Dose 2 part or just water chages

[AYGurgies]

Originally Posted by Alen

so i checked out sea-lad #28

and it said its small blocks that dissolve slowly, now would i put that in my auto top off, or in the sump some where?

You're very welcome!
Instructions For Use: Since Formula #28 is fully buffered, there is a constant supply of essential trace elements and no possibility of toxic overload, the dosage and application are extremely uncritical. The blocks can be placed in any location where there is a moderate current. Recommended dosage is three to four blocks per 50 gallons of water. When the blocks are almost dissolved, add a similar number. Older tanks, or those treated with Formula #28 will benefit from an initial treatment of 1 block per 50 gallons for a week or so. This keeps the water chemistry change gradual.
I personally put it in the sump.
Here is a link:
Marine Reef Aquarium Additives: SEA-LAB #28 Automatic Replenisher

[Alen]

so is it okay to use all the time or just when on a vacation?

[AYGurgies]

Originally Posted by Alen

so is it okay to use all the time or just when on a vacation?

You can use it all the time. Also, always buy the 2lbs box (It's cheaper) from drsfosterandsmith.com

[Alen]

so the sea-lab #28 can be used insted of a 2 part dose right?

[AYGurgies]

Originally Posted by Alen

so the sea-lab #28 can be used insted of a 2 part dose right?

No! Sea-Lab #28 provides a constant supply of vital calcium, as well as all other essential trace elements and microelements. You will need another product to provide Alk.. I would go with Reef Builder made by Seachem (Here is a link)
Reef Aquarium Buffers: Seachem Reef Builder

[on the spot]

They still make those sea chunks of crap #28? Huh, how about that.

A fun short on the subject.

As for mixing the 2 part yourself, if you can pour cereal without missing the bowl you are qualified for making 2 part. Randy is a real chemist. He is prone to be exact. These measurements do not require that level of precision. A kitchen scale will be more than adequate. Get it close, it's close enough.

[AYGurgies]

Well, it's working great for me. Have you ever used it, or did you just read about it? I'm very sure you just read about it. In response to your fun short on the subject, here is a reply to it in the same thread that you didn't show us brother. Any way, I'm just trying to help with something that I have an experience with and I think it's just a great product.

Reef Central Online Community - View Single Post - Sea Lab 28

Originally Posted by on the spot

They still make those sea chunks of crap #28? Huh, how about that.

A fun short on the subject.

As for mixing the 2 part yourself, if you can pour cereal without missing the bowl you are qualified for making 2 part. Randy is a real chemist. He is prone to be exact. These measurements do not require that level of precision. A kitchen scale will be more than adequate. Get it close, it's close enough.

[on the spot]

Originally Posted by AYGurgies

Well, it's working great for me. Have you ever used it, or did you just read about it? I'm very sure you just read about it...

You presume more than you should. Glad it's working for you, knock yourself out. When real scientist raise legitimate questions regarding dubious claims I tend to defer but since you asked, yeah I tried them for a short period in the early 90's.

[AYGurgies]

Originally Posted by on the spot

You presume more than you should. Glad it's working for you, knock yourself out. When real scientist raise legitimate questions regarding dubious claims I tend to defer but since you asked, yeah I tried them for a short period in the early 90's.

Don't take it that way brother, I didn't mean it the way you understood it. I'm just trying to help with something that I have an experience with. You said it's a crap, and I replied with something that says it's not. That's all. If you feel like you were offended, then please accept my aplogy because I didn't mean it that way.

[mf2055]

I used to read the petwarehouse and thatfishplace catalogs religiously in the early 90s trying to find that magic product..... a lot of them do make some pretty insane claims that are just plain impossible from a reef chemistry standpoint. It all comes down to a pretty simple concept..... if you want to grow healthy corals you need to supply the building blocks. Just like you or I need to eat somewhat healthy if we intend on living a good long life or having a prayer at staying in less than overly round shape. Coral growth is not spontanous generation and it will happen weather your tank is chemically ballanced or not. If you do not have the proper carbonate/bicarbonate levels (ALK) your tank will have pH swings and it will effect your Ca and Mg levels. The growth produced with your tank out of ballance will NOT be healthy growth and will cause future problems. ALK is far more important to the equasion than Calcium and can be easily supplied.

[AYGurgies]

What do you supply your Alk. with (Best method or product)? My Alk. is almost always between 10 and 11, but the reason why I'm asking is because in the future I'm very sure that I will need these info.

Originally Posted by mf2055

I used to read the petwarehouse and thatfishplace catalogs religiously in the early 90s trying to find that magic product..... a lot of them do make some pretty insane claims that are just plain impossible from a reef chemistry standpoint. It all comes down to a pretty simple concept..... if you want to grow healthy corals you need to supply the building blocks. Just like you or I need to eat somewhat healthy if we intend on living a good long life or having a prayer at staying in less than overly round shape. Coral growth is not spontanous generation and it will happen weather your tank is chemically ballanced or not. If you do not have the proper carbonate/bicarbonate levels (ALK) your tank will have pH swings and it will effect your Ca and Mg levels. The growth produced with your tank out of ballance will NOT be healthy growth and will cause future problems. ALK is far more important to the equasion than Calcium and can be easily supplied.

[mf2055]

I currently make a solution from "baked" baking soda. However, I also have a Ca reactor I put online when the demand is there. Right now I don't have many corals, so the Ca reactor was turned off when the dosing was out of its range of use. I may be a unique case. You should know a Ca reactor supplies ALK more than Ca and Mg. However it does so at a good ratio since it is dissolving coral skeletons and you are trying to grow them.

[Alen]

well i have been looking at dosing pumps, to automate my dosing,

what 2 part do you guys recommend as far as alk and cal, and mag if possible

[mf2055]

dosing pumps are not absolutly required if you don't want them. you can just add a set amount each day if you are able to do daily maintenance. Or if you are only doing moderate to low stock levels you can likely get by with just adding calcium hydroxide (CaOH, Kalkwasser, Pickeling lime... whatever you want to call it) to your top off water. If you did that you would want to add some type of auto top off to keep it adding nice and slow in an area of good flow.

If you want dosing pumps I hear good things about BRS dosing pumps, but I have no experiance with them.

[Alen]

i would like to make automated that way i can do the testing daily or weekly, my auto top off is direct from the ro/di unit.

is that ok to have auto top off direct from the ro/di unit?