Red Sea Reef Care Reef Foundation ABC 3 Pack 250ml ea
Cost per litre
Under 1c
Water type
Saltwater (Reef)
Red Sea Reef Care Reef Foundation ABC 3 Pack 250ml ea
The three skeletal elements, dosed separately, in a trial-friendly size. The Red Sea Reef Foundation ABC 3-Pack bundles a 250 mL bottle each of Foundation A (calcium and strontium), Foundation B (alkalinity) and Foundation C (magnesium) — the three elements every stony coral consumes fastest. Dosing them as separate liquids, rather than one blended powder, lets you correct each element independently when your tank's uptake isn't balanced across all three.
Key features
- Three elements, three bottles — Foundation A (calcium/strontium), B (alkalinity) and C (magnesium), dosed and tested independently of one another.
- Corrects uneven uptake — SPS-heavy systems often consume calcium and alkalinity faster than magnesium; separate liquids let you dose only what's actually depleted.
- 250 mL trial size — enough to run a nano or small reef for months, or to test the Foundation range before committing to bulk powder.
- Under 1c per litre dosed — see Specifications for the full dose-rate breakdown.
Specifications
| Pack contents | 1 × Foundation A, 1 × Foundation B, 1 × Foundation C, 250 mL each |
|---|---|
| Format | Liquid concentrate, dosed individually |
| Foundation A dose rate | 1 mL raises calcium by approximately 2 ppm per 100 L |
| Foundation B dose rate | 1 mL raises alkalinity by approximately 0.036 meq/L (0.1 dKH) per 100 L |
| Foundation C dose rate | 1 mL raises magnesium by approximately 1 ppm per 100 L |
| Suitable for | Marine / reef aquariums |
Cost per litre dosed
| Pack | SKU | Price | Cost per litre, per element topped up once |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Pack, 250 mL each | RED294 | $56.00 | Under 1c per litre |
At the 1 mL per 100 L convention shared by all three elements, each 250 mL bottle tops up roughly 25,000 L worth of dosing across its life — works out to a fraction of a cent per litre for calcium, alkalinity or magnesium individually.
Which one do I need? Liquid ABC vs powder ABC+
| Foundation ABC 3-Pack (liquid) | Foundation ABC+ (powder) | |
|---|---|---|
| Dosing | Each element dosed separately, to its own test result | One dose covers all three, in a fixed ratio |
| Best for | Systems where uptake is uneven across Ca/Alk/Mg — typically SPS-heavy reefs | Systems where all three deplete roughly in proportion |
| Format | Liquid, ready to dose | Powder, dissolved or dosed dry |
Dosage and directions
Test calcium, alkalinity and magnesium with the Reef Foundation Pro Multi Test Kit before dosing. Dose each element separately: 1 mL of Foundation A per 100 L raises calcium by approximately 2 ppm; 1 mL of Foundation B per 100 L raises alkalinity by approximately 0.036 meq/L (0.1 dKH); 1 mL of Foundation C per 100 L raises magnesium by approximately 1 ppm. Retest weekly and adjust each element's dose independently — that's the reason to choose the liquid trio over the ABC+ powder.
Suitable for, and not suitable for
- Suitable for: reef aquariums, particularly SPS-heavy systems where calcium, alkalinity and magnesium deplete at different rates and need independent correction.
- Not suitable for: freshwater aquariums, or reefs where all three elements track together — the ABC+ powder is simpler for that case.
Safety
Store bottles away from direct sunlight and out of reach of children and pets. Dose accurately — alkalinity in particular can swing pH sharply if overdosed in one go; split large corrections across more than one day.
Goes well with
- Red Sea Reef Foundation Pro Multi Testing Kit — tests calcium, alkalinity and magnesium to guide each dose.
- Red Sea Reef Care Skeletal Elements Foundation ABC+ 1kg — the combined powder alternative for balanced-uptake systems.
Warranty and delivery
Covered by Red Sea's standard consumer guarantee in addition to your rights under Australian Consumer Law. Ships standard courier — no cold chain or special handling required.
Common questions
Should I buy the liquid 3-pack or the ABC+ powder?
Choose the liquid 3-pack if your calcium, alkalinity and magnesium test results drift apart from each other over time — common in SPS-heavy tanks. Choose ABC+ powder if all three consistently deplete together.
Can I dose all three at once?
Yes, but test first — the value of dosing them separately is correcting only what's actually low, rather than adding all three regardless of need.
How long does the 3-pack last?
At the standard 1 mL per 100 L dose rate, each 250 mL bottle covers roughly 25,000 L of cumulative dosing — months for a typical home reef, depending on coral load and tank size.
Does alkalinity dosing affect pH?
Yes — Foundation B raises carbonate alkalinity, which buffers pH. Large single doses can move pH quickly; split corrections over several days rather than dosing the full amount at once.
Is this suitable for a new tank?
Yes — the 250 mL trial size is a common way to start dosing on a new or smaller reef before committing to bulk sizes.
