What reef additives do you use?

[SomeHairyOldGuy]

My LFS said as soon as I am out of Sea Chem Reef Builder and Calcium that I should start using the B-Ionic 2 part. Does anyone use this and what are your thoughts on it?
SHOG

[thezookeeper]

Hi SHOG! I would say that using B-Ionic will end up being much more expensive than your current method. I use Reef Builder and kalk. Period. More cost effective. Now if money isn't a concern, B-Ionic would be easier than the kalk and Reef Builder. It's really up to you. HTH


Joanne

[myreef]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. If you are getting good results with what you are using...I would stick with it. Before I built my VA reactor, I used SeaChem and liked it...I never used B-Ionic. Never switched to anything else.....I had good results. I was just lazy so wanted a reactor.

[tlc]

i agree if it aint broke dont fix it. i just recently started to use reef builder and am very satisfied with the results. i was using another 2 part soultion similiar to b ionic with equaly good results. the reef builder is about a 1/3 rd lesss money. if i can keep the same results i will just keep using the reef builder...

[jimc]

I went back to ESV because I did not have good results with Reef Builder. The snails seemed to be adversely effected each time I used it. I thought I was following the directions. How does everyone else administer it?

[djheywood]

I have never used reef builder or kalk so I have no basis for comparison, but I have been using b-ionic for about 3 months now and I love it. My ph, alk and calcium are all at nice steady levels. It's easy. I do it in half-asleep, every morning. I could see it being somewhat expensive for a larger tank though. Every tank is different and they reccommend to start out with like 5ml each part per day, but I dose 15 ml each part per day on my 26. (This is to keep my calcium up) With your 72 you might be dosing considerable more. The bottles last me about 2.5 months and run around $20 in LA. You could easily be going through a a set of bottles per month. 12 months X $20 = $240 per year. Wouldn't cost you that much more to buy a calcium reactor.

I guess what I'm saying is I love it, but if I had your size tank it would cost quite a bit. Maybe try it for a month and see how things are going?

I also agree with aove, if things look good in your tank why change.

Good luck,

Brian

[SomeHairyOldGuy]

I don't know that I will change. It was just that my LFS really seems to think it is the thing to use. So I thought I would post on the topic and see what all was said about it.


jimc,
When I add it I put the powder in a cup with RO and let it sit for 30 minutes or more. I them stir it and dump it over a PH to get it to circutale good. Think I do this twice a week or so.
SHOG

[organicreefer]

i swithched from kalk to bionic and its way easier to keep my alk steady....one question though everytime i see somebody post how much bionic they use they give a single amount i find that i have to dose 23 ml of alk and 20 ml of ca this keeps me steady at 10 dkh and 420 ca doesnt anybody else have to use different amounts?
it also seems like people with much smaller tanks than mine dose almost as much as i do my tank is lightly stocked but sometimes ive seen poeple with less than me in 30 gallon tanks dosing 20ml a day i dont get it

[djheywood]

I actually was dosing additional calcium (warner marine) to get my calcium up because the equal parts wasn't doing it. So you are right. I don't know why I dose almost as much as you but my tank is pretty heavily stocked. Maybe that's why.

Speaking of which, I haven't tested in a while, maybe I should just to see. Everything looks great though so I guess that's the best test.

Take Care

[organicreefer]

Speaking of which, I haven't tested in a while, maybe I should just to see

thanks for reminding me neither have i gonna do it right now

[organicreefer]

ca 430 (salifert test kit)

[BTL]

What do you guys think about Kent marine Tech-CB parts A and B. That is what i have been using as a Ca suppliment, and it is really all that i have been able to find at the LFS stores.

Andy

[organicreefer]

alk 9.3(also salifert)i havent tested in a month bionic kicks

[BigA]

I have used B-ionic for about 9 months and with good results...it is getting expensive...I used to add 15ml per day on my 75gal but i'm up to 40ml now. It depends on your bioload, if you have lots of fish and corals expect to add lots of B-ionic.

Anyways, it's good stuff and worth a try. I'll be going back to B-ionic and Kalk next week because it's a cheaper way to get Ca++ up around 450ppm. IME, it's hard to get ca++ over 420ppm with b-ionic alone.

~BigA

[djheywood]

ca 445 using salifert
alk = 8.8 dKH using salifert.

Looks good to me.

[scubadude]

Hi Guys

Anyone ever heard of using lime water like balls its supposedly accessible at most all grocery stores and is very cheap and I have heard it does the exact same as kalk. I was thinking about trying this method on my 20gal....just a thought.....as of now SHOG I use KENT Superbuffer DKH and Liquid Calcium (whish i had Turbo calcium) and Im haveing to use a little (still tweaking my reactor) On my 90gal I do squirt in about a 1/2 teaspoon of strontium and iodine every month.

[ravenmore]

Hey scuba.

Kalwasser is either calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide(more often the latter). Pickling lime is food grade calcium hydroxide which is absolutely ok to use in aquariums. Calcium Oxide is a little more tricky to use as there is a thermal reaction combining it with water (adding water turns it into calcium hydroxide) and it can generate a fair amount of heat.

Having said all that, I really only believe in adding kalkwasser or other calcium supplements. I think aquariums are already too rich in elements/chemicals and adding more can cause problems. If you really want to get fancy there are some things you can add to tweak things a bit, such as baking soda for buffer or vinegar to increase the calcium saturation of kalk water. I suggest researching those quite a bit before you do it though. Craig Bingman has some good articles in the library section of reef central. http://www.reefcentral.com/library/CraigBingman.htm

[mgk65]

Pickling lime seems to be readily available here year-round.

I have been dosing limewater only for months and maintaining my alk and Ca levels. I don't have all that much to suck up the minerals, but I have enough.

I have unused portions of Sea-Chem Reef Builder, Reef Calcium, and Reef Advantage. I have unused portions of C-balance, Bionic and some secondhand Bionic, and kent Tech A& B. Never needed to use any of this stuff. What a waste of dough!




mgk