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Thoughts on dosing for a beginner? All-for-reef (powder) vs Kalk vs BRS 2 Part? (1 Viewer)

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miltonkl

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Looking to bring my alkalinity up and maintain my levels better overall. Need to start checking more frequently to get a better grip on how fast it's getting used to determine how often and how much to dose of course, but just curious peoples thoughts on dosing for a beginner. There are, of course, more than these 3 ways, but it seems these are the most prevalent options. My trace elements are likely resolved in water changes for the moment with minimal corals sucking up the nutrients, but I know my salt mixes lower than I'd like and as things grow out and I add more my overall usage will presumably outpace my water changes for the major stuff so I'd like to start getting a handle on this early so that I'm prepared for that stage of growth.

Hit me with your thoughts!
 
All for Reef is very simple, but it does have a delayed effect. You have to just figure a dose and only adjust occasionally. My biggest problem with it is I see a parameter change and am tempted to start fiddling with the dose daily and overshoot my correction. I also have an issue were my CAL is higher than I'd like. To fix it I'd probably have to start dosing AFR to the level to keep the CAL correct and supplement with ALK 2-part. Big advantage is you get all your trace elements in one dose and as your corals grow your additions grow in proportion.

2-part is simple and easy to control parameters separately. Very easy to adjust and cheap. Issues are you may need to dose Mg and trace elements as your demand grows. You can also get salinity creep with it long term. You would also need 2 dosers or maybe 3. Also watch for precipitation. It needs to be dosed in a high flow area and spread out as much as possible during the day.

Kalk works for smaller or medium demand, but will eventually be harder to dose the volume needed when full of corals as your evaporation may not be high enough for the amount of fluid you need to add. Like AFR you can't manipulate individual parameters without additional dosing.

Me, I use AFR.
 
I run AFR after running 2 part for 3-4 years.....My vote would be for 2 part, at this time for you. Get a handle on the uptake, and like @Ben Nicholls said, cheap, mixes easy, will see dosing results quickly. Tried all 3, but to start out my vote is hands down 2 part. Even with AFR I have a set of 2 part bags laying around if anything got out of wack. Ben hit most all the points.
 
I also did 2 part when I was hand dosing, just because it seemed easy. But then setup a dosing pump with kalkwasser. Since my tank is new and demand fairly low, it seems like a great solution. I get my alk/ca in the right ratio, I get a PH bump, and apparently it also helps with excess phosphate. Not to mention, and yes, it's anecdotal, but BRS/WWC both claim kalk = faster coralline growth. I'm sure once I have a well established tank I will find that to be a bad thing, but right now with all my ugly white rock (*cough* green due to algae...) a little purple would be most welcome.

I have a couple of Kamoer X1 bluetooth pumps that I would part with if you don't already have a dosing pump. I got a good deal on them but then switched over to all the GHL stuff, so I'm willing to pass it on if you're interested. Just shoot me a PM if so.
 
AFR here. Ran it on a few tanks and like it. Sure easy to set up with the x1 pumps. Now Im not good about testing. I only test for alk every few months. I don’t test for calk or mag. Im sure my levels might not be perfect or even in the range. But I feel they are consistent. And I feel that is the most important. I also have used kalwasser and 2 part. Both seemed fine and not to difficult But this time around being about 10 year with out a tank decided to research what else was out. I also wanted less equipment since my original tank I started with this time around did not have a sump or a place to to hide not only top off but 2 part pumps. Now Ive recently purchase a magnetic stirrer and all for reef powder so I can save a little cash and mix my own batches.
 
Based on this all this great feedback, I think I'll take the 2-part route for now and expect that I may one day move to AFR.

For dosing to a high flow area, it seems to make sense to me to dose it into my return pump chamber where it can be easily pumped through both returns and "mixed" into the tank relatively evenly and immediately. Is there reason to go with pouring it into a powerhead inside the display or elsewhere instead?
 
miltonkl said:
Based on this all this great feedback, I think I'll take the 2-part route for now and expect that I may one day move to AFR.

For dosing to a high flow area, it seems to make sense to me to dose it into my return pump chamber where it can be easily pumped through both returns and "mixed" into the tank relatively evenly and immediately. Is there reason to go with pouring it into a powerhead inside the display or elsewhere instead?
Click to expand...

I dose mine in between sump baffles as it’s more turbulent than the return chamber.

If you’re dosing manually, in front of a power head is a good option as well.
 
miltonkl said:
For dosing to a high flow area, it seems to make sense to me to dose it into my return pump chamber where it can be easily pumped through both returns and "mixed" into the tank relatively evenly and immediately. Is there reason to go with pouring it into a powerhead inside the display or elsewhere instead?
Click to expand...
If you dose too near the return pump you run the risk of the 2-part not being fully diluted in the sump water and precipitating inside the return pump. This will cause a calcium build up on the impeller shaft. I've ruined a couple pumps that way.
 
I dosed in my return chamber with 2 part, just spaced out the dosing, Alk top of the hour, Ca bottom of the hour so they dont mix (precip out)....mag tested once a month a just hand dosed in front of power head.
 
I dose kalk, afr and soda ash. Using the white kamoer x1 pumps for now. Going to be adding the cal part of 2 part soon. I originally only dosed kalk but it's starting to not keep up dosing around 1 liter a day. Kalk is the cheapest option I believe and has a detoxifying effect Aswell as the much needed ph boost. Not really sure why I'm dosing like this but its doing the job. For whatever reason when only dosing afr I have really high mag 1600-1700. The soda ash has a nice pH boost also but really has to be on a dosing pump to get the full benefits because of the pH boost being short lived. Same thing with about anything that raises pH.

I dose in my return pump chamber right after a power head. Haven't had a problem...yet.

kinda thought it was funny that I dose all three of these at the same time. I guess I've tried them all lol.
 
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