any reasons to not use B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System ?

[Ginzo]

Can anybody give me any reasons of not using B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System (two part) for my future 120g reef (mostly SPS), to maintain my calcium and alkalinity levels ?

I'm planning on using the B-Ionic Calcium Buffer system combined with the Aquatronica dosing pump in order to automate the every day dosing.

Maybe in the future, when things are more stable..I will start using Randy Holmes recipe in order to reduce the cost.

 

[stereomandan]

Absolutely no reason not to use it. It's great stuff, been using it for 6+ years. On a larger tank, it just can get a little expensive, especially in a SPS tank.

It can also very slowly increase your PH over time, so just watch that, but regular 'ol white vinegar can drop it down to wherever you need. It's best to add it at night when the main lights are off, or whenever the PH is lowest in your daily routine. That keeps any PH rise to a minimum.

Dan

 

[dirtyreefer]

Money

It is cheaper to use Randy's two part

 

[Ginzo]

yeah..I know about the "money" factor..but I want something simple for the first couple of months..or the first year..and when things have calmed down, I will start using Randy's recipe.

 

[outy]

your missing the point

there both [randys and bionic] calcium chloride

there both simple

they both need testing so you can figure out the daily amounts

randys is cheaper and there is no reason to throw money away this hobbyis too expensive as it is.

my 100g uses 6 tsp dowflakes a day to a cup of water. it really is that simple. if it was bionic like i used to use i would be missing allot of corals do to the money issue

 

[Ginzo]

yeah, but let's just remove the "money" issue.

If their wasn't any money issue, would you use B-Ionic..and if not, why ?

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Technically, the commercially made stuff is a little more pure. But the availability is harder to come by for me. I would have to drive about 75+ miles to the nearest LFS to get some. With Randy's it's a few blocks to a couple hardware stores for some cheap ingredients, and I'm good to go.

 

[Ginzo]

my LFS (10 minutes from my place) sells the 1 gallon jugs.

I've estimated that the 1 gallon jugs should last me atleast 2 months, before I need to buy some more.

 

[theatrus]

B-Ionic is great. I was using it religiously (convenience mainly, Dowflake not available locally year round) for about a year before adding the calcium reactor.

I'd suggest the reactor many times over though, mainly from the less work per day standpoint.

 

[Ginzo]

Shouldn't be much work, with the Aquatronica dosing pump.

All you do is set the volume you want to dose everyday, for example 50ml, set the hour at witch you want the dosing to start and over what period of time the dosing should be done.

Once those parameters are set, your good to go. The Aquatronica dosing pump will dose everyday, the exact quantity you ask for. So the only tasks I need to do, is refill the B-Ionic jugs every 2 months or so when they are near empty.

Also, with this system, I'll be able to control my pH very closely.

Also, it's virtually maintenance free ...the calcium reactor can be maintenance free also, but it's not easy to get setup correctly.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Famous last words, Ginzo "virtually maintenance free"

Your tank's consumption of Calcium and Alkalinity will fluctuate over time and things will change. It's better to just test what you have and adjust accordingly.

 

[stereomandan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8319517#post8319517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by outy
your missing the point

there both [randys and bionic] calcium chloride

there both simple

they both need testing so you can figure out the daily amounts

randys is cheaper and there is no reason to throw money away this hobbyis too expensive as it is.

my 100g uses 6 tsp dowflakes a day to a cup of water. it really is that simple. if it was bionic like i used to use i would be missing allot of corals do to the money issue

Technically, they aren't the same at all. If you look at the detailed ingrediants list of B-ionic, it also has all sorts of the trace elements that get depleted in a saltwater tank.

Randy's does not. Now, that doesn't mean that Randy's is worse, but that you need to keep that in mind.

Both will hold Calcium and alk just fine.

Dan

 

[Ginzo]

hehe for sure I'm gonna keep a good eye on my pH and Calcium levels !

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8320701#post8320701 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Travis L. Stevens
Famous last words, Ginzo "virtually maintenance free"

Your tank's consumption of Calcium and Alkalinity will fluctuate over time and things will change. It's better to just test what you have and adjust accordingly.