Aquaforest products- Component 1+2+3+

[Geeray]

Do I need to be concerned with the component 1,2,3 being degraded if it's stored in clear containers that are open to aquarium lights? Particularly the trace elements will they degrade in light?

 

[zeemofree]

Hello, To answer question regarding AF Zeomix with balling method, it is actually what I use. The method is AF Component 123, which is a balling lite version. This is unrelated to AF Zeomix as one is concerning mineral and trace, and the combo of the 3 medias is for controlling N&P. Yes, if you are using AF Zeomix, you should also be using Pro Bio S and NP Pro to maintain low nutrients. As far as Component Strong goes, it is to be used with the option of mixing your own components to yield the same effect as the pre-mixed formula of AF Component 123. May I also suggest use of AF Build, Energy, Vitality, and Aminomix, these help to maintain coloration of corals while the system runs very low nutrients. Hope this helps

How does the probiotic salt work with Zeovit products, such as Zeobak, and Zeostart?

 

[plyle02]

How does the probiotic salt work with Zeovit products, such as Zeobak, and Zeostart?

Hello,
I have no personal experience with AF Probiotic Reef Salt with use of Zeovit products, but since they use their own probiotic based system, I am not confident that it will blend well with their lineup. AF products for running the Probiotic based system are specifically designed for use with the Probiotic Reef Salt usually 10% change per week. To be safe, I would recommend using the Reef Salt, as it mixes at similar values, in terms of NSW values, and that way there is no interference with Zeovit's bac and carbon source with AF. Cheers!

 

[plyle02]

Do I need to be concerned with the component 1,2,3 being degraded if it's stored in clear containers that are open to aquarium lights? Particularly the trace elements will they degrade in light?

To be safe, you could always krylon paint the containers, and leave a strip un painted to be able to know fluid levels. I doubt there would be a concern, but I think it is always best to use caution. Cheers

 

[Cyberdude]

Are water changes required with component 123

 

[plyle02]

In theory no, but with the AF Probiotic based system, it is recommended to change 10% weekly with Probiotic Reef Salt. Cheers!

 

[zeemofree]

Hello, I have no personal experience with AF Probiotic Reef Salt with use of Zeovit products, but since they use their own probiotic based system, I am not confident that it will blend well with their lineup. AF products for running the Probiotic based system are specifically designed for use with the Probiotic Reef Salt usually 10% change per week. To be safe, I would recommend using the Reef Salt, as it mixes at similar values, in terms of NSW values, and that way there is no interference with Zeovit's bac and carbon source with AF. Cheers!

Thanks,

 

[M007]

1 week into complete dosing re-do, did a complete wash and rinse replacing ESV CA/ALK/MG with AF 1-2-3. There is definitely something to this AF product, results are most interesting in a good way

 

[Geeray]

I just started the component 1,2,3 a few days ago. When the lights came on today I noticed my forest fire Monti looked irritated. I ran some test and found the following:

Kh 7.7 (been here for months)
Cal 430 (been here for months)
Mag 1350 (been here for months)
Potassium 470 (use to be closer to 440)

I'm not suggesting the component 1,2,3 is responsible for the increase. I think it might be my batch of IO salt. I assume it should be safe to not run component 3 for a while while the potassium level lowers? Do you think potassium being at 470 could irritate the forest fire Monti? All other sps seem uneffected. I'm going to test a fresh batch of mixed IO water to see if it's the culprit

 

[Geeray]

Tested the IO salt and the potassium is 430 so that can't be it. Must have been the salifert trace hard I was dosing? I discontinued the trace hard once I saw niggles triton results... In any case I want to suspend dosing component 3 until the potassium level comes down a bit unless I shouldn't do that for some reason. What do you think?

 

[plyle02]

Tested the IO salt and the potassium is 430 so that can't be it. Must have been the salifert trace hard I was dosing? I discontinued the trace hard once I saw niggles triton results... In any case I want to suspend dosing component 3 until the potassium level comes down a bit unless I shouldn't do that for some reason. What do you think?

I believe the best thing to do is water changes, but IO is higher in alk, you should look into the AF Reef Salt, it mixes closer to NSW values, and is a high quality salt that is easy on the budget. Either way, I prefer water changes to reset my values, the downside to discontinue dosing is that the benefit of Reef Mineral Salts not being there to help balance all the ions. It is possible, but I would look to w/c's if it were my tank, I use the Component 123 system and love the balance, I don't think I would want to risk interrupting this. Also, what test kit are you using to measure K? Cheers

 

[Geeray]

I believe the best thing to do is water changes, but IO is higher in alk, you should look into the AF Reef Salt, it mixes closer to NSW values, and is a high quality salt that is easy on the budget. Either way, I prefer water changes to reset my values, the downside to discontinue dosing is that the benefit of Reef Mineral Salts not being there to help balance all the ions. It is possible, but I would look to w/c's if it were my tank, I use the Component 123 system and love the balance, I don't think I would want to risk interrupting this. Also, what test kit are you using to measure K? Cheers

I used a Salifert kit for potassium. Do you think potassium being at 470 would irritate a forest fire monti?

