Yeah, I've been following this, too, and would like a better idea of what my costs would be. If I went this route, what would be my total start up, and then ongoing costs per year for a 230g system? You can exclude hardware.

I have a few clams large Sps colonies large Lps colonies and about 80 frags,

I figure me 5l container will last 10 days 2 fills will be 20 days so about 50 a month maybe for additives ?

I was going through a 20 pound bottle of co2 in just over a month before cost was 28 to fill plus the hassle of two trips to the place that did it. I kept my reactor in case this doesn't pan out but we will see.

Thanks. But wow, that is a lot of C02 in a month... But you do have a large system.

I dose alk and Ca, and just recently had to start doing Mg as well. My dosing costs keep rising as my SPS grows, but for now, still a lot less than your new TM method, even when extrapolated down to my size system. But I acknowledge there may be other benefits, too.

I totally agree there are cheaper other options/ routes to go I did more less for simplicity. If I am away working/ fishing any one can drag out the scale and add 400 g part add swirl and walk away. Don't have to worry about baking making soda or anything. I a, new to the dosing thing but may end up going to a simple recipe.

There is no definitive answer to this because the draw on the elements are based on your coral loading more than anything else in the average size tank with larger tanks such as blue tangs the huge water volume also comes into play but once at saturation or rather peak values the dosing amount will stabilize.

Blue tangs tank is a very unique in terms of size so it will be disproportionately higher than average.

No its probably not the cheapest system but its the best, and within reason thats what matters.

How's everyone else liking this, been a month and half tank levels are stable and stuff is growing. Happier then the calcium reactor.

I haven't seen any noticeable change other than Mg being stable (relative to 2 part). Colors and growth are consistent, can't say whether 3 part made it better or not since I changed my lighting too and things went to crazy growth mode.

The main thing you will see if stability, coral colour change is subjective to many variants, but in time as your system become less out of balance you will see increased growth.

Hey Michael,

so just clarify for me if you would :) I tested the tank and have 415 Ca, 8.8 Alk, 1155 Mg. So my understanding is I should bring my Alk down to 7-8 and my MG up to 1300 before starting to dose the 3-Part system in unison. Now do I continue to manually dose the Part A to keep my Calcium up, and dose the Part C a little heavier (but no more than 125ml according to the box) to get my Mg up? That means I'd not dose Part B since I want my Alk to come down? I made a 2x concentration 1L solution of Part C that I am dosing with to get the Mg up.

Thank you for the clarification. I am all in to the ™ system now. Salt, 3-Part… GHL doser haahaa.

Anyone watch Breaking Bad :)

http://www.lithicimages.com/photos/i...-JRVw5Xt-L.jpg

worry about one element at a time, bring the ALK down to below 8 and then test the Ca, your Ca will rise slightly due to the relationship of ALK to Ca, (too much alk = lower or suppressed Ca and visa versa.)

Once you have those two balanced then the MG will rise to a degree and then you can balance this.

Well a few months in, alk is 7 calcium is 390 but mag is at 1050

Dosing 250 ml of a and b and 500 ml of c and still the mag is dropping like mad. I'll have to check what the mag level is with my new salt. If its low can I bring it bring it up by dosing part c into the water or is there a better supplement to use.

Thanks

I might need a new mag test kit see It expired a few years back.

I currently have a 8.5 Alk, 405 Ca, and damned if I can't get my Mg above 1300. Even when my Alk was at 7.5, Ca at 420 the Mg was no higher than 1200ish.

I am dosing 170ml Part A, 150ml Part B, two doses of 150ml Part C.

Your Mg is perfect for the other ratios why do you want to bring it up further? its exactly where it should be 1280 to 1350 is the magic area.

Can I use the part c to bring up te levels in new salt. My mag is 1050 right now alk 7 ca 390. Any tips ? Thanks

you can but its an expensive way of doing it, I would suggest using TM bio mag which is specifically designed for such things, once at the correct level you can then change over to part C

I've also had to bring up mag manually.

I'm still using reefers best which mag needs to be brought up

Yeah might be a reefers best thing but I figured a Half liter a day would maintain it. I may have to change salts sooner than later and pick up bio mag

I used 4l of Tailored Aquatics Mg to get mine to come up ~50ml. Michael, I was aiming for 1350 Mg based on what the ™ container said was optimum. If you say 1300 Mg is good well then awesome haahaa!

I am away for 2 weeks so I won't be fidgeting with the system for a while, which is good :) Stability promotes success!

Thanks for this thread, interesting for sure. Final stages of setting up a new system, in the past I've been a die hard believer in CA reactors because I've had good success. I've been thinking balling system for a while and this may have convinced me to give it a shot. From my research it's a bit more on monthly costs but less hassle then CR. Less hassles equals more free time which is more valuable then a few dollars of savings in this hobby. Wai's in Calgary has also been super helpful in understanding all the benefits of the TM 3 part system.

I'll post some results down the road...

We are seeing a massive uptake in the Tropic Marin balling system now, more and more are seeing the benefits of doing it properly.

If you are having issues with finding supply we have teamed up with several large retailers that always have it in stock. drop us a line for supply routes.

I think I Love this product.

At first I was in debate about the science. And only because I did not understand it. I have had a hard time keeping mg up but I know this is because of the salt that I use. It took me the better part of a week to raise it and maintain it but the system set to be flawless. Now that I have the " balance" I'm looking forward to the growth and color I've seen in other pics

Its these sort of posts that make my job worthwhile hearing our efforts paying off bringing both innovative and also the correct products to the end user so their tanks have the best possible chance of success.

Thank you for posting this. Its real end user comments like this that gets the word out.