I appreciate that you would like to make shorter posts, but we all enjoy hearing what you have to say. Most of us buy our marine salt from you and any knowledge that you can pass along is greatly appreciated. You have proved that you can make the world's greatest marine salts. Sorry, but the longer and more detailed your posts the better I like it. Thanks again.
As usual, your posts are informative, direct, and entertaining. For a short time, I actually tried baking soda for alkalinity supplement and ice melter for calcium. Shortly after I started playing "Kitchen Kemist", things in my tank began to spiral out of control. For the first time EVER in keeping marine tanks, I was having pH issues (among other things.) After about three solid months of chasing my tail, I gave it all up. A friend of mine eventually set me straight with some tough words and his absolute disdain for "Mass idiocy spread by internet reefers trying to save a nickel on a thousand dollar setup". One thing that's for sure is that while I was trying to play "Kitchen Kemist", I was NOT enjoying the hobby. Every day, I had to measure this, correct that, recheck something else; I don't think I actually looked at the viewing pane once during this dark period. I was dumb enough to rely on a fourteen dollar test kit to tell me what I needed to know rather than observe the corals (which are much more reliable indicators.)
Like you have already stated, there are many ways to keep and maintain marine tanks. I don't believe mine to be the best and I don't tout it as such. It's certainly a whole lot easier and enjoyable than before. Most of my time is spent watching the animals and learning by observation. It is absolutely amazing at what you can learn if you look at them long enough. This is hard to do if one spends their reef time checking and testing things. I recently gave away a few test kits to a fellow RAG member as they were collecting dust and coming closer and closer to the expiration date.
Eventually I will come to the point where, unless I do large and frequent water changes, I will not be able to maintain elements as the corals use them up. Supplementing is going to be needed sooner or later. I must now ask you the $64,000 question: What do you recommend as a viable alternative to the "Kitchen Kemist" technique and what makes this method you prescribe, superior?
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If you really want to save the planet, then go somewhere else!!
Without the above, continual chemical (aquarium water chemistry parameter) imbalances will occur.
For those with the proper initial set up and use of proper support equipment..... If there is need for pH adjustment or alkalinity buffering... It is essential to use a "buffer" that is composed of various agents in a balanced form that will adjust pH and alkalinity to the desired levels.
The addition of unbalanced chemicals will push alkalinity up while adjusting pH levels to potentially unsafe levels.
If there is need to raise calcium, it is essential to introduce a balanced calcium additive solution that is composed of various forms of bio available calcium. Not simply calcium chloide or calcium hydroxide.
It is best to use a multi-form of calcium that will not alter pH or inhibit or enhance alkalinity. If periodic additions of a liquid multi form calcium supplement is too troublesome, this can be introduced via dosing.
When spending a little time with the baking soda and ice melt group, it becomes obvious their level of marine aquarium education is frighteningly low.
When asked where they got their information, all reply they did "on-line research".
The manufacturer of the ice melt salt openly cautions hobbyists not to use their product for aquarium use.
At the same time hundreds of individuals have posted asking for someone to reassure them that the use of this very item is OK!
IMO, information provided that encourages hobbyists to use improper items is found on the worlds largest bathroom wall - web sites that pander to the lowest mental common denominator.
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Michael Del Prete
CEO Aqua Craft Products www.AquaCraft.net
Ok, you've hit on a point I've been wondering about for some time. The balanced calcium additive. Give me a name, please. If you look at most of the stuff out there is says calcium salts. That doesn't tell me anything. On the other hand if I hear product A is the one to use from you , well then I know that's the one to use. Thanks in advance.
First, figure out if you need a calcium additive. Most systems are better off if you replace calcium by doing water changes. Usually only systems that contain massive amounts of SPS corals and/or clams require a calcium supplement.
BTW, if you find that a newly mixed batch of SW is low in calcium, you need a new brand of salt.
If I had to adjust calcium one time, I'd use calcium chloride. It's not good to use often, since it can imbalance the water.
If I needed calcium on a regular basis, I'd use a calcium reactor.
"If there is need to raise calcium, it is essential to introduce a balanced calcium additive solution that is composed of various forms of bio available calcium. Not simply calcium chloride or calcium hydroxide."
I really did not care for your answer. You tell the public not to use these alternative methods that don't work well. People turn to these methods from lack of knowledge and outright lies by the claims of some of the manufactures. If there is a balanced calcium additive out there that really works I would like to know what it is. If you don't want to state it in the Aquacraft forum you can say it elsewhere or in a PM.
You know what? Just forget it!
Without turning this into a selling thread, I thought I answered you question.
"On the other hand if I hear product A is the one to use from you , well then I know that's the one to use."
Product A is from us ... That is the one to use.
Check our banner for liquid calcium additive.
I wanted to avoid using our brand name. With over 300 views to this thread, no doubt lurkers from site XXX are waiting to pounce on me for describing the nonsence promoted on .... site XXX... then promoting an item we produce.
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Michael Del Prete
CEO Aqua Craft Products www.AquaCraft.net
Thomas, MDP wants to avoid people looking at this thread and thinking wrongly that this whole thread is just to promote his additive. Because of the amount of money and reasearch MDP spends on his products and because he takes the time to educate us in this world of chemistry, I trust his calcium additive.
I wonder if any of the websites advocate using table salt to add Iodine? Perhaps we need to explain the basics of pH in this thread to help eveyone be on the same page.
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