Af's salt is probiotic? What exactly does that mean? Could I use the salt and the component 1,2,3 without needing anything else? I don't want to use any salt that would simulate carbon dosing as my nutrients are already where I want them without carbon dosing.

 

[plyle02]

I used a Salifert kit for potassium. Do you think potassium being at 470 would irritate a forest fire monti?

Af's salt is probiotic? What exactly does that mean? Could I use the salt and the component 1,2,3 without needing anything else? I don't want to use any salt that would simulate carbon dosing as my nutrients are already where I want them without carbon dosing.

Stay with Reef Salt then, the Probiotic salt contains bacteria and aminos. This would not be good for what you are looking for. IME with digi, they are usually pretty hardy, and while your K is a bit high, I doubt that is the contributing factor. I would just do a couple of large water changes, keep an eye on that digi though

 

[kainic]

I'd like to try the DIY mix for the macroelements but I need to know the "power" of the solution.

AF Guide says 10g of Ca will increase 35ppm in 100 litres. If we do the math it means we have to add 200ml (50gr in 1000ml for the mix) in 100 litres to increase calcium by 35ppm. That's quite a big volume for that small increase!

I'd like AF to tell us how much will calcium increase (in ppm) if we add for instance, 10ml of the mother mix to 100 litres.

I think it's a bit confusing the info we get form the guide, at least for me.

TIA

Sergi

 

[nemodan]

Hi Perry

I am thinking on moving to the AF 123. I have the Neptune DOS dosing pumps. They are only 2 pumps, that i will continue using for Alk (comp 1 ? ) and for Ca (Comp 2).

For the Mag part (Comp 3 ?) I will have tu use a BRS peristaltic pump.

Alk and Ca will be dosed apart some minutes to avoid any chancechance if precipitation. BUT for Mag it will be very dificult for me to sincronize a BRS peristaltic pump with the DOS system.

So the questions are :

Do i have to dose the Mag far away of where Alk and Ca are being dosed ? OR there is no risk if i dose Mg nearby the Alk and Ca and , if it happens to be dosed at the same time/moment of the Alk or Ca there will NOT BE any precipitation or anything negative ?

Thank you !!!
Daniel

Another one: can i continue with my 10% weekly WC also if i dose 123 ?

Thanks again !!

 

[plyle02]

Hi Perry

I am thinking on moving to the AF 123. I have the Neptune DOS dosing pumps. They are only 2 pumps, that i will continue using for Alk (comp 1 ? ) and for Ca (Comp 2).

For the Mag part (Comp 3 ?) I will have tu use a BRS peristaltic pump.

Alk and Ca will be dosed apart some minutes to avoid any chancechance if precipitation. BUT for Mag it will be very dificult for me to sincronize a BRS peristaltic pump with the DOS system.

So the questions are :

Do i have to dose the Mag far away of where Alk and Ca are being dosed ? OR there is no risk if i dose Mg nearby the Alk and Ca and , if it happens to be dosed at the same time/moment of the Alk or Ca there will NOT BE any precipitation or anything negative ?

Thank you !!!
Daniel

Another one: can i continue with my 10% weekly WC also if i dose 123 ?

Thanks again !!

Hey Daniel,
Good to hear about making the switch, my reef has exploded since starting with the AF Component 123. Here is what is in each component in the 3 5Liter jugs, this is not the same formulas as traditional 2 part system, it is formulated differently. Here are the ingredients:

AF Component 1- 230ml per day contains: Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba, Co, Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn, Ni, Cr

*AF Component 2- 230ml per day- contains: NaHCO3, F, I

*AF Component 3- 230ml per day- contains: mineral salts and K, Bo.

Take note that Ca and Mag are in the same container in Component 1, Component 2 controls mostly alk, and Component 3 is mainly Reef Mineral Salt, to help buffer the minerals and trace. That said, as long as you are dosing equal amounts of all 3 in a 24 hour period or interval, that should be ok. Try not and let the elements mix in the same general water in the sump, for this you may need to place hoses in different parts of the sump, that should work ok without precipitation. My doser does these split by 5 minutes, and every hour it delivers all 3. Let me know if you have any additional questions Cheers Daniel!

 

[Geeray]

I can confirm the starting point for dosing is similar to BRSs bulk ingredients. Still no idea why my calculations were off... Lol

 

[MichaelW]

Daniiel you will be doing basically the same as me. i have a dos dosing comp1 (calcium& mag) the other dos head will be for alk. for reef mineral salt it is set up on my old jebao doser so sometimes it may happen close to a dose of the other components... never seen an issue with it.

 

[Geeray]

Well I've been runing the component 1,2,3 for 2 weeks now and have been testing Alk daily. Just like others have reported around the 2 week mark my consumption has dirastically jumped. I'm now using double the dose I started with...

 

[plyle02]

Well I've been runing the component 1,2,3 for 2 weeks now and have been testing Alk daily. Just like others have reported around the 2 week mark my consumption has dirastically jumped. I'm now using double the dose I started with...

Wait until your corals start taking off with noticeable growth, than you will have to increase again Cheers