All for reef dialling in

rishma

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8pm last night 10.35
9.30 am today 10.5

Reduced kh 4ml

Think the afrs coming on
I got in the habit of always using at least 3 alkalinity tests (at least 24 hours between tests, 48 being better for AFR) to develop a trend (either up or down) before making an adjustment to my alk dosing. This reduced the chance of me adjusting a dose based on one small testing error and then chasing my tail. The exception being if I got an alarming alkalinity test result, then I’d retest immediately and make an adjustment if warranted.
 
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scotty333

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I’ll be doing 3 a day so I can catch the afr coming and reduce the kh dose so hopefully no swing
 

areefer01

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Given the delay in a dose turning to alkalinity, I always worried about automating with a Trident. In my tank it takes 1-2 days to see the full affect of a dose. it is great that it’s working well for you.

AFR is the wrong product to use if one wants to use trident controlled dosing for the very reason you note.
 

rishma

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You seem to very tightly manage the swings. I know my alkalinity swings up and down during a 24 hr period (as does phosphate) but I never worried about it much. I made my adjustments based on tests done at the same time each day. I know trident users see swings in a 24hr period.

I suppose more stability is always better with alk and tests are pretty accurate. How much swing do you consider too much?
I’ll be doing 3 a day so I can catch the afr coming and reduce the kh dose so hopefully no swing
 
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scotty333

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You seem to very tightly manage the swings. I know my alkalinity swings up and down during a 24 hr period (as does phosphate) but I never worried about it much. I made my adjustments based on tests done at the same time each day. I know trident users see swings in a 24hr period.

I suppose more stability is always better with alk and tests are pretty accurate. How much swing do you consider too much?
Just tested 10.9 so off comes the kh and I’ll let the afr do its job
Hope tomorrow it tests similar but a drop will be fine
 

Doctorgori

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A swing down shouldn’t be noticed imo , I mean how do corals notice that?
Up, yes because they’ll stall to get used to the new level
ya know I’ve noticed unhappy corals with alk swings in either direction (like .5ish or so)…Anyway, let this happen during a massive water change and the corals aren’t fazed, perhaps even more “perkier” afterward …No answer
I used AFR and tested and kind of got it to where I wanted. I then switched to the mode on my Trident that doses to a desired Alk level and the dosing gets adjusted to maintain that level (or close to it). That seems to work well for me.
I didn’t have the kahunas for this given the funky way AFR works…I dunno…
Given the delay in a dose turning to alkalinity, I always worried about automating with a Trident. In my tank it takes 1-2 days to see the full affect of a dose. it is great that it’s working well for you.
yeah, that’s what worried me also
 
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scotty333

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10.5
Seems it’ll stay there unless I adjust the dose
That transition was easier than I thought it might be
 

Chisavage

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Side Question, how does everyone prevent the AFR buildup at the end of the discharge line? Currently every few days I check it and break off any buildup on the line.
 
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scotty333

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Side Question, how does everyone prevent the AFR buildup at the end of the discharge line? Currently every few days I check it and break off any buildup on the line.
I’m not getting that yet , not sure I will because every 1 hour it doses 1ml + the lines are not in the water
 

carol3

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Side Question, how does everyone prevent the AFR buildup at the end of the discharge line? Currently every few days I check it and break off any buildup on the line.
Lou Ekus adressed that on one of his videos on BRS, he gave several options and I think one way was to make a Y at the end of your AFR tube and the OTO tube and the top off water flushes it.
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

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Lou Ekus adressed that on one of his videos on BRS, he gave several options and I think one way was to make a Y at the end of your AFR tube and the OTO tube and the top off water flushes it.

Yes, that’s a good one. :)
 

Chisavage

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Lou Ekus adressed that on one of his videos on BRS, he gave several options and I think one way was to make a Y at the end of your AFR tube and the OTO tube and the top off water flushes it.
thank you!
 

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