problems with AFR, switching question

[scotty333]

All for reef uses calcium formate which releases alkalinity slowly as bacteria process it allowing for steady alkalinity to be released. It can take 24-48 hrs for the alk to be fully released which reduces spikes, but it also means that it won’t show up immediately in a test.

If you dose then after 48 hours you will see the full effect of the dose, but, over the course of 48 hours, you will also have consumption, and then when you dose more, it takes another 24-48 hours to release

This is why AFR should be dosed daily, based on your daily alk consumption, so this 24-48 hour process is always running, instead of a dosing every few days which has the process start…run…stop…stop…start…run…stop…etc

You want to keep adding whatever is needed daily so it’s constantly releasing what is needed, and the process is replacing the correct amount of alk daily to counteract consumption

I hope this makes sense but if not let us know and maybe someone can explain it better or I can reword it

I should be at kh 10.5 tomorrow when I instal afr , I’m thinking 50ml per day over 24 doses
I have room for it to decrease while it’s processing but will it eventually start to rise again?
I mean , I shouldn’t dose alk with the afr because it’ll rise when the afr kicks in??

 

[VintageReefer]

I should be at kh 10.5 tomorrow when I instal afr , I’m thinking 50ml per day over 24 doses
I have room for it to decrease while it’s processing but will it eventually start to rise again?
I mean , I shouldn’t dose alk with the afr because it’ll rise when the afr kicks in??

I think you test two days in a row without dosing any product to see what the daily drop is in alkalinity

Then use the bottle instructions or calculation tool to find amount of all for reef needed, to replenish that amount of alk

Then you get your alk back to the desired value, and switch to all for reef

And I would reccomend daily alk testing for the first two weeks to make sure your dosage amount is correct and numbers are staying consistent.

 

[scotty333]

I think you test two days in a row without dosing any product to see what the daily drop is in alkalinity

Then use the bottle instructions or calculation tool to find amount of all for reef needed, to replenish that amount of alk

Then you get your alk back to the desired value, and switch to all for reef

And I would reccomend daily alk testing for the first two weeks to make sure your dosage amount is correct and numbers are staying consistent.

I already know it’s .8 kh per day which works out at 55ml/pd

Question is, will I see a drop in kh even though it’s being dosed for the first day or 2 ?
I don’t want a drop then a spike when it kicks in so how do you avoid that?

 

[rishma]

I already know it’s .8 kh per day which works out at 55ml/pd

Question is, will I see a drop in kh even though it’s being dosed for the first day or 2 ?
I don’t want a drop then a spike when it kicks in so how do you avoid that?

Intersting…it does take time to start seeing the alkalinity. I’ve seen it in 24hrs, but always assume 48hr. Thinking through that, it would drop some before the alkalinity is available between day 0 and day 1. I’ve just never worried about it. Alkalinity swings every day. I know mine does.

I’d you are worried about it, how about spending a few days proving half your alkalinity from your old method and half from AfR. Then switch over entirely.

 

[rishma]

I should be at kh 10.5 tomorrow when I instal afr , I’m thinking 50ml per day over 24 doses
I have room for it to decrease while it’s processing but will it eventually start to rise again?
I mean , I shouldn’t dose alk with the afr because it’ll rise when the afr kicks in??

To make my life easier, I don’t spread dose over 24hrs. I dose at beginning of light cycle. If memory serves, that is what directions say (but check the bottle). I suppose there is nothing wrong with spreading out over 24hrs, but when I am trying to dial in my dose I want to dose, test, adjust dose, re-test, etc. if I know the dose happens between 12-1PM, then I know when 48 hrs has passed and my alkalinity has showed up. If I was dosing continuously all day I’d be less certain where I was at.

There is a slight pH drop right after dosing in my experience. I dose right after lights come on and pH is rising.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I don’t want a drop then a spike when it kicks in so how do you avoid that?

Make changes slowly.