video of MP40 in action

[Doodaa]

I had the return pump shut off while I fed the fish and decided to try a different frequency and power for the short pulse setting on the MP40. I really like the power of this powerhead. When the return pump is off, the wave is about twice as large and things "flop" around twice as hard, but I thought it was pretty impressive.

Here's the link to the video...it's 35 megs as I don't know how to edit the size. Click here

Please...if you see something that I'm doing wrong or right, let me know your thoughts!

Standard 75 gallon tank, Current USA outer orbit light fixture with 2 420nm T5's and 2 460nm T5's and 2 150 HQI MH 10K bulbs.

One thing I have a question about is coralline algae growth...I don't have much. Is my lighting too intense for it to grow? I've noticed shaded areas have really decent growth, but as you can see, I don't have much at all anywhere in full view.

[metalhead]

One thing I have a question about is coralline algae growth...I don't have much. Is my lighting too intense for it to grow? I've noticed shaded areas have really decent growth, but as you can see, I don't have much at all anywhere in full view.

Are your calcium and alkalinity levels in range? Calcium should 350-450 and alkalinity 2.5-4.5... You can also supplement with purple up for enhanced coraline growth, it works great. Just keep an eye on your calcium and iodine levels if you dose it regularly.

[Doodaa]

Are your calcium and alkalinity levels in range?

Yup. My levels have stayed pretty consistent since January when I put in my calcium reactor. Calcium 470 Alk 8.1 dKH.

[TimH07]

purple up is a worthless product.

to quote ninong in another thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by FireEater
I've heard it will work good.

It doesn't work but many people think it works. They're fooled by the advertising.

Quote:
It is just calcium that you can add right into tank to raise levels.
It's a suspension of powdered aragonite sand (CaCO3). CaCO3 doesn't dissolve in seawater (aquarium water) because the pH is too high. Aragonite begins to dissolve at a pH of 7.7. It is highly unlikely that the pH in your water column will drop that low. The water in your tank is already supersaturated as regards calcium carbonate, thus precluding dissolution of this product.

Quote:
You can get the same effect but cheaper with Mrs. Wages.
You're comparing apples and oranges here. Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime is pure food grade calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2). Purple Up is nothing but very fine aragonite sand (CaCO3) in suspension. One is calcium hydroxide and the other is calcium carbonate. One works and the other does not. One is a cost-effective method for maintaining calcium and alkalinity levels in your aquarium and the other is a complete waste of money.

If you want this product to dissolve, add it to your freshwater evaporation replacement water and let it sit for a few hours before adding it to your tank. The pH in the freshwater, assuming you use R.O./D.I. water, will be close to 7.0 and the fine powdered aragonite sand particles in the Purple Up will dissolve. Of course, you could accomplish exactly the same effect by simply placing a few cups of very fine aragonite sand (such as cheapy Southdown) in the bottom of a container and then fill it with R.O./D.I. water and allow it to sit for a few hours before using the water as top-off water.

However, since calcium hydroxide is so cheap, most people prefer to simply use it to make limewater (aka Kalkwasser, to use the German word for "chalk water"). Limewater is nothing more than a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide. It takes only two teaspoons of Ca(OH)2 per gallon of freshwater (preferably R.O./D.I. water) to get a saturated solution of limewater, which you can use as evaporation replacement.

The manfacturers of products such as Purple UP, AragaMilk and Liquid Reactor are selling you sand in a bottle. AragaMIGHT is the powdered form (nothing but powdered aragonite sand). It is absolutely amazing to me that they are able to fool so many people with their ridiculous advertising claims.

To make matters more complicated, people who use products such as these, will be fooled by their test kits into thinking that their calcium and alkalinity levels have actually risen. They haven't. The fine powdered aragonite will still be in suspension in the water column (in other words, it will NOT have dissolved), but when you take the water sample to test it, these fine particles will dissolve in low pH reagents, giving a false reading. This is probably why you will read posts by some hobbyists claiming that their magic potion <insert product name> did raise their calcium and alkalinity levels.

To review: CaCO3 as aragonite begins to dissolve at a pH of 7.7 and below. CaCO3 as calcite begins to dissolve at a pH of 7.4 and below. All of these products are powdered calcium carbonate.

[metalhead]

Yup. My levels have stayed pretty consistent since January when I put in my calcium reactor. Calcium 470 Alk 8.1 dKH.

