Red Sea Foundation ABC to another option

[BR260354]

Hey all. I know this topic has been discussed around, but still trying to figure out the best option for me.

Currently dosing RS Foundation ABC - 22ml Alk, 4ml Ca, 1ml Mag. Last week's tests show: 10.3 dKH, 600 ppm Ca, 1465 ppm Mg. 600 ppm Ca is the high limit using Hanna testers. I picked up Salifert Ca test kit. I'm thinking my Hanna Ca might be a bit off.

Aquarium has a total volume of 140g. It's a mixed reef, but heavy on the LPS side at the moment. I have around 6 SPS frags.

I also dose 45ml Ammonium BiCarb per @Randy Holmes-Farley method to raise Nitrates (which are at 10.8 ppm now with Po4 at 0.04.

I see a lot of talk about TM All-For-Reef. I also have been reading up on ESV B-Ionic and even the Triton method. Oh, BTW, I have a refugium as well, so the new RS 4-part method won't work for me.

Nothing is broken, but just wondering if I can do better. Switching to All-For-Reef would free up some dosing heads, but that isn't the primary reason. Just looking to improve.

TIA!

 

[SliceGolfer]

I have switched to Aquaforest Component 123+ three part dosing and have been satisfied with the results. What I like best is by mixing my own solution using the dry material recipes, I can bring cost down to $18.53 for all three 5000ml refills.

 

[BR260354]

I have switched to Aquaforest Component 123+ three part dosing and have been satisfied with the results. What I like best is by mixing my own solution using the dry material recipes, I can bring cost down to $18.53 for all three 5000ml refills.

You switched from RS Foundation?

 

[SliceGolfer]

I have not used RS Foundation. I have previously used BRS three part, BRS three part with TM A+K, Glenn Fong's DSR (Dutch Synthetic Reefing), Reef Blueprint Coral8 Yin and Yang, and TM All For Reef. AF Component 123+ has performed the best in my opinion.

 

[BR260354]

I have not used RS Foundation. I have previously used BRS three part, BRS three part with TM A+K, Glenn Fong's DSR (Dutch Synthetic Reefing), Reef Blueprint Coral8 Yin and Yang, and TM All For Reef. AF Component 123+ has performed the best in my opinion.

Cool, thanks for that.

 

[Uncle99]

Hey all. I know this topic has been discussed around, but still trying to figure out the best option for me.

Currently dosing RS Foundation ABC - 22ml Alk, 4ml Ca, 1ml Mag. Last week's tests show: 10.3 dKH, 600 ppm Ca, 1465 ppm Mg. 600 ppm Ca is the high limit using Hanna testers. I picked up Salifert Ca test kit. I'm thinking my Hanna Ca might be a bit off.

Aquarium has a total volume of 140g. It's a mixed reef, but heavy on the LPS side at the moment. I have around 6 SPS frags.

I also dose 45ml Ammonium BiCarb per @Randy Holmes-Farley method to raise Nitrates (which are at 10.8 ppm now with Po4 at 0.04.

I see a lot of talk about TM All-For-Reef. I also have been reading up on ESV B-Ionic and even the Triton method. Oh, BTW, I have a refugium as well, so the new RS 4-part method won't work for me.

Nothing is broken, but just wondering if I can do better. Switching to All-For-Reef would free up some dosing heads, but that isn't the primary reason. Just looking to improve.

TIA!

Something doesn’t seem right with your doses.
If a daily dose of Alk at 22ml gives 10dkh which is fine, then 4ml CA can’t be right. It should be with 22ml, same as Alk. The MG should be say 1/10 Alk, so 2ml ,although I have no concern with 1ml.

The test kit you have is junk. It does not provide consistent results for CA as the sample size is just to small. Even a minor change throws this test always high.

What did salifert say, I’d trust that kit if new and I’d bump CA up to at least 15ml per day, if not more.

Conceptually, the uptake of Alk and CA is 1to 1ml, however some mixes are not perfect here. But 22ml Alk versus 4ml CA daily doesn’t make sense to me.

 

[chip shop]

Used it for year with no problems changed to a uk brand that was terrible and then went on modern reef which I find brilliant

 

[chip shop]

Should say a few years had really good colours in sps and find have any problems

 

[BR260354]

Something doesn’t seem right with your doses.
If a daily dose of Alk at 22ml gives 10dkh which is fine, then 4ml CA can’t be right. It should be with 22ml, same as Alk. The MG should be say 1/10 Alk, so 2ml ,although I have no concern with 1ml.

The test kit you have is junk. It does not provide consistent results for CA as the sample size is just to small. Even a minor change throws this test always high.

What did salifert say, I’d trust that kit if new and I’d bump CA up to at least 15ml per day, if not more.

Conceptually, the uptake of Alk and CA is 1to 1ml, however some mixes are not perfect here. But 22ml Alk versus 4ml CA daily doesn’t make sense to me.

Yep, I agree. I use the Hanna Master photometer. I just picked up the Salifert kit just to double check.

Per the Red Sea recipe, I should be: Ca 17ml, All 51.1, and Mg 5.7ml. Obviously with my measurements, I never set my doses that high.

Also, I just received my ICP-MS results from Oceamo. Per this, my Ca is actually at 350!

I guess it's time to increase Ca!

Anyway, to stick with RS Foundation or something else?

 

[BR260354]

Used it for year with no problems changed to a uk brand that was terrible and then went on modern reef which I find brilliant

Used RS Foundation?

 

[Uncle99]

Hanna CA off 100%.
No surprise. Needs rework that kit.
The MG does that too, always high.

I love the Hanna phosphate checker as I simply can’t see the colour change but for the rest, I don’t need the colour meter.

I’ve used both Red Sea and Seachem. Last three years I used Seachem as the mix was more concentrated so in the end, less expensive.

But I stayed with Red Sea MG because Seachem version was very very expensive.

Make sure you have good fast availability to what ever you pick as their concentrations are all different and will screw up your dosage amounts.

Good luck.

 

[BR260354]

Hanna CA off 100%.
No surprise. Needs rework that kit.
The MG does that too, always high.

I love the Hanna phosphate checker as I simply can’t see the colour change but for the rest, I don’t need the colour meter.

Good luck.

I picked up the Salifert Mg kit as well. Hanna for All, NO3, and PO4 seems to be fine.

Thanks!

 

[Uncle99]

Agreed!
Enjoy.

 

[BR260354]

I picked up the Salifert Mg kit as well. Hanna for All, NO3, and PO4 seems to be fine.

Thanks!

just tested with Salifert Ca - 390. That seems better. Tested again with Hanna, 600. Whatever!

 

[SliceGolfer]

Largest issue I find with the Hanna calcium checker is that people tend to press and empty the water sample pipette. It is spring loaded and has two levels of expelling water. You stop at the first level when adding to the cuvette and press completely to the second level to empty. The test still has a +/- 6% variance.

 

[BR260354]

Back to the topic, I'm leaning towards giving AFR a shot. Can't find any downsides especially if I get the powder form....unless I'm missing something.