Question... I have been keeping Anemones (sucessfully for almost two years now) and within the past week I started using the 2 part B-Ionic in my tank with a bubble tip anemone and a carpet anem.

Since I started using the B-Ionic, my bubble tip seems to be a little more closed than normal.

Just wondering if what other reef/anemone keeper's experiences are when dosing B-Ionic.

I may be overly cautious...I just don't want to ruin my track record with anems if possible.
:-)

Thanks,
Greg

Thank you very much for the replies!

In the past I did dose Combisan and Iodine seperately...I will back off of those a bit and test more frequently to try and prevent any dramatic changes to WQ.

I figured I was just a bit paranoid...

Thanks Again!
Greg

Greg,

Just my opinion but I'd back off of adding too much stuff like iodine. Artificial salts are already mineral/element heavy laden as it is - should be more than sufficient. I'm kind of the opinion that at the very least most additives are a waste of money and at the worst they can cause problems. I use just calcium supplements and salt water(well - I do use Reef Solutions - the darn stuff does make my corals open more. Wish someone would figure out what's in it). Anyway, just my two cents. This is a little bit of a contriversal(sp?) subject but some heavy hitters like Ron Shimek also think along the same lines. Also, wasn't there some dirt on Combisan a while back - something like Ron did a lab analysis of it and it came back that the Combisan product was 99% water....? Someone will have to refresh my memory on that one. Best of luck though! [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

-Mike

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I had a carpet that grew to big for the tank and I had to sell it. I now have a bubble tip that has grown large over the past year. I have used ESV 2 parts for more than 3 years with no trouble. If you are adding trace elements in addition to the ESV you may want to lay off for awhile and see if that has any affect. That is the only thing that I ever noticed. I think ESV has a certain amount of iodine as well.

when using products like this (also kent's tech a&b, and another product called c-balance) keep an eye on your calcium, alk and ph levels. the anemone's in question could be sensitive to what it's changing(the alk or ph) to or how quickly it's causing the change to happen.

-Mike

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I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can't prove anything.

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[This message has been edited by ravenmore (edited 02-12-2001).]

Ravenmore,
Thanks for the tips...I agree, I try and stay away from dosing many additives at all.

I know exactly the thread you are talking re: Combisan. I watched that with interest. I originally started dosing combisan a while back based on some articles by Delbeek where he indicated tremendous results with bubble tips that he felt was due in part to combisan. This was really the only additive he added if I remember correctly. The article that I read (I wish I could find it again) was a bit old and I think since it was written Combisan has changed their formula to "version 2" which by the latest test results appear to be mostly moisture. I don't know if this newer version of combisan is really just a placebo and I feel better for dosing it or if adding it to my tank gives any real benefit. The anemones in my tank are doing well...as with others anemone keepers...I am still not able to lock down the key(s) to success here.

BTW...I hear consistently good things about Reef Solutions...it would be cool to find out what the product contents are like!!

Thanks
Greg

Are you referring to Reef Solution by EcoSystem Aquarium? They just sponsored a few door prizes at the last meeting of MASC. Reef Solution was one of them. Also something called Fish Solution (vitamins).

I was wondering about the ingredients myself. I have a few of their sales promos, but nowhere does it have what's actually in the stuff. Their phone number is 949-851-6880. Website is www.ecosystemaquarium.com I just found out about the product so haven't had time to investigate. If this is a local call (Irvine, Ca), someone might want to research it a little more.

If I can find more info on the Reef Solution, I'll post it. Until then, if anyone else has more info' I'd be interested to know a little more about what we just gave away at our meeting.

Thanks!

P.S. Sorry to bust in on the thread like this, but it's the first place I've seen anyone talk about the Reef Solution.

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Peace,
Connie

Visit our reef at Carolina Reef.com
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Visit MASNA/MACNA XIII for details.

[This message has been edited by Carolina Reefer (edited 02-13-2001).]

To stray from the topic a little more.... [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Reef solutions has come up a few times, though somewhat sparingly. As soon as I started using it, my corals began to open more and, within a month, I saw a very significant increase in the number of fan worms, encrusting sponges(one BRIGHT pink), and other filter feeders(this has a hidden added benefit in that may of these organisms have a planktonic stage during their life cycle - thus producing plankton in the reef tank to nourish the other animals). That combined with the fact that you have to refrigerate it makes me think it might have some kind of nutritional value for these animals. The creator of it guards the ingredients apparently. The whole sales approach reeks of snake oil "buy this product and all you need is this and calcium"... However, plain and simple my corals look better when I use it. Others with great looking tanks use it (Sue Truett is a big advocator of Reef Solutions as well - you should see her tank. WOW!!!).

I'm almost tempted to take up a collection ($150 is what it'll cost) and send a sample to Dr. Shimek to see if he can analyze it's contents.

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I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can't prove anything.

Website