Additives: To use or not?...

[delor]

Just out of curiousity, what additives do you use in your tank? I know some people just use water changes to replace any depleted elements. I would like to hear all experiences, good and bad. What have you used that made a difference and what did you use that was a waste of money.



I dose calcium (seachem) and Iodide (seachem) and use weekly water changes for trace elements. I haven't gone the kalk route yet, but am considering it for the future (just need to invest in some sort of dosing system first).

 

[tedmc2]

I used C-Balance in the past but have switched to B-Ionic. I think you use less of the B-Ionic so it is less expensive in the long run. I've been using CombiSan to replace trace elements, as I seldom do water changes, for about 6 months and haven't noticed much of a change.

 

[MiddletonMark]

I've tried a lot of things, but have settled to using just a 2-part Ca/Alk system in the last few years, have been very happy.

Repeated experiments with Iodine dosing has shown me little improvement - and with the difficulties of testing, problems if overdosed ... I'm happy without, as I never saw any noticeable difference in my system when regularly dosing. All opinion

Otherwise - IMO the jury is very much out. I tend to think many suppliments are sold to our desire to help our tanks vs. any real science ... and thus generally avoid them as proof is difficult, the scientific literature doesn't suggest anything more than Ca/Alk [perhaps Magnesium] would be lacking in any of our tanks.

My opinion - but I'd stick to 2-part, let others waste their money trying them.

 

[chip721]

I use a perastaltic pump to dose ~ 35 ml of B-Ionic nightly. Easy to manage for small to moderate sized tanks. Good coraline algae results. Add phytoplankton occasionally for featherdusters and clams.

I tried Purple Up for awhile. I can't say it did any damage, but I wasn't comfortable with the mystery of not knowing what measurements of what ingredients I was dumping into my tank. IMO, it wasn't a good way to maintain Ca and Alk balance. I choose to let my coraline algae growth happen the old fashioned way ...good husbandry and patience.

 

[chip721]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7074356#post7074356 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tedmc2
I used C-Balance in the past but have switched to B-Ionic. I think you use less of the B-Ionic so it is less expensive in the long run.

Ted I agree needing less of B-Ionic. If you play with the Chemistry Calculator you can easily discover it requires more C-Balance than B-Ionic to acheive the same results. All though a good product, C-Balance seems less concentrated.

 

[Paintbug]

i too only add a 2 Part calc/alk buffer. i started using B-ionic. i am making my own with Randys recipe now. but, thats probably the only thing i have ever added to the tank that i could see a difference in a matter of days. however doing just dose it by the directions. you will need to check your calcium, and alkalinity on a regular basis. daily at first, then once you start seeing how much you will use, you will just dose daily test weekly. another important factor with the calc/alk balance is magnesium. most the time your water changes will keep the mag levels in check. but again its a good idea to know what your levels are and adjust accordingly. as far as Iodine, Strontium, and all the others, just let the water changes handle them as well.