Mode 1: Daily Maintenance
Use this if you know your tank's daily Alkalinity consumption.
Mode 2: Correction
Use this to make a one-time adjustment to reach a target level.
Recommended Daily Maintenance Dose
0ml / day
This will maintain alkalinity stability based on your consumption input.
Correction Dose Required
0ml (Total)
Optimizing Your Reef Tank with All-For-Reef
Maintaining stable water chemistry is the cornerstone of successful reef keeping. Tropic Marin All-For-Reef has become a favorite among hobbyists because it simplifies this process by providing a single, highly concentrated solution that supplies calcium, alkalinity, magnesium, and essential trace elements. However, calculating the correct dosage is critical to prevent dangerous spikes in alkalinity or precipitation of minerals.
How This Calculator Works
This dosing calculator uses the standard concentration formula provided by Tropic Marin: 5 ml of All-For-Reef raises the alkalinity of 100 Liters (approx. 26 Gallons) of water by 1.5 dKH.
The math behind the tool is straightforward but precise:
Volume Conversion: If you input gallons, the tool first converts this to liters (1 US Gallon ≈ 3.785 Liters).
Consumption Factor: 1 ml of All-For-Reef provides 30 dKH·Liters. To find the dose, we multiply your net water volume (in Liters) by the desired dKH change, and divide by 30.
Calculating Your Daily Consumption
To use the "Daily Maintenance" section effectively, you need to know how much alkalinity your corals consume daily. Follow these steps:
Test your Alkalinity (dKH) at a specific time (e.g., 8:00 PM on Monday).
Do not add any buffers or dosing for 24 hours.
Test your Alkalinity again exactly 24 hours later (e.g., 8:00 PM on Tuesday).
The difference between the two numbers is your Daily Alkalinity Consumption. Enter this number into the calculator above.
Safety Guidelines for Dosing
While All-For-Reef is convenient, stability is key. Here are important safety rules:
Max Daily Increase: Never increase alkalinity by more than 1.0 dKH in a 24-hour period. For sensitive Acropora tanks, limit increases to 0.5 dKH per day.
Split Dosing: If your calculated daily dose is large (e.g., >20ml for a nano tank), consider splitting it into morning and evening doses, or using a dosing pump to spread it throughout the day.
Net Water Volume: Ensure you are calculating based on the actual water in the tank, excluding the volume taken up by rocks and sand (usually 10-15% less than the tank's rated size).
Why Alkalinity Matters
Alkalinity (Carbonate Hardness) is the fuel for coral growth. It allows stony corals to build their skeletons. If it drops too low, growth stops and corals may stress. If it swings too wildly, tissue necrosis (STN/RTN) can occur. Using a calculator ensures you are dosing exactly what your tank needs, minimizing human error and promoting a thriving reef ecosystem.
function calculateDosing() {
// 1. Get Inputs
var volumeInput = document.getElementById('waterVolume').value;
var unit = document.getElementById('volumeUnit').value;
var dailyLoss = document.getElementById('dailyLoss').value;
var currentAlk = document.getElementById('currentAlk').value;
var targetAlk = document.getElementById('targetAlk').value;
// 2. Validate Volume
if (!volumeInput || isNaN(volumeInput) || volumeInput 0) {
correctionDose = (volumeLiters * difference) / factor;
document.getElementById('correctionDoseMl').innerText = correctionDose.toFixed(1);
// Safety Check: Is the increase > 1.0 dKH?
// Or simply checking if the difference is > 1.0
if (difference > 1.0) {
var safeDays = Math.ceil(difference / 1.0); // Suggest 1 dKH max per day
// Recalculate safe daily dose for correction
var safeDailyDose = correctionDose / safeDays;
warningBox.style.display = 'block';
warningBox.innerHTML = "⚠️ Safety Warning: Raising Alkalinity by " + difference.toFixed(1) + " dKH instantly is dangerous." +
"Please spread this correction over " + safeDays + " days." +
"Add approx " + safeDailyDose.toFixed(1) + " ml per day until target is reached.";
} else if (difference > 0.5) {
warningBox.style.display = 'block';
warningBox.innerHTML = "Note: It is recommended to add this dose slowly (e.g., drip acclimation or partial doses) to avoid shocking sensitive corals.";
}
correctionSection.style.display = 'block';
showResults = true;
} else if (difference < 0) {
document.getElementById('correctionDoseMl').innerText = "0";
warningBox.style.display = 'block';
warningBox.innerHTML = "Current Alkalinity is higher than Target. Stop dosing and var it drop naturally via consumption.";
correctionSection.style.display = 'block';
showResults = true;
} else {
correctionSection.style.display = 'none';
}
} else {
correctionSection.style.display = 'none';
}
if (showResults) {
resultsArea.style.display = 'block';
}
}