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Old 08-03-2012, 02:27 PM
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Default seachem suppliments

Who is using these? I've been dosing with BRS Ca, Mg and Alk but am looking at other options. I think I'm going to look at Epsom salts for Mg (I think that's the one that does Mg) but what about Alk and Ca? Does anyone use Seachem's Reef Advantage Calcium or the Reef Builder?
If you do have you ever used anything else? How does it compare?
Right now I'm dosing roughly 55ml/day of BRS Ca and Alk and 45ml Mg/day.
I've got roughly 130 gal water volume, 120lbs LR with a mixed reef of SPS, LPS, softies and 1 clam.

One of the last LFS's I was in was trying to convince me to going with Seachem and some of the math sounded ok but I wanted to get some opinions from people who have used this stuff or what you are using that works well and is economical. Any thoughts?
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Old 08-03-2012, 05:12 PM
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I'm using Reef Builder. While it does raise alk without affecting pH . . . it is kind of a pain in the backside. It doesn't dissolve very well (even with a lot of shaking and allowing it to sit for a while), so when I add it to the tank water particles float around. As I've already burned one euphyllia using Reef Buffer, the fact that it doesn't dissolve 100% makes me pretty nervous. The particle cloud does clear quickly.

I'd prefer a liquid alk supplement over a powdered one. I won't buy Reef Builder again (I don't think).
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Old 08-03-2012, 05:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Enigma View Post
I'm using Reef Builder. While it does raise alk without affecting pH . . . it is kind of a pain in the backside. It doesn't dissolve very well (even with a lot of shaking and allowing it to sit for a while), so when I add it to the tank water particles float around. As I've already burned one euphyllia using Reef Buffer, the fact that it doesn't dissolve 100% makes me pretty nervous. The particle cloud does clear quickly.

I'd prefer a liquid alk supplement over a powdered one. I won't buy Reef Builder again (I don't think).
+1

I'm using this for alk as well, I mixed and let it sit for a day before using, then stirred it again. I just started using this, prior I was using the liquid, but too costly with the issues I'm having atm.

For mag and ca, I'm using Fauna Marin and no issues with it.

What's your ratio for your mix Shelley? (just asking to make sure my math is correct)...
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Old 08-03-2012, 06:00 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Coralgurl View Post
+1

I'm using this for alk as well, I mixed and let it sit for a day before using, then stirred it again. I just started using this, prior I was using the liquid, but too costly with the issues I'm having atm.

What's your ratio for your mix Shelley? (just asking to make sure my math is correct)...
I'm adding 1/2 teaspoon to around 3-4 cups of tank-water (not freshwater, as the directions indicate) every other day. The tank-water could be why it doesn't mix well, but I don't want to throw off my salinity. The system is 55 gallons in total. I hadn't dosed for a few days while we were camping, and my alk is back down to six (it was up at nine).

I'm "overdosing" according the instructions I think . . . but something in my system uses alk like crazy and I just can't keep it up. Plus, my salt seems to mix up low in alk: which compounds the issue.
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Old 08-03-2012, 11:31 PM
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Hmmm. Can you not pre-mix it in a gallon jug of RO/DI and dose it with dosers? That's what I'd be looking at doing because of the volume and my tendency to forget
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Old 08-04-2012, 12:00 AM
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I don't know if that can be done or not. I'm unaware of anything that could deteriorate or change if it was put into solution, but I don't know for sure.
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