New setup using AF

[BB215]

First post on reef central
My local fish shop in Sydney Australia has just started stocking the full range of AF products and highly recommends them.
So many additives and chemicals in the market do my head in.
These AF products came available at the right time as I just purchased a Red Sea Reefer 170 along with a lot of top of the range equipment as I prefer to buy quality from the start as this is my first brand new tank but also my last so I want to get it right this time round.
Prior to AF products available to AUS, they recommended using GAC, bio pellets and Siporax as this is what their SPS supplier runs on their system.
My tank will consist of Caribsea live sand, man made reel reef rock, SPS, LPS and Zoanthids and about 5 small fish.
I recently purchased for the first time ever a Kamoer 4x doser as the LFS recommended 1+2+3+
Tank is not set up as yet but almost got all bits and peices so not too far away from start up.

My questions are
1) Am I able to use bio pellets in conjunction with 1+2+3+ and other AF products ?
2) which of the 2 salt products would you recommend me to use ?
3) what other product would I use to cycle and continue with ?
4) would I use 1+2+3+ from start up or wait after initial cycle ?

 

[plyle02]

Hello and congrats on setting up your new tank
Here are the answers to your questions:
1. Yes, you can use bio pellets, and depending on your tank's ability to process nutrients, you can use Pro Bio S and NP Pro along side for controlling N&P.
2. You could use Probiotic Reef Salt, or Reef Salt, either will work, Probiotic Reef Salt contains aminos, bacteria, and vitamins.
3. To cycle your tank, use Bio S, not Pro Bio S, Bio S is designed to help cycle the tank in around 2 weeks.
4. If you are speaking of Component 123, this would be the balling lite pre mix that contains all minerals and trace, I would wait to start that as your demand begins to increase for your main minerals.

 

[BB215]

Thank you Perry
Things may change by the time I set up.
Will be looking to use only AF products as my LFS is not a fan of mixing products

 

[BB215]

Another question
If using bio pellets in conjunction with AF products, would I still use pro bio F or bio F ?

 

[plyle02]

No,
You would use Pro Bio S and NP Pro, as needed. NP Pro is sort of what Bio Pellets are, in liquid form, not exact, but similar. Pro Bio F and Bio F are not needed for this application. Personally, if it were my setup, I would invest in siporax or matrix, or soon to release from AF is there similar version, Life Bio Fil. These medias along side Pro Bio S and NP Pro work brilliant. The medias in Siporax or Matrix need no replacing, they simply harbor de-nitrifying bacteria, and this helps to remove N&P quite efficiently. Life Bio Fil is the same, but pre-loaded with bacteria, so no seeding time involved, however, the media needs about 10% replacement every 6 weeks or so. With Bio Pellets for me, they were great with nitrate control, but not so much with phosphates. Here is a link to my tank journal which shows sump and all medias used, and a breakdown of my tank. This may help you with product choice and implementation http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2381737&page=60

 

[NATCAP_Reefer]

Hmmmmmm

 

[BB215]

Ah ok sweet, thanks Perry
I did find on previous tanks that pellets weren't that good for phosphate as well.
I do have Siporax in an IM full size ( 1 LTR ) reactor ready to go, I stacked them one by one on top of each other to get better flow through them so they look like full tubes inside the reactor.
Do you think zeo mix would be a much better option than bio pellets ?
If so, like zeovit, do you have to have a certain amount of flow through the reactor and need to agitate every day ?
Or would it serve the same purpose as Siporax?

 

[ClearwaterUK]

Zeolite works differently to Siporax

The Siporax is a home for the bacteria we feed to reduce N+P with Pro Bio S and NP Pro Carbon Source

The Zeolite is absorbing Ammonia, right at the start of the Nitrogen Cycle, it also tends to lower Potassium, so this needs to be monitored

Activated Carbon pulls out organics before they break down

Phosphate Minus is as the name suggests for Po4 reduction

All tanks are different in there needs

AF are recommending as a starting point to use all three in equal amounts in the same reactor, but you will need to adjust the percentage to suit your system once you see how the system reacts

I still have All in One Bio Pellets Nitrate is unmeasurable so I only use the Carbon and Phosphate Minus

 

[BB215]

Hi
Bit confused with the dosing of the NP pro
I've got a spare channel on my dosing pump so thought I would get the 2000ml of NP pro but on the directions it says
Dosage: 1 drop/100L (27 US gal.)
For dosing pumps (container 2000ml) : 5ml/100l ( US: 1 tsp/27 US gal. of water.)
Do I do 1 drop or 5ml ?

 

[ridetheducati]

Hi
Bit confused with the dosing of the NP pro
I've got a spare channel on my dosing pump so thought I would get the 2000ml of NP pro but on the directions it says
Dosage: 1 drop/100L (27 US gal.)
For dosing pumps (container 2000ml) : 5ml/100l ( US: 1 tsp/27 US gal. of water.)
Do I do 1 drop or 5ml ?

NP Pro is sold in two varieties, 50ml and 2000ml solutions.

The 50ml bottle should be dosed according to the instructions, 1 drop/100L (27 US gal). The 2000ml container is dosed at 5ml/100l (US: 1 tsp/27 US gal. of water.)

When using a dosing pump, the 2000ml container should be used.

 

[BB215]

Hmmm
Is the 50ml stronger ??

 

[ClearwaterUK]

Hmmm
Is the 50ml stronger ??

Thats the concentrate for daily dropper dose
the volume would be super low for a dosing system that why there are two kinds

you can also add the 50 ML and add 2.5 Ltrs of RO then it's the same strength as the 2 Ltr containers

 

[BB215]

Ah ok
Thanks

 

[BB215]

Is Pro bio S the only product to be stored in the fridge once opened ?

What about Bio S ?

 

[M007]

Sorry to the OP but the thread title is perfect . Starting a new 80G. AF Reef Salt in, shallow fine grain sand bed. Planning to use Siporax, what should I be dosing and when would you recommend 1-2-3? Skimmer is running and AF GAC in reactor, water is crystal clear.

 

[plyle02]

Is Pro bio S the only product to be stored in the fridge once opened ?

What about Bio S ?

It is not necessary to store any dosing products in the fridge, out of habit though, I store only the Pro Bio S in fridge, as it does get hot here in FL. Old habits are hard to break Cheers