Randy, Is there a list out there of general products you highly recommend?
Brightwell Aquatics "Two Thumbs up!!!"
- Thread starter Marc
- Start date
No, there's not a list, but I'm happy to make recommendations for specific types of things. 
You need to do awards in several catagories. Call it the "Randy's" LOL.
Now that would be fun.
luther1200
Premium Member
I had a huge brown wafer algae issue a while back. I found that the HC GFO from BRS worked wonders for me. That and I was dosing a carbon source and it finally went away. Also Naso Tangs and Sally Lightfoot crabs will eat the stuff. I had it for well over a year, before I started running the HC GFO. It only took about 1.5-2 months of running it for the algae to seriously recede. HTH.
rollster
New member
No, there's not a list, but I'm happy to make recommendations for specific types of things.
Hi - I, and I'm sure many others, specially NEW kids on the block like me, would TRULY appreciate a list of recommended type of products/things, for the reason below:
My LFS was almost pushing to sell me Phosphat -r & Regenerat-PHOR, said it was the best on the market, both for $90 - $100 + tax. (CA tax is ( 9 1/2% - just imagen!)
I did not buy the products due to the high cost, plus I needed a phos-reactor, which I got for $80.00.
Hence, I list of products from someone who is familiar with all the fancy language in labels, and no personal ties, except for the knowledge-sharing would HIGHLY appreciated!
By the way, I have started to read the articles you have published, listed in the Reefpedia, and in the near future I will start to put to work your recommendations.
sjfishguy
Active member
I started to type a response and realized it really depends on what type of tank you are running? SPS? Softies?
In general don't buy a bunch of expensive additives and equipment at the LFS, most of it is not needed. It is actually funny to me to see the shelves of the LFS filled with the pretty bottles of Brightwell products. Some of this stuff I pick up just to see what it claims to do, its unreal how much crap is on the shelves of the LFSs. They just feed off the ignorance of many people in the hobby.
In general don't buy a bunch of expensive additives and equipment at the LFS, most of it is not needed. It is actually funny to me to see the shelves of the LFS filled with the pretty bottles of Brightwell products. Some of this stuff I pick up just to see what it claims to do, its unreal how much crap is on the shelves of the LFSs. They just feed off the ignorance of many people in the hobby.
would TRULY appreciate a list of recommended type of products/things, for the reason below:
OK, I'll think about that.
Are there any types of products you are considering at this moment?
OK, I'll think about that.
Are there any types of products you are considering at this moment?
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Buganddoug
X NJRC Vice President
What Up Randy! Just my 2 cents But I really like Warner Marine supplements. My mix reef likes them as well.
Yes, Jon Warner has many fine products. I don't recall seeing any of his that I thought were substandard, but I've not reviewed his product line lately.
Buganddoug
X NJRC Vice President
I guess that is a good thing!! Because I have the Best luck with his items.
luther1200
Premium Member
I alos heard that Warner Marines HC GFO was very good. But its quite expensive. A lot more expensive than the HC from BRS, which is a great product IME.
rollster
New member
with my current phosphate problem, what is the best approach to abate the level of phosphate, should I:
1. continue to use Vodka?
or
2. since I spent money on a phophate reactor (which I could always take back), should I get:
ROWA or BRS (I picked these 2 because they seem to be pretty popular)
which one is worth spending money and listen to my wife yap (lol), In addition, what is best for a Long-Term solution. lets take in to consideretion that the solution is for a mix (soft and sps) tank, if it matters.
which products do you consider/use when, or if, you have/had problems with your tank.
I think GFO will more quickly deal with the phosphate, and then over time you can more carefully determine if organic carbon dosing seems to be a good plan for you.
which products do you consider/use when, or if, you have/had problems with your tank.
There are almost no hobby products I ever use, but there certainly are fine ones. I use limewater for calcium and alkalinity. I use bulk brands. Right now that means from Bulk Reef Supply. I use silicate for sponges that I bought years ago from a chemistry store. I use iron that I bought as Fergon tablets at Walgreens. I use MAG flake and Dowflake to boost Instant Ocean salt mix with magnesium and calcium. Vodka and vinegar from local stores. That's about it that actually ends up in the tank, aside from nutrition related things like Selcon.
I guess you should at Marineland Black Diamond GAC to that list.
which products do you consider/use when, or if, you have/had problems with your tank.
There are almost no hobby products I ever use, but there certainly are fine ones. I use limewater for calcium and alkalinity. I use bulk brands. Right now that means from Bulk Reef Supply. I use silicate for sponges that I bought years ago from a chemistry store. I use iron that I bought as Fergon tablets at Walgreens. I use MAG flake and Dowflake to boost Instant Ocean salt mix with magnesium and calcium. Vodka and vinegar from local stores. That's about it that actually ends up in the tank, aside from nutrition related things like Selcon.
I guess you should at Marineland Black Diamond GAC to that list.
