Dow flake Tampa area?

[markandkristen]

the guy on the phone told me it was

going to pick some up next week.

you might want to check in the yellow pages of spring hill and look for pool supplies? thats what pinch a penny is

 

[markandkristen]

picked it up today actually 50 lb bag was 28.88 with tax. now if i can find the magnesium chloride were set

 

[adnup]

Cool - I'm heading to Pinch a penny in the am.....
Thanks

 

[reefrubble]

adnup ,How is the new set up coming along? Ted

 

[markandkristen]

its just like the one pictured in the first picture adnup

 

[robthorn]

didn't I say pellets are cleaner? meaning less algea causing crap. this is according to the manufacturer not me. or even less toxins?

 

[david8956]

didn't I say pellets are cleaner?

Yes, but.......from the article linked on page 1:

(Note his 1st choice is to use Dow Flake)

"Substitutes for Dowflake Calcium Chloride...If Dowflake calcium chloride or a repackaged version (such as All-Clear) cannot be located, Peladow or Dow Mini-Pellets, which are dehydrated versions of Dowflake (that is, they have less water in the crystals), can be substituted.... Peladow, Dow mini-Pellets, Prestone Driveway Heat, Kent Turbo Calcium and other dehydrated calcium chloride products are more potent than Dowflake. The dehydration makes them both more potent by weight, and more dense, so they are much more potent by volume. The problem is that it is rarely clear how much moisture they contain."

If the professional chemist / PHD that developed this 2 part additive doesn't seem to have a problem with Dow Flake, I don't either. In fact, I have used it for over a year with no algae or PO4 showing on a Salifert test kit. It can't be all bad

 

[robthorn]

sorry for intruding I just figure if you can get something that is better for the same price people would want to do it. randy is randy and has his ways. and I also have mine. dave your tank is not the normal tank and shouldn't really be compared to most because you have the opposite problems as most aquarists of all levels. so the little bit of extra gunk may not have the same effect in your tank as it might in mine or the next guy that doesn't change there socks daily and keep as clean as tank as you. oh yeah back to my point. you go ahead and trust a professional all you want I see the lies and made up stuff from some professionals I think I will use my best judgement. that statement was in no way directed at randy it was a generalization. randy got his from a bulk order someone else placed so he took what he could get at the time. oh and he has algea last time I looked.

 

[robthorn]

oh yeah you also believe the salifert kits are accurate? not even close. not that you have phosphates but there phosphate kit in my opinion is a big waste of money and shouldn't be used as an indication of phosphates in an aquarium. especially since it only tests 1 of 3 or 4 forms of phosphates found in aquarium water. phosphates are also only one very minor need for algea to grow. don't forget about what copper does to lighten the color of corals without killing them. are your corals still light and washed out or did the feeding more help it out?

 

[david8956]

(Sorry for the hijack...)

1 month ago...Added more fish...more feeding.....started changing socks 3 times a week rather than every day, and......quit using any phosphate remover about 2 months ago (Had been using a small amount in my reactor along with the carbon). Still no measurable PO4 (had it double checked at John's. I do realize there will be PO4 there even though it's not showing on the test kit though)

Corals are a much deeper / richer color now, not nearly as "washed out" looking. Will probably add some PO4 remover again to see if everything stays this color or not. (I use Pura Phoslock, it's supposed to be the same as RowaPhos but costs a little less) If the corals lighten up again with this higher nutrient level, I think I could safely say at that point the PO4 remover was what had been causing the washed out colors. If they stay this nice rich color, my "problems" would appear to have been due to low nutrients.

Time will tell.

 

[college429]

I use the same formula as David. In fact from the same bags. We split it. I have never used socks. I have a refugium with macro algae. I have no nuisance algae.

I have started feeding more heavily and now have better colors. I also had some pale colors before feeding more heavily.

I don't think the formulas David and I are using are causing any problems with phosphate, etc.

 

[robthorn]

I never thought they contributed to phosphate either just they are not as clean. it could be anything I can't remember if it said on there website what the contaminants are or not.

 

[college429]

My understanding is that it was mainly ammonia that Randy was concerned about. I've never had a problem with it.

 

[poknsnok]

as far as the magnesium part goes usnt that just epsom salts?? I have also seen magnesium at Home Depot in thier garden department

 

[college429]

Yes, but Randy's improved formula mixes epsum salt (magnesium sulfate) with Magnesium Chloride. This reduces the buildup of sulfates over time.