Randy's two part or B-Ionic

[fritz]

I currently use B-Ioinic and don't have the money for a calc reactor. I've been looking at Randy's two part but it seems to me (and I'm a layman) that after the chemical reactions are done there will be a lot of sulfates in my water.

Anyone use Randy's that can comment? Should I stay with B-Ionic, should I chain snatch off old ladies and get a calc reactor?

(SPS tank)

 

[scarf_ace1981]

i believe Ronen and Tony use it. i'm thinking of using it.

 

[loismustdie]

Fred, I'm using it. The growth I have experienced using this stuff is so much better than anything I have ever used. I took my calcium reactor off line and now dose Randy 2 part with an Aquamedic twin doser. Since I have a DSB, I've noticed that I go through the baking soda (part 2) much faster than i go through the calcium (part 1). Guys going BB that I have spoken to said they are able to dose equal amounts.

 

[fritz]

What's up Chris!
That's interesting and thanks for the input. Your colors are ok? Do you notice any bad side effects at all? That's sick that you replaced a calc reactor with 2 part. I never would have thought that growth would be better! Very promising.... Hmmmm.

 

[prattreef]

I'm a dedicated B-Ionic user, but I think you will be fine provided you keep up with your water changes to offset any ionic imbalances from this not completely balanced formula. With both, you need to track your salinity as it will rise over time from using these 2 part products.

Randy

 

[prattreef]

And for any noobs who might read this, I am not the "Randy" whose formula is in question here RD

 

[scarf_ace1981]

And for any noobs who might read this, I am not the "Randy" whose formula is in question here RD

:biglaugh: that's the first thought that came to my mind when i heard 'Randy's two part'.

 

[kimoyo]

Fritz - I could have it wrong, but I think you misread a little. If your using part 1 w/3A (mag) your concentrations (including sulfate) match very close with seawater (assuming you start with good concentrations) after 1 year of use without a water change. And if you don't use 3A magnesium and sulfate will be depleted (less than what you started with) after a year. From what I've have read, the formula is ionically balanced.

The waterchange issue was because of the salinity rise over a year. But even if you decide not to do waterchange after a year, if you skim wet its like a waterchange.

 

[SlamaJama]

i use Randys 2 part...my tank is still relativly young, but my growth and colors r fine, my tank itself is very healthy, using the "reef calculator" im able to dose the exact amnt evry time, and my coraline is amazing, in 3 months use i have all purple rocks and starboard

 

[ShaunW]

I use the two part and like it alot (THANKS Dave, )! It is much, MUCH cheaper than B-ionic! and basically does the same thing.

 

[spykes]

i am the guy who started MR basically with the Randy's 2 part if you have any questions you can PM me.

 

[loismustdie]

No doubt... Spykes got me started on it too. My colors look great. The only thing I can say I've noticed is that my "growth tips" are longer.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

Spykes got me started 2... :lol2: thanks dave....

 

[alti]

i go through about a gallon a week of the 2 part and have no complaints. i have never needed to add any mag suppliment, but that may be because i do massive water changes.

 

[loismustdie]

<<<< mixed, but never used the magnesium either. Water changes keep me in the range I like.

 

[gettanked]

Fritz - I could have it wrong, but I think you misread a little. If your using part 1 w/3A (mag) your concentrations (including sulfate) match very close with seawater (assuming you start with good concentrations) after 1 year of use without a water change. And if you don't use 3A magnesium and sulfate will be depleted (less than what you started with) after a year. From what I've have read, the formula is ionically balanced.

The waterchange issue was because of the salinity rise over a year. But even if you decide not to do waterchange after a year, if you skim wet its like a waterchange.

Hello,

Am I interrupting that you have not done a water change in a year?

If so, how are you replacing all your major and minor trace elements?

If you were to have all the bells and whistles (That Donald Trump would be able to afford) of equipment on any given systems, you still have to do partials water changes to remove what mechanical filtration can not.

Weekly 5% to 10% partial water changes is like giving your tank a vitamin shot, which will help to stabilize all your parameters - Garry

 

[gettanked]

i go through about a gallon a week of the 2 part and have no complaints. i have never needed to add any mag suppliment, but that may be because i do massive water changes.

You must have a lot of stony corals and a heck of a lot of coralline algae to be consuming that much calcium.

What do you call a massive water change and how often do you do a water change?

Magnesium in natural seawater is 1250 ppm to 1350 ppm, what is your magnesium level and who?s test kit are you using?

Do you know that the average sea salt mix is 600 ppm to 900 ppm of magnesium?

Test a fresh batch of your sea salt mix and see what you magnesium levels are - Garry

 

[alti]

i have a small coral farm garry

is actually more like 3 gallons a month of the weaker 2 part solution. there are too many stonies in that system to count and they eat up alot of clacium. i do 20%-30% water changes a week. most of that is because of the water removed from the system from sales. my calcium drops roughly 10-20 ppm daily.i use a salifert kit and the mag levels stay around 1100-1200. thats good enough for me.

 

[regal]

I am in the process of switching from a combo of calcium and kalk reactor to dosing 2 part with a couple of aqua medic dosing pumps.

Here is my inspiration.

 

[reefman]

wow, awesome.
i thought copperband r not safe for clams?