[Pszemol]

The manufacturer says: "Restores and maintains the concentration of calcium, strontium and all trace elements at the same levels found in the sea, automatically. Formula #28 always works, and cannot be overdosed. This is not a slow-dissolve or time-release product. It dissolves only to replace depleted elements."

I use this product alone with water changes from the beginning of my 30-gallon tank (January 2002) and I do not see it is working well for me.
I have tested water today and I have too much calcium (more than 700!) alkalinity low (3 meq) phosphates at 0.2mg. How can I have too much calcium if this product cannot be overdosed? I have big problem with a purple cyanobacteria or algae (I am not sure what is it) covering my substrate in places with slow water flow. This proves that water parameters are not so good. I do not have any hard corals nor anemones yet but I want to get stable water conditions allowing me to have them. About a month ago I had big tragedy with my hermit crabs, almost all are gone now, probably from high levels of phosphates. I bought blue tang and it eats all green agae so I have no more problems with algae, but this purpure carpet of cyanobacteria raises my concerns. Fish are ok, mushrooms looks good too. Some snails have survived but I am afraid to buy more hermit crabs to not kill them again...

What whould you advise to get better water quality in my tank?
Do you have your own experience with #28 Automatic Replenisher?

[tendar]

OPPPPS
Voted wrong it should have been a yes.
I have been using it on and off for over a year and have been very happy with it.
I am currently using it on my 37 with 5 clams and several sps. It does keep up cal pretty well but do have to supplement it once in a while. I also do have to add buffer to keep up alk but not to much. If you dont have anything in the tank the really uses up you cal then you dont need the sea lab 28. I use just one small block at a time when one burns up I place another one in about 1 a week.
What i would do if you want to use the sea lab is test your water and use it as needed when you cal goes down below say 380 ppm. I dont agree with them saying that wont over does it just desolves if needed or not.

[Steve]

One thing is that you need to place the blocks in a low flow water area. I have used these in a high flow area and they will dissolve and overdose the tank. If you place them in a low flow area they work pretty well. Dripping kalk is better though. Much more control on how much is added.