Dosing magnesium and baking soda...

[herman]

No one is saying that one should use this or that. You use what works. I am personally using Randy's 2 part right now. Works like a charm. I used calcium reactors stirrers etc etc and most of the products out there.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

pretty much ive been doing some reading and understand its pretty much the same thing as spending a fortune on esv or wateva....

 

[Deanos]

How were you maintaining your levels if you weren't dosing?

 

[herman]

You have to remember - Its not the same thing! Each system has its advantages and disadvantages as with everything else in this hobby. There will always be people that prefer using one thing over the other. As long as you are satisfied with the results, that is all that matters. Sean is satisfied with the results he gets from ESV. Some like using reactors and some use icemelt and baking soda. You do what works for you.

Lets not turn this thread into a product bashing thread.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

no ones bashing anything yet good call herman....lmao. deanos ive been doing water changes once a week and i am using IO salt and dosing reef essentials a couple of times a week... like a half cap full...

 

[ezee]

Tony,

Yo! Be careful with the Mag especially. That's one you should only dose when, and if, you need it. It can be very poisonous to your livestock at elevated levels. If it is "ok" maybe just leave it unless you see calcium problems?

E

 

[ezee]

Herman,

Cali_reef uses the pee method in his tank to control alk. lol!

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11381

E

 

[herman]

Herman,

Cali_reef uses the pee method in his tank to control alk. lol!

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11381

E

HA HA! WE IS EXPERTS!!

 

[Sean]

If you use magnesium sulfate to dose magnesium you are not only adding mag. your adding sulfates to your aquarium. ESV has the ionic balanced of NSW levels so if you use it you'll be adding magnesium and other elements that match that of NSW. You don't want your sulfate levels to get out of hand. If you use magnesium sulfate you have to be very very careful of your sulfate levels. This is what makes companies like ESV so invaluable they figure all the chemistry out for you . If you can make additives that doesn't disrupt the ionic balance of your aquarium you'd understand the knowledge and work involved. It's not as simple as using Epsom salt even if its "food grade" doesn't make it "reef grade".

 

[jhale]

no offense intended but this subject is not for the advanced forum.

 

[Deanos]

no offense intended but this subject is not for the advanced forum.

Thank you, Jon.

The funniest thing about this thread is that it's posted in the Advanced Reefs' forum.

 

[ezee]

Herman,

lol!

E

 

[Tonyscoots84]

no offense intended but this subject is not for the advanced forum.

Hey J no offense intended on my part but wat do u see this thread as... in my eyes i see this as a advanced thread because its dealing with advanced stuff not just ammonia nitrites or nitrates... but hey thats just me... :party: :lol2: :help: :lol2::party:

hint- maybe we should make up a reef chemistry forum..... :idea::idea::idea::idea::idea:

 

[Deanos]

Hey J no offense intended on my part but wat do u see this thread as... in my eyes i see this as a advanced thread because its dealing with advanced stuff not just ammonia nitrites or nitrates... but hey thats just me... :party: :lol2: :help: :lol2::party:

hint- maybe we should make up a reef chemistry forum..... :idea::idea::idea::idea::idea:

Just like we need a "Lighting Forum" eh?!? You supported that idea as well if I remember correctly :scratch: :lol2:

For many reefers, ammonia and nitrites are non-issues as their levels should be at 0, once a tank has cycled. Unless something dies or livestock start acting suspicious, there shouldn't be a need to even test for those parameters. Nitrates, of course, are a little more complicated.

 

[cali_reef]

Tony, your lacking of test kits and doing water test your self makes this thread amateurish. No offense to any LFS but I have not walked into any that I would trust to test my water for me.

A discussion on how to make two part additive from cheap products you can buy at Home Depot and the super market would be an "advance" topic, most "normal" hobbyist would not go through the trouble to haul 100 pounds of ice melt around for their 30 gallon tank.

I used none-aquarium packaged Epsom Salt, A&H baking soda, washing soda, Dow Flake, MAG pellets, and the ESV products. They all worked for me but you have to do your research to get the proper dose amount for your tank on the "home made" stuff vs. reading the label on the ESV, that makes the topic more advance than "new to the hobby (newbie)"