Right on... Try some purple up, just use it sparingly, keep an eye on calcium levels and don't let it get over 500. Your problem with coraline growth is not related to lighting IMO.

What calcium reactor are you using btw? I'm in the market for one myself and currently leaning toward the knop reactor.

[metalhead]

purple up is a worthless product.

to quote ninong in another thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by FireEater
I've heard it will work good.

It doesn't work but many people think it works. They're fooled by the advertising.

Quote:
It is just calcium that you can add right into tank to raise levels.
It's a suspension of powdered aragonite sand (CaCO3). CaCO3 doesn't dissolve in seawater (aquarium water) because the pH is too high. Aragonite begins to dissolve at a pH of 7.7. It is highly unlikely that the pH in your water column will drop that low. The water in your tank is already supersaturated as regards calcium carbonate, thus precluding dissolution of this product.

Quote:
You can get the same effect but cheaper with Mrs. Wages.
You're comparing apples and oranges here. Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime is pure food grade calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2). Purple Up is nothing but very fine aragonite sand (CaCO3) in suspension. One is calcium hydroxide and the other is calcium carbonate. One works and the other does not. One is a cost-effective method for maintaining calcium and alkalinity levels in your aquarium and the other is a complete waste of money.

If you want this product to dissolve, add it to your freshwater evaporation replacement water and let it sit for a few hours before adding it to your tank. The pH in the freshwater, assuming you use R.O./D.I. water, will be close to 7.0 and the fine powdered aragonite sand particles in the Purple Up will dissolve. Of course, you could accomplish exactly the same effect by simply placing a few cups of very fine aragonite sand (such as cheapy Southdown) in the bottom of a container and then fill it with R.O./D.I. water and allow it to sit for a few hours before using the water as top-off water.

However, since calcium hydroxide is so cheap, most people prefer to simply use it to make limewater (aka Kalkwasser, to use the German word for "chalk water"). Limewater is nothing more than a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide. It takes only two teaspoons of Ca(OH)2 per gallon of freshwater (preferably R.O./D.I. water) to get a saturated solution of limewater, which you can use as evaporation replacement.

The manfacturers of products such as Purple UP, AragaMilk and Liquid Reactor are selling you sand in a bottle. AragaMIGHT is the powdered form (nothing but powdered aragonite sand). It is absolutely amazing to me that they are able to fool so many people with their ridiculous advertising claims.

To make matters more complicated, people who use products such as these, will be fooled by their test kits into thinking that their calcium and alkalinity levels have actually risen. They haven't. The fine powdered aragonite will still be in suspension in the water column (in other words, it will NOT have dissolved), but when you take the water sample to test it, these fine particles will dissolve in low pH reagents, giving a false reading. This is probably why you will read posts by some hobbyists claiming that their magic potion <insert product name> did raise their calcium and alkalinity levels.

To review: CaCO3 as aragonite begins to dissolve at a pH of 7.7 and below. CaCO3 as calcite begins to dissolve at a pH of 7.4 and below. All of these products are powdered calcium carbonate.

Based on my experience purple up is far from worthless... It works well for coraline promotion but that is about all it is good for. Read Calfo's book on coral propogation if you're still in doubt about the viability of purple up in relation to enhanced coraline growth. The problem most people have with purple up is that they try to use it for their sole source of calcium supplementation, a purpose for which it is not, or should not be intended.

[TimH07]

purple up is fine argonite, its pretty much your sand bed in a bottle. it literally does nothing unless you put it in water that is under 7.7 ph. there is no dancing around that...

[Doodaa]

Your problem with coraline growth is not related to lighting IMO.

Just makes me wonder if I've got something wrong. Everything is thriving except for that.

What calcium reactor are you using btw? I'm in the market for one myself and currently leaning toward the knop reactor.

I bought a My Reef Creations calcium reactor. I bought a skimmer from them and it seems to be working pretty well so I figured I'd give them more business. Plus the website was easy for me to figure out what I wanted. I bought the complete system from them, which included the reactor, CO2 bottle, regulator, solenoid, PH monitor with solenoid controller, and the media. It works very well for me, but I don't have any advice as to how great it is because it is the only one I have ever played with or even seen in action. All I can tell you is that it has been trouble free and keeps my levels consistent.

Based on my experience purple up is far from worthless.. [snip] Read Calfo's book on coral propogation if you're still in doubt about the viability of purple up in relation to enhanced coraline growth.

