Brightwell Aquatics "Two Thumbs up!!!"

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

In some cases, where a product could provide a benefit, I carefully test it. A case in point is the Seachem borate alkalinity test. If it worked, it would be a benefit. But careful testing shows it does not work well enough to be useful:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/june2003/chem.htm

In other cases, I determine based on the known chemistry of the product, whether it can actually work as described (or not). Sometimes I also combine testing with that to "prove" that known science holds true. Aragamight is an example:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/july2002/chem.htm

I try not to get too involved in the relative merits of things what absolutely can only be tested in aquaria, and have high potential variability of results. Many food products fit this category, and even some trace element supplements.

In other cases, I read everything I can find in the scientific literature, and combine it with my experiences and those of many others (I have read hundreds of thousands of reefers posts on products) to come to an assessment. Iodine and strontium supplements are examples of that:

Iodine in Marine Aquaria: Part I
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2003/chem.htm

Iodine in Reef Tanks 2: Effects on Macroalgae Growth
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2003/chem.htm

Strontium and the Reef Aquarium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2003/chem.htm


Never is my assessment based on a simple: It doesn't work for me so it cannot work for you" type of analysis, nor do I ever accept a simple 'It did work for me so it WILL work for you".

 

[teesquare]

Thanks for the input Randy -
Your method appears as sound and sincere as possible. Given the state of the hobby - there are few "iron clad" answers. But the ones we can have - especially the chemistry based ones - do provide great value to us as hobbyists. I am not alone in expressing my gratitude to you I am sure.

Can you direct me to thread(s) discussing the similarities/differences when comparing the 2-part dosing to Balling Lite?

I am considering both, and am trying to understand them both well before choosing a method.

Thanks Again!

T

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Can you direct me to thread(s) discussing the similarities/differences when comparing the 2-part dosing to Balling Lite?

Not exactly what you are asking, but these may be useful:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1738945

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1744501
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1762005

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1777924

 

[teesquare]

Beautifalous!!!
Thanks Randy!
T

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Good luck.

 

[Argentiner]

Luther1200: thanks for that. I should give the HC GFO a try. The vinegar doesn't seem to be doing anything so far, although it is early. I did just put a small blonde naso I had in QT in my tank, so hopefully that will work.

 

[luther1200]

Luther1200: thanks for that. I should give the HC GFO a try. The vinegar doesn't seem to be doing anything so far, although it is early. I did just put a small blonde naso I had in QT in my tank, so hopefully that will work.

YW, I know that stuff in a major pain. My tank is to small for a Naso, but I have heard that they work well.

 

[michealprater]

Randy, I noticed Brightwell had a salt. What salt do you recommend?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It seems a bit low in magnesium in Billy's tests:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1714505

But this is what really concerns me about it. Chris claims:

"Conservative minor and trace elements are not depleted in marine environments, indicating that they are not utilized by marine life or do not take part in chemical reactions in seawater; as such, they are not necessary for the survival of aquarium inhabitants, and are not part of the NeoMarine formulation. "

What exactly are they leaving out? Why? They are smarter than nature?

Does something need to be depleted to be important? Certainly not.

Molydbate is conserved, but is critical for life. Did they leave it out? Does the sentence above actually have any meaning aside from a marketing thing?


Here's my standard commentary on salts:

I do not think there is a "best" salt mix. Nearly all of them will work fine as long as you know their pros and cons.

I don't want excessive borate, which leaves out Seachem.

I don't want vitamins or anything else organic in my mix (because I doubt their utility, they degrade with time to who knows what, bacteria may thrive on them as I store new salt water for a substantial period, they are totally undescribed with respect to amounts or identity, they are not naturally present in natural seawater at appreciable levels, and because I've occasionally had them mess with my skimmer), so that tosses out some like Reef Crystals, hW Marinemix Plus BioElements, Kent, Coralife, and Nutri-SeaWater.

I don't want excessive calcium (long term use of limewater as I use drives up calcium, so I do not want it starting high), so that tosses out a bunch, such as Kent, Seachem, Coralife and Oceanic.

