What should I switch to?

[BrickReef95]

I am currently running a 4 head dose with 2 part. The brand is used for years is ocean blend. I was a loyal /die hard purchaser of the product ever since I met the owner years ago. It seems that it is no longer as easy to find and my LFS don’t carry it and sadly have never heard of it. I’m wanting to switch to something equivalent but am not sure what direction to take.

The guys at the LFS were suggesting AB+ or the Red Sea brand, which yes is two part but those bottles won’t last me nearly as long as my gallon jugs I have now.

I mentioned using the BRS mix it yourself two part but for some reason they wouldn’t entertain that idea.

We also had a whole discussion about all for reef (which I hear a lot of people on here use) and how it could work for me but also might not.

What is the cheapest/ most similar to what I’m doing now? What are you all using

For context I have a very light load of all LPS and softies. I currently am dosing 76ml of part 1 and 38ml of part 2.

 

[Airedale Reef]

I too have not heard of ocean blend :/

I’ve been using AFR, and been pleased. Is there a reason why some suggest they will not work for you?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

AFR works in all tanks, and I use it, but it will be expensive for larger tanks.

The diy recipes are a great plan. They are detailed here:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-balling-method-recipe.1098905/
ESV is another fine brand, as is Tropic Marin Balling.

 

[BrickReef95]

I too have not heard of ocean blend :/

I’ve been using AFR, and been pleased. Is there a reason why some suggest they will not work for you?

If one of the parameters drops before the others. For instance my corals might suck up magnesium faster than the calc and alk, I’m going to end up supplementing the supplement. Also I got a little intimidated by the fact it didn’t give instructions on how to mix it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If one of the parameters drops before the others. For instance my corals might suck up magnesium faster than the calc and alk, I’m going to end up supplementing the supplement. Also I got a little intimidated by the fact it didn’t give instructions on how to mix it.

Those types of changes are unusual and not any cause to avoid AFR. I do not even recommend measuring magnesium because testing is much more likely to be misleading than is just dosing it based on alk.

 

[BrickReef95]

AFR works in all tanks, and I use it, but it will be expensive for larger tanks.

The diy recipes are a great plan. They are detailed here:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-balling-method-recipe.1098905/
ESV is another fine brand, as is Tropic Marin Balling.

Yeah. I have a 125g and tight budget .

 

[rtparty]

Food grade baking soda and some calcium chloride. Finding pure calcium chloride is the hardest part

 

[JayM]

If one of the parameters drops before the others. For instance my corals might suck up magnesium faster than the calc and alk, I’m going to end up supplementing the supplement. Also I got a little intimidated by the fact it didn’t give instructions on how to mix it.

I use the powder, and it does indeed have mixing instructions inside the container. I have a 100 gallon total volume system and use a little over three containers per year.

 

[Science/G]

I just met the owner of Perfect Corals, Alex. Nice guy with some impressive corals in his displays. He designed a two part that includes Trace elements and amino acids. Reasonable prices and a list of available products

Perfect Corals
https://g.co/kgs/69TpaKQ

 

[BrickReef95]

If one of the parameters drops before the others. For instance my corals might suck up magnesium faster than the calc and alk, I’m going to end up supplementing the supplement. Also I got a little intimidated by the fact it didn’t give instructions on how to mix it.

I use the powder, and it does indeed have mixing instructions inside the container. I have a 100 gallon total volume system and use a little over three containers per year.

Aaaahhhh. Ok. I was looking at all the labels.

I’m assuming you’re referring to the 1600g container?

 

[BrickReef95]

I just met the owner of Perfect Corals, Alex. Nice guy with some impressive corals in his displays. He designed a two part that includes Trace elements and amino acids. Reasonable prices and a list of available products

Perfect Corals
https://g.co/kgs/69TpaKQ

That sounds like it would be an exact equivalent. But I’m scared I’m going to run into the same problem where it’s not supplied regularly. I’m an in store kinda person. . Gives me reasons to go and window shop.

 

[Science/G]

Shoot him an email. He may be in stores before you know it.

 

[FishLvR]

I use AFR. Easy easy easy.

 

[KrisReef]

Well Randy provided the detailed info that can answer your question, which is good because If I was going to have to explain the chemistry of the switch then I would have had to suggest switching to freshwater.

 

[Maize & Blue]

Try Reef Pro A&B 2 part. Buy direct from Reef Pro $54 for both.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Using anyone’s two part is an act of trust, since you are trusting they get a complicated recipe correct.

FWIW, there are not a lot of reef chemical suppliers that I trust at that level.

 

[JayM]

Aaaahhhh. Ok. I was looking at all the labels.

I’m assuming you’re referring to the 1600g container?

800g container. I forget off the top of my head what I’m dosing. 30-40ml a day maybe. I’m fairly light on SPS, so I don’t dose as much as I would otherwise. Tank holds pretty steady at the mid to high 8.x dkh.

 

[BrickReef95]

If one of the parameters drops before the others. For instance my corals might suck up magnesium faster than the calc and alk, I’m going to end up supplementing the supplement. Also I got a little intimidated by the fact it didn’t give instructions on how to mix it.

Those types of changes are unusual and not any cause to avoid AFR. I do not even recommend measuring magnesium because testing is much more likely to be misleading than is just dosing it based on alk.

Quick question.

I think I have made my decision to switch to the AFR. Pros are definitely out weighing the cons ( which is really only $)
Does the all for reef store well. Furthermore could I mix up a gallons worth, attach it to my doser, set it and forget it?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Quick question.

I think I have made my decision to switch to the AFR. Pros are definitely out weighing the cons ( which is really only $)
Does the all for reef store well. Furthermore could I mix up a gallons worth, attach it to my doser, set it and forget it?

Some very few folks find some growths in it, but generally it stores fine since it is generally too saline for bacteria to grow.