phases for my 7.1gallon, or 5.2 display.

Currently I am looking to remove all debris off bottom. I am currently bare bottom as when I add sand things go south and corals receed with sand. so looking at gyres and wave makers. I also just tested my parameters in over a year for first time. I have the following:

Salifert
Calcium 400
Magnesium 1350
ALK 5.7
Phosphates 0

API
Ph 8.2
Nitrate 0

I usually watch my elegance as it does not like detritus build up and will let me know. What I also plan is to go down to weekly or even biweekly water changes of about 1 gallon. Depending on depletion I can dose or eventually get a doser. I may add a protein skimmer if nutrients get to high as well with the lack of water changes. I am curious about my alk being low and your thoughts. Feel free to respond here or my thread. I would like to chat on thread so others can also see thoughts.

Also curious if you have any other ideas as well. This is for a UNS 30A dual AIO.

Any information you provided will be appreciated.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Reading through some post in the chemistry section, seems dosing all4reef would be a good idea to start. All4reef is 5ml per 26 gallons. Dividing the dose up at roughly 6.5 gallons puts me at 1.25 ml. Since total volume is about 5 gallons with displacement and needing to bump up. I dosed the 1.25 to start. I will test tomorrow and see where things are and does again as needed. I will look to see if increase and how much. Then adjust dosing.

 

[Tahoe61]

Hi Ben,
I have been dosing AFR in a 5 gallon maybe. Roughly 1.50 ml daily, alk 8.9 calcium 400-430. I am going to add part b for calcium. Kalk is just too much of a swing in a pico.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Hi Ben,
I have been dosing AFR in a 5 gallon maybe. Roughly 1.50 ml daily, alk 8.9 calcium 400-430. I am going to add part b for calcium. Kalk is just too much of a swing in a pico.

Sounds like if this is the case I will definitely need a doser. I'll see what everything is today after work to see what the dose has raised and If I need to increase or decrease. From what I read should raise slowly between .5 and 1 a day and no more.

If I do got up to 1.5 the bottle is around 36 for 1000 ml. Should last me over a year and half. That definitely seems cost effective.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

The first time you dose all for reef some people report it can take a few days to show an alk raise. The bacteria need time to colonize.

I use it in my 20gal as well

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

The first time you dose all for reef some people report it can take a few days to show an alk raise. The bacteria need time to colonize.

I use it in my 20gal as well

I'm confused. About bacteria and alk? Does AFR promote or add bacteria in some way? If it takes a few days I may stay at this dose then until Saturday or Sunday then go from there. I am new to dosing so I need to understand and baby explanations lol.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

I'm confused. About bacteria and alk? Does AFR promote or add bacteria in some way? If it takes a few days I may stay at this dose then until Saturday or Sunday then go from there. I am new to dosing so I need to understand and baby explanations lol.

I'm no expert but AFR is calcium formate which bacteria breaks down into an alk increase. This takes time and is why you can do large single doses.

Normal dosing of an alk supplement (like b ionic) is almost immediately testable

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

I'm no expert but AFR is calcium formate which bacteria breaks down into an alk increase. This takes time and is why you can do large single doses.

Normal dosing of an alk supplement (like b ionic) is almost immediately testable

Ok, I did not know calcium was broken down into ALK. But from what your stating it is the type of calcium being used. So is this more of a separation process by the bacteria because of the formate or an actual conversion of the calcium formate?

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Adding thread link to question here as well for reference.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-to-dosing-and-low-alk.1109408/

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

After some chat and seeing this dosing for AFR will be a daily thing, I have ordered Kamoer X1 PRO T Stepper Dosing Pump since on sale for 83 and seemed to have great reviews.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

To save money on filter socks, I was possibly able to find plastic plant holders that state 3" which should fit the filter adapter. I also purchased 100 micron filter bag that I will use to cover and cut the excess. This should cut down on cost and can also use alternative filtration if the cups work out.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

I am so disappointed now. Just saw where orphek now makes strips at 12inch. I loved their colors from what I have seen. Will be a few years before I replace and something new will be out by then lol

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

DIY filter cup. The mesh bag was not the right size but can use for something else. Got a ton of the plant holders.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Received my replacement upgrade of the axis 40 this morning. Needed to rearrange corals due to flow and lighting strength.

I am work on my parameters and figuring out dosing needs. It is very hard going from just changing water to dosing and testing with slight water changes. My bowerbanki and Duncan are not happy at the moment and some receding a bit, but will be better for me and the tank in long run. Currently will need to add a source of higher phosphate.

Dosing AFR and AF power Elixir.

Mag 1425
Cal 415
Alk 7.3 over the course of several days could also be causing them to be upset.
Phos 0 just need to do less cleaning lol. And may pickup something to raise phosphate.
PH 8.2
Nitrate 0

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

The Doser came today while I'm at work. Asked wife to look to see if everything was okay. Now to figure out how to mount it under my stand and run the line up and keep bottle from tipping over lol. This will be fun.....my first doser.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/what-is-going-on-here.1111141/
This thread is to link in figuring out possible stn issues and why some corals are not happy.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Things have gone horribly south since trying to dose and reduce water changes. I know I did something wrong but can not pinpoint. I have 2 threads in prior posts. One for possibly contamination with AFR and Elixir under low all to ask if there is a possibility that could be the problem and another to see if something else can be identified with the corals.

At this point I am very distraught. At current course I have talked with wife and she agreed we can go ahead and get almost anything else I may need within reason. I hAve spent to much already to just throw in the towel but am at that point. I will be doing a small reset. As if just setting up almost. Will flush the equipment rinse tank, rinse off and possibly redo a bit of rock. Dip coral and setup everything. I will be looking at an ATO. Even though I do not have PH issues or any with it, I want to rule out any possibilities.

 

[Tahoe61]

I am so sorry you are going through this. The frustration is horrible.
Perhaps going the baking soda route since it's cheap a lot cheaper than AFR. Even kalkwasser via doing pump and set for make evaporation water. You can get pickling lime.
If it were my tank I would not dip the corals but only you can make that decision based on what you see.
Total water change with well mixed salt.
Hang in there this is just a bump in the road. Better reefing days are ahead.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

I am so sorry you are going through this. The frustration is horrible.
Perhaps going the baking soda route since it's cheap a lot cheaper than AFR. Even kalkwasser via doing pump and set for make evaporation water. You can get pickling lime.
If it were my tank I would not dip the corals but only you can make that decision based on what you see.
Total water change with well mixed salt.
Hang in there this is just a bump in the road. Better reefing days are ahead.

I'm hesitant to dip but worried this could also be some sort of parasite, disease etc since I can't pinpoint.im at a loose everything if it's not nipped type of deal but don't want to over correct.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

New thread
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/i-am-done-tank.1111477/#post-13579000