:lol:
Some of his products make claims that can't be correct, and he has personally debated us at Reef Central, and did not provide any better support for them in person. Part of the problem may be that he tries to provide information about the products, and that is to be praised, but once we learn what it is, we find fault that other companies just do not reveal.
That said, my wrath against bogus products is most certainly not confined to him and/or his company.
Seachem has some products (e.g., borate alkalinity test, calcium polygluconate, etc) that I rail against and which have caused heated discussions with the owner and some of his staff here in the past.
Kent too has crappy products (like Liquid Reactor) which I frequently blast.
Caribsea has some bogus products too (Aragamilk and Aragamight, for example).
Don't get me started on Boyd products. Among the most ludicrous claims in the industry, even if some of them are useful for some applications.
Overall, there are few hobby chemical companies that have a full product line that I do not detect some significant problems with.
Some of his products make claims that can't be correct, and he has personally debated us at Reef Central, and did not provide any better support for them in person. Part of the problem may be that he tries to provide information about the products, and that is to be praised, but once we learn what it is, we find fault that other companies just do not reveal.
That said, my wrath against bogus products is most certainly not confined to him and/or his company.
Seachem has some products (e.g., borate alkalinity test, calcium polygluconate, etc) that I rail against and which have caused heated discussions with the owner and some of his staff here in the past.
Kent too has crappy products (like Liquid Reactor) which I frequently blast.
Caribsea has some bogus products too (Aragamilk and Aragamight, for example).
Don't get me started on Boyd products. Among the most ludicrous claims in the industry, even if some of them are useful for some applications.
Overall, there are few hobby chemical companies that have a full product line that I do not detect some significant problems with.
Well it is good to know that you are an "equal opportunity" kind of guy!:lol2:
Perhaps a list of products that you find "fall below performance/spec" - without any personal attack on anyone - would be useful to many of us.
Bearing in mind that many of us keep different kinds of tanks - I wonder if there are products which may have a place in one scenario - but not another?
Ex: I know that you are not an SPS keeper - so, are there products that you may not have any use for, but may be applicable in a SPS dominant tank?
T
Perhaps a list of products that you find "fall below performance/spec" - without any personal attack on anyone - would be useful to many of us.
Bearing in mind that many of us keep different kinds of tanks - I wonder if there are products which may have a place in one scenario - but not another?
Ex: I know that you are not an SPS keeper - so, are there products that you may not have any use for, but may be applicable in a SPS dominant tank?
T
Bearing in mind that many of us keep different kinds of tanks - I wonder if there are products which may have a place in one scenario - but not another?
Oh sure. There are lots of fine products that I'll never need, and may even have relatively unusual scenarios where they would be used, but I do not fault a product for that if the description is accurate.
Beyond products into whole husbandry techniques, such as CaCO3/CO2 reactors , two part additives, and denitrators, I help people use them appropriately even if they are not part of my routine.
Oh sure. There are lots of fine products that I'll never need, and may even have relatively unusual scenarios where they would be used, but I do not fault a product for that if the description is accurate.
Beyond products into whole husbandry techniques, such as CaCO3/CO2 reactors , two part additives, and denitrators, I help people use them appropriately even if they are not part of my routine.
good to know Randy!
But how do we arrive at which kinds of products do in fact provide benefit - in a hoby with as many variations as we see, in biotope and blends of envirements?
Are you utilizing "known" values or ranges of what we think of as "norms" in the amount of the major/minor chemical constituents in SW?
And - because this hobby/business/industry is constantly being influenced by new findings or discoveries - what rationale do you resort to for acceptance or rejection of such? I tend to listen more objectively to the scientific community, and then ultimately, we see products which "appear" on the market that may or may not support such field/lab work.
Then there those that are on the market without substantion of their merit in aquaria. ( I think of Marc Wiess stuff)....And Zeovit, which obviously works - but seems to be a precarious balancing act, and a constant "tweak" to maximize color of SPS, but if you stop dosing.....crash!!! a lot of dead coral - from the multiple threads I have read here on RC....
thoughts...?
T
T
But how do we arrive at which kinds of products do in fact provide benefit - in a hoby with as many variations as we see, in biotope and blends of envirements?
Are you utilizing "known" values or ranges of what we think of as "norms" in the amount of the major/minor chemical constituents in SW?
And - because this hobby/business/industry is constantly being influenced by new findings or discoveries - what rationale do you resort to for acceptance or rejection of such? I tend to listen more objectively to the scientific community, and then ultimately, we see products which "appear" on the market that may or may not support such field/lab work.
Then there those that are on the market without substantion of their merit in aquaria. ( I think of Marc Wiess stuff)....And Zeovit, which obviously works - but seems to be a precarious balancing act, and a constant "tweak" to maximize color of SPS, but if you stop dosing.....crash!!! a lot of dead coral - from the multiple threads I have read here on RC....
thoughts...?
T
T
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