Uptaking only dkH

[Rollnwthdatide]

Could you show your last ICP?

I will definitely later this afternoon when I get off.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Our test ICP-MS measures 20-50 umg/l. I have <20 umg/l.

Do you mean ug/l?

You might benefit from a supplement, but 20 ug/L of iron is way above the natural amounts in many surface ocean areas.

Typical surface concentrations are on the order of 0.1 nM (0.000006 ppm = 0.006 ug/L ).

https://reefs.com/magazine/chemistry-and-the-aquarium-iron-in-a-reef-tank/

 

[rishma]

Is there a set amount of alk per dose in afr? For example, if i know my tanks consumption is 0.7 dkh per day, what would be the daily afr dose? I only test alk. I test calcium once in a while with my hanna checker, and it is always over 400. Its a 20 gallon. Right now i just dose liquid baking soda at 0.7dkh a day, and change 3 gallons a week with reef crystals. My target is 9dkh. The dosing is keeping it close. Once or twice a week if i see it dipping slightly, ill do an extra correction dose to get it back to 9. I have a big bottle of afr that im considering trying. But everythings looking good so i dont know if a change is the right move.

Yes, there is a set amount of alkalinity per ml of AFR. I’ll give the math a go for you…

All-For-Reef has 6000 dKH per liter alkalinity (as alkalinity-precursors). So 10ml adds 60 dKH. In your 75 liter tank volume that adds 60/75 or 0.8 dKH.

 

[NDFoz]

Yes, there is a set amount of alkalinity per ml of AFR. I’ll give the math a go for you…

All-For-Reef has 6000 dKH per liter alkalinity (as alkalinity-precursors). So 10ml adds 60 dKH. In your 75 liter tank volume that adds 60/75 or 0.8 dKH.

When I first started testing Ca/Alk/Mg noticing that just weekly water changes weren’t enough to keep the numbers from dropping to the danger zones. I purchased the powder AFR and I started VERY slowly because slower the better. I did 1/2 dose for month 1 and normal water changes (Tropic Marin Pro Reef). Then when I noticed it wasn’t dropping as significantly but was still dropping into the upper portion of the dangerously low range. I increased to 3/4 dose for 2 weeks and it stayed above 380ppm-Ca/7.0-dkh/1280ppm-Mg so I went up to the recommended dose and did that for a bit then I added 6 new frags and after a week it was WAY low 200ppm-Ca/4.8-dkh/1100ppm-Mg. Took me about 3 weeks to get it 450Ca/8.1dkh/1300Mg. Then things started to go CRAZY. Ca went into the high 500’s and Alk was 7.1. And I couldn’t get it under control. So I started from the beginning testing every 3 days and then Aquaforest came out with their Compound 3-in-1. And I am currently at the recommended dose for my 20g and my numbers are sticking to where they should be.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

When I first started testing Ca/Alk/Mg noticing that just weekly water changes weren’t enough to keep the numbers from dropping to the danger zones. I purchased the powder AFR and I started VERY slowly because slower the better. I did 1/2 dose for month 1 and normal water changes (Tropic Marin Pro Reef). Then when I noticed it wasn’t dropping as significantly but was still dropping into the upper portion of the dangerously low range. I increased to 3/4 dose for 2 weeks and it stayed above 380ppm-Ca/7.0-dkh/1280ppm-Mg so I went up to the recommended dose and did that for a bit then I added 6 new frags and after a week it was WAY low 200ppm-Ca/4.8-dkh/1100ppm-Mg. Took me about 3 weeks to get it 450Ca/8.1dkh/1300Mg. Then things started to go CRAZY. Ca went into the high 500’s and Alk was 7.1. And I couldn’t get it under control. So I started from the beginning testing every 3 days and then Aquaforest came out with their Compound 3-in-1. And I am currently at the recommended dose for my 20g and my numbers are sticking to where they should be.

I think those wild swings in calcium and magnesium can only be due to test error. They cannot be from any amount of over or underdosing of AFR.

 

[MiZuboov]

So, If I see consuming only dKh and small amounts of Calcium and another elements is ok on ICP can I dose only Ca and kH or I need to dose micro anyway?
Thank you advices.

 

[rishma]

So, If I see consuming only dKh and small amounts of Calcium and another elements is ok on ICP can I dose only Ca and kH or I need to dose micro anyway?
Thank you advices.

I assume micro means trace elements.

I kept a lot of tanks before ICP and my trace elements came primarily from routine water changes and probably contaminants in foods and other things. Corals grew and I felt the tanks we successful. I don’t think I can say they are required, however, many people (including me) have seen benefits in coral growth and health that may be due in part to dosing trace.

Depending on what animals you are keeping and how you keep your tank, you may or may not benefit from dosing trace. ICP can help you see if there are any deficiencies, though it’s not an exact science. It’s a fine thing to experiment with. Tropic Marin A & K are simple and popular trace dosing solutions. This thread is a good read if you are interested in dosing trace elements.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/randys-elements-to-dose.1030557/