Trying Polyp Lab's "System Reef-resh" this weekend.

[Mike Olson]

Originally Posted by DARK

I won the "Not so perfect tank" contest Polyp Labs had a few months ago. While I used the product for 5 weeks, I noticed a big improvement in the colours of my sps but since I ran out of The System and stop dosing, my purple monster frags and some lime green/teal stags have lost most of their colour and they appear to be dieing. Unless you plan to use The System "forever" I do not suggest using this product. I stopped using the product because it would cost me 180$ every 5 weeks on my 450g total water volume setup. I was impressed that it worked so well but now I wish I hadn't even entered the contest... sound harsh? Yes it is... but Im the one seeing what damage its caused to my system. If someone needs me to answer questions I'll glady do so.

I guess your reef liked the reef resh and then reacted negatively to not getting it...kinda like feeding a dog steak for awhile, then watching him go back to dry dog food Ha Ha! It must have done some good while you were using it if your corals had that much of a decline after.
All I know is that I do a 20% water change every 1-2 months, I feed my fish and corals alot, I have ALWAYS had nitrate readings around 10-20, and ever since I have used this product they have been at ZERO. This reason alone has made it worth the money, not withstanding the sps growth ive had in my mixed reef and other benefits

[vanreefer]

I say if it is working for you and you don't mind continuing using the product... then go for it... But I would caution you in stopping using the product abruptly... you should probably wean it off slowly. I would probably ask Polyp lab again (as I did earlier) about the potential problem with stopping this product abruptly... maybe ask them to stop using it on one of their "test tanks" after 6minths to a year of use.

[Jaws]

You have to consider too that if you stop using any product, it's going to have negative effects on your reef. It's really no different than when they introduced the protein skimmer. It was just another product to improve the quality of your tank. If you decided to stop using your protein skimmer one day you would see an enormous change in your reef. I'm not siding with anyone here but I'm always open to people who want to pour their time and money into creating a product that improves the condition of my tank. I haven't used this product yet nor will I until there is a lot more case studies and it's less expensive for larger tanks but it has done what Polyp Lab said it was going to do according to most. I definitely don't like the idea of corals bleaching or dying off when you discontinue the use of it though. Personally, I think it's an interesting idea but I'm going to monitor it's progress before I decide to get on board. I know these topics can get kind of heated but hopefully no one tries to jump down my throat for my comments. I'm just trying to be neutral right now but still interested in seeing how this idea evolves.

[vanreefer]

Originally Posted by Jaws

You have to consider too that if you stop using any product, it's going to have negative effects on your reef. It's really no different than when they introduced the protein skimmer. It was just another product to improve the quality of your tank. If you decided to stop using your protein skimmer one day you would see an enormous change in your reef.

This is a good point!!

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Jaws

It's really no different than when they introduced the protein skimmer. It was just another product to improve the quality of your tank. If you decided to stop using your protein skimmer one day you would see an enormous change in your reef.

Actually its a lot different, a protein skimmer is a basic filtrations system not a additive/food source. you would be more on the ball comparing it to feeding mysis instead of a skimmer, That is the biggest problem is people are thinking of this as a basic component instead of an additive which it is. now I have used several additives over the years and not one has had really amazing effects when I used it but at the same time I never noticed a difference when I stopped using it.

Steve

[GMGQ]

Well if you remove a protein skimmer, you're 'adding' Nitrates.

Either way, you're changing the water chemistry and that is what results in good/bad changes to the livestock.

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

Actually its a lot different, a protein skimmer is a basic filtrations system not a additive/food source. you would be more on the ball comparing it to feeding mysis instead of a skimmer, That is the biggest problem is people are thinking of this as a basic component instead of an additive which it is. now I have used several additives over the years and not one has had really amazing effects when I used it but at the same time I never noticed a difference when I stopped using it.

Steve

[Chin_Lee]

Originally Posted by GMGQ

Well if you remove a protein skimmer, you're 'adding' Nitrates.

Either way, you're changing the water chemistry and that is what results in good/bad changes to the livestock.

i don't believe you are "adding" nitrates per se. Protein skimmer is a form of filtration that is able to remove certain types of particles (bio waste) before it breaks down further in your tank water column. So you are actually changing the water composition which will subsequently change the water chemistry if the waste is not removed prior to it breaking down further into ammonia, nitrite, nitrate.

I believe what Steve is trying to say (and correct me if I'm wrong Steve) is that one should not compare this product to a protein skimmer because it would be like comparing the effects of removing live rock or wet/dry filter or canister filter from your aquarium. These are methods of filtration, and are not a form of additive.

On the same token, it would seem like this product is a mix of both a form of filtration and an additive. If I understand it correctly, you are feeding your system a type of bacteria that is a more efficient in nutrient export thus creating a nutrient poor environment. While simultaneously you feed your corals with different amino acids and vitamins and other coral nutrition. So who knows???

There are many valid points from different people who are using and speculating on the effectiveness of this product. But I feel it would be fair to let more people experiment with the product further and post their observations as time goes on. Opinions do matter especially when they are from very respected and experienced members of this hobby but (and I cautiously continue to write because I do not want to offend) they are also based on past experiences and therefore they are also biased.

Like any other thing that we use in our daily lives, there will be pros and cons and I don't believe this product will be the exception to that norm. From the posts of observed growth and improved colors, it would appear to be working well for many people so there is a good likelihood that there is a benefit to using this product. We should try to learn more about the beneficial and detrimental effects of the product if we don't understand it; we may never know when a product will bring us to the next level of reefkeeping. Until that determination is made, like many other products in this industry, it may need to evolve and be refined as to how it is used and managed. (IE weaning your corals off the product as opposed to a cold turkey approach if you do decide to stop using this product.)
To sum up my keyboarding diarrhea,
1) give this product a fair chance to mature and develope.
2) learn with it and if possible, learn from it.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Chin_Lee

(and correct me if I'm wrong Steve)

no need for correction, bang on, I also agree with the rest of the post, I was just to lazy to type that much.. you know the over worked and under paid thing

Steve