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Post by Sean (90 reef, fw rack sys) on Mar 12, 2016 11:59:19 GMT -5
I'm guessing whatever the issue was, it has been resolved, no more die off and what's left seems very content. For now, I appreciate everyone's help. I will update if there are any further developments. One last question though. What's the general opinion to using the Reef Accelerator? I know I'm gonna hear test parameters first, but I'm not gonna change on that (sorry Ryan). But please, honest opinions. Looking for faster growth.
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Post by Sean (90 reef, fw rack sys) on Mar 12, 2016 12:44:22 GMT -5
Just ordered replacement materials for my ro/di unit. That will make water changes a lot easier.
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Post by jasonandsarah on Mar 13, 2016 8:33:05 GMT -5
I'm assuming reef accelerator has Alk and Cal? Maybe Mag as well? If so Ryan's correct that you shouldn't add it without testing. All of these elements help coral growth but only in the right ratios and only if these elements are stable.
Also the hobbiest test kits for the most part are very accurate now a days and are normally the exact test kits that scientists use when testing in the "field". If you're truly looking for accuracy you could look into Triton testing? Problem with that is though, you pay just as much to get 1 full run of testing as you would for a good bundle of test kits and you have no idea what your parameters are 2 or 3 weeks later.
If you truly don't want to test your tank at all then I'd say don't use the additives. Unfortunately if you want to change things up and try to get better growth you'll also have to change your thinking on testing imo.
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Post by jmerr86 on Mar 13, 2016 17:13:49 GMT -5
I agree with Jason. I started using ABC+ and for the first month I was adding 20g every 3 day until I hit my target about a month later I kept this routine for another few weeks and was seeing great sps growth then I lost a bunch of softies and shrooms tested and found out my cal was getting close to 1600! I'm still using ABC+ but only 18g once a week and some other things to get it were I wont but without testing there is no way to know if your really using anything properly don't get me wrong I still randomly squirt different things in my tank to help them along (well I think I'm helping it) like garlic and herbtana but now that I dose on a regular basses I test on a regular basses
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Post by Rakahrd Eastbrook, Me. on Mar 18, 2016 22:35:13 GMT -5
walmart has water refill stations at 37 cents a gallon. it is Ro water with ultraviolet cleaning
It works prety well for me.
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Post by Sean (90 reef, fw rack sys) on Mar 19, 2016 4:53:53 GMT -5
walmart has water refill stations at 37 cents a gallon. it is Ro water with ultraviolet cleaning It works prety well for me. Ya I used to huse the ones at Hannaford but started having issues. Found out from friends that work there that the machine is hardly ever serviced unless there is something wrong with it, so who knows how long it's been and how PURE the water actually is. Got a new ro/di coming in the next few days, should be all set |
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Post by speedyron on Mar 19, 2016 5:58:35 GMT -5
you can test water with a tds meter they are pretty cheap
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Post by Sean (90 reef, fw rack sys) on Mar 20, 2016 12:50:22 GMT -5
I want to explain my opinion on test kits because it seems that's what this post has turned into. I am not against test kits especially the really expensive ones that I personally cannot afford. In the 20+ years I've been doing salt tanks, I've always kept the philosophy "if everything looks happy, let it be". I understand that there has been a lot of advancement over the years, but I'm just stuck in my ways. My biggest issue is putting test kits into the hands of beginner aquarist. It gives a person false security to know that their pH and nitrates are good until they're not, and then you have some guy running out and buying every chemical possible and then...crash. And all interest in the hobby is out the door.
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Post by speedyron on Mar 22, 2016 3:42:22 GMT -5
oh i wasnt talking bout ur tank i was talking bout water from the store and this is not a kit its an instrument very easy to use
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Post by speedyron on Mar 22, 2016 3:51:50 GMT -5
i am very sorry bout ur tank crash and we are only trying to help but ur philosophy of if everything looks good leave it, it was bound to happen. we test because we cant see the changes by eye everything looks ok one day what happened well testing is the only way to really know. the rest is just guessing as educated or experienced it may be. we all just trying help u the only way we know by experience works. getting accurate answers and adjusting from there
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Post by speedyron on Mar 22, 2016 3:54:20 GMT -5
and ull need a tds meter anyway to know when change ur rodi cartridges
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Post by Sean (90 reef, fw rack sys) on Mar 22, 2016 6:23:22 GMT -5
i am very sorry bout ur tank crash and we are only trying to help but ur philosophy of if everything looks good leave it, it was bound to happen. we test because we cant see the changes by eye everything looks ok one day what happened well testing is the only way to really know. the rest is just guessing as educated or experienced it may be. we all just trying help u the only way we know by experience works. getting accurate answers and adjusting from there I'm sorry if I offended anyone. Didn't mean to. That's just my opinion, and we all know what they say about opinions  |
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Post by speedyron on Mar 22, 2016 7:14:44 GMT -5
No prob man I dont think anyone is offended just tryin to help we are lucky to have a group like this and everyone here in my oppinion really care
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Post by Sean (90 reef, fw rack sys) on Mar 23, 2016 8:46:30 GMT -5
Hey we are a brother (and sister) hood. We all work to accomplish things that most people only dream of. Just like a real family, we will disagree on things, but in the overall spectrum it is for the better good of all. And there is my philosophy lesson for today. Won't you join me next time when we discuss.....
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Post by gotareef on Mar 24, 2016 8:36:31 GMT -5
I want to explain my opinion on test kits because it seems that's what this post has turned into. I am not against test kits especially the really expensive ones that I personally cannot afford. In the 20+ years I've been doing salt tanks, I've always kept the philosophy "if everything looks happy, let it be". I understand that there has been a lot of advancement over the years, but I'm just stuck in my ways. My biggest issue is putting test kits into the hands of beginner aquarist. It gives a person false security to know that their pH and nitrates are good until they're not, and then you have some guy running out and buying every chemical possible and then...crash. And all interest in the hobby is out the door. Hey guys been a wile... Had to jump in on this Lol test kits aren't necessarily for exact readings... the point of test kits is if something goes wrong( frogspawn melting) you will know where to start.. By regular testing you will have a baseline to go by of parameters your specific tank parameters... Kind of like a tds meter or a lux meter.. Not exact but they will tell you allot. |
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