I don't really need to read another debate about Purple-Up. I recently purchased that book and will read up on his recommendations. Thanks.

I was looking for comments on my video too. Granted it's not great quality, but was hoping someone might give me some constructive criticism or some feedback if they saw something wrong...or right in my tank.

[TimH07]

i didnt mean to derail your thread, your tank looks good the great flow, i need a wave maker in the future. about the "purple" just keep your calcium above 400 ppm and it should flourish, i use B-ionic 2 part system and it works like a charm and cheap to boot.

[zhenya]

Dooda,

Don't feel too bad about your lack of coralline growth, it is a blessing in disguise if you ask me. I can understand your wish to see some purple coloration on the rocks, and it will come given a bit more time.
I have overabundance of this purple menace and am very tired of scraping it off the glass, and lately basically given up on scraping all but the front glass.

I would dearly love to see my live rock look clean, with just a hint of purple here and there and that;s it.
And I agree with Tim that purple-up is nothing more than dissolved aragonite, which your calcium reactor is already providing.

[metalhead]

Just makes me wonder if I've got something wrong. Everything is thriving except for that.

I doubt it... If slow coralline growth is your biggest problem then you're in very, very good shape IMO.

I bought a My Reef Creations calcium reactor. I bought a skimmer from them and it seems to be working pretty well so I figured I'd give them more business. Plus the website was easy for me to figure out what I wanted. I bought the complete system from them, which included the reactor, CO2 bottle, regulator, solenoid, PH monitor with solenoid controller, and the media. It works very well for me, but I don't have any advice as to how great it is because it is the only one I have ever played with or even seen in action. All I can tell you is that it has been trouble free and keeps my levels consistent.

Right on, I will check that out. Trouble free and consistent levels goes a long way in my book. Thank you.

I don't really need to read another debate about Purple-Up. I recently purchased that book and will read up on his recommendations. Thanks.

I wasn't really looking for a debate either and for the sake of keeping your thread debate free in regard I will post another thread for anyone who's interested in arguing about this further. I was simply offering a suggestion for coraline accelleration, one that has worked for me and others reportedly. I will say though that without a doubt, purple up is more than just "sand in a bottle".

I was looking for comments on my video too. Granted it's not great quality, but was hoping someone might give me some constructive criticism or some feedback if they saw something wrong...or right in my tank.

Sorry I have not been able to view your video yet. I will check it out and provide some feedback the next time I'm on a machine without proxies.

[Doodaa]

i need a wave maker in the future. about the "purple" just keep your calcium above 400 ppm and it should flourish, i use B-ionic 2 part system and it works like a charm and cheap to boot.

The MP40 is really awesome, but it's kind of expensive. I think the Tunze system is probably comparable from what I've read, but I haven't seen them in action. The MP40 just seemed less complicated to me which is why I went that route.

I have a 1 gallon set and a 32oz set of that B-ionic, but I haven't had to use it because my calcium reactor works

Dooda,

Don't feel too bad about your lack of coralline growth, it is a blessing in disguise if you ask me. [snip]I would dearly love to see my live rock look clean, with just a hint of purple here and there and that;s it.

I doubt it... If slow coralline growth is your biggest problem then you're in very, very good shape IMO.

Well, then I'll be happy with what I've got. Actually, I looked in this afternoon and I see some more "purpling" on the right side of my tank...the higher flow area.

Right on, I will check that out. Trouble free and consistent levels goes a long way in my book. Thank you.

There's not much to a calcium reactor really. Dissolve CO2 in water to decrease the PH, run it through a mix of crushed coral and shells, and run it back into your tank. I have the single chamber design. Now that I've played with it and totally understand how it works, I would probably build my own next time. Same way with the protein skimmer, but that's a little bit more complicated.

I wasn't really looking for a debate either and for the sake of keeping your thread debate free in regard I will post another thread for anyone who's interested in arguing about this further.

I wasn't trying to be sarcastic or downgrade your guys' opinion. It's just that "Purple Up" has been argued quite a few times on this board and elsewhere. I just didn't want to go there on this thread.

Thanks a lot all of you! ;;

[TimH07]

what would give me flow like this but on a lesser scale? i have a korilia nano and korilia 1 the tank is 24 inches long and topped off pretty high so flow like this would splash over the top. but i want some wave action.