There are certain companies that I will not support due to their misleading claims and/or product lines. That tosses out a few which I won't detail here since it is my personal thought as opposed to a specific issue with their salt mix.

I won't use certain lines of natural seawater due to excessive metals in it.

That only leaves a few to choose from, such as Instant Ocean and Tropic Marin Pro. The remaining ones might all be fine for me, but IO is lower in cost, especially if you get it when it goes on sale (which it frequently does). It also has a very long track record of success in many aquaria with relatively few concerning issues of bad batches.

 

[michealprater]

Thank you very much for your detailed answer.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

:thumbsup:

Happy Reefing.

 

[sjfishguy]

Randy: You throw Reef Crystals in the list of salts you won't use because of added "vitamins or anything else organic." I was under the impression RC is just IO with more Ca, Alk, and Mg? What else do they add to make you hesitant to use it?

 

[sjfishguy]

Rollster: For a mixed reef I think you would be better off with GFO than vodka. Vodka can get your nutrients to REALLY low levels, something I think softies wouldn't really like. I have no personal experience with vodka, maybe someone else that doses it can comment. Here is a list of products that I and many others on here use and have found to be very cost efficient and effective:

Test Kits: API brands
Mg Kit :Salifert or Elos
Salt: Reef Crystals
GFO: BRS GFO pellets
GAC: BRS ROX carbon (just switched from Marineland and and really like it, low dust, you use less, and better color on my corals)
CaCl: BRS
MgCl: BRS
Alk: baking soda from ShopRite
Food: Rod's food

And that is really all the supplies I have. I have a tank packed full of SPS, stuff grows like weeds, and it looks great. And I have to thank Randy for all his educational articles, he has helped myself and this hobby immensely.

 

[sjfishguy]

Rollster: For a mixed reef I think you would be better off with GFO than vodka. Vodka can get your nutrients to REALLY low levels, something I think softies wouldn't really like. I have no personal experience with vodka, maybe someone else that doses it can comment. Here is a list of products that I and many others on here use and have found to be very cost efficient and effective:

Test Kits: API brands
Mg Kit :Salifert or Elos
Salt: Reef Crystals
GFO: BRS GFO pellets
GAC: BRS ROX carbon (just switched from Marineland and and really like it, low dust, you use less, and better color on my corals)
CaCl: BRS
MgCl: BRS
Alk: baking soda from ShopRite
Food: Rod's food

And that is really all the supplies I have. I have a tank packed full of SPS, stuff grows like weeds, and it looks great. And I have to thank Randy for all his educational articles, he has helped myself and this hobby immensely.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You throw Reef Crystals in the list of salts you won't use because of added "vitamins or anything else organic." I was under the impression RC is just IO with more Ca, Alk, and Mg? What else do they add to make you hesitant to use it?


Vitamins and a metal chelator. I don't know if the latter is useful or undesirable, but they do not say what exactly it is or how much is there, so it is an unknown that I avoid.

FWIW, IO and RC have the same alkalinity target levels.

 

[sjfishguy]

Interesting, thanks. Have been using it for a few years now, so I won't fix what isn't broken I guess, but good to know.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

:thumbsup:

Happy Reefing.

 

[PCfishman]

For those of you using Microbacter 7 are you turning off your skimmer when dosing the tank?

 

[troyman]

brightwell products

brightwell products

there are many products out there that does not do what it claims,randy you put down brightwell are you jealous you dont own a large company such as brightwell. i happen to think zeovit is one of the biggest jokes out there and people snatch it up like its free.we all have differnt ways of achieving the goals to reef keeping some sucess some failure. A company cant claim a compound in a product they sell and it not be in there ,unlike zeovit they dont tell whats in it at all.

 

[michealprater]

A company cant claim a compound in a product they sell and it not be in there ,unlike zeovit they dont tell whats in it at all.

They dont have to say how much of the compound is in their either. So they can claim it has a benificial compound, and put a tiny amount in. Technically, they are not lying out and out, but we all know it is shady.