Why do poeple use reef crystals?
- Thread starter PirateLove
- Start date
hogfanreefer
Active member
IO is closer to where I want things to be. I have used HW Reefer and RC in the past but my tank does just as well with IO and my dosing expense is not any different that I can tell.
leviburns89
New member
Here's my .02
IO will provide you with the basic nutrients for successful growth.
If your tank is lacking a certain supplement, it is far easier (and cheaper) to add that specific nutrient with dosing.
That being said, if you use RC, you guarantee that you will be adding X amount of nutrients with every water change, and in most cases, you don't need all the nutrients that the RC is providing, thus leading to an overabundance in a certain nutrient.
From what I have heard in person.. it is far easier to add the nutrients you are lacking via dosing, rather than taking out all the buildup of stuff you don't need.
Plus RC is like 2X the cost of IO.
IO will provide you with the basic nutrients for successful growth.
If your tank is lacking a certain supplement, it is far easier (and cheaper) to add that specific nutrient with dosing.
That being said, if you use RC, you guarantee that you will be adding X amount of nutrients with every water change, and in most cases, you don't need all the nutrients that the RC is providing, thus leading to an overabundance in a certain nutrient.
From what I have heard in person.. it is far easier to add the nutrients you are lacking via dosing, rather than taking out all the buildup of stuff you don't need.
Plus RC is like 2X the cost of IO.
CStrickland
New member
Does anyone actually think any single point of reference is the difference between a successful tank and a failed one?
I mean, besides the presence of water, salt, light, and flow... it's all debatable, man.
RedStangGA
New member
I think if you will be relying on water changes to keep parameters in line then a salt with higher levels of cal, mag, and alk may be worth the money. Maybe lol! I'm switching to plain IO on my 220 build. I have a calcium reactor and can dose kalk if necessary or wanted.
Important thing is to know your parameters and check them regularly. Which I'm awful at...
Important thing is to know your parameters and check them regularly. Which I'm awful at...
cardiffgiant
Active member
I was never comfortable with the Ca and Kh swing of doing a 20-25% water change with RC. But now that I do continuous automated water changes, I like the higher parameters of RC.
I actually think there are a lot of things that can spell disaster for a reef tank -I'm just not convinced that the salt mix one chooses is one of them. Just my opinion, of course.
leviburns89
New member
Has anyone ever mixed rc and io?
They both measure at .5 cup to 1 gal water.
Couldn't you just tone down the params levels by adjusting the ratio as needed?
They both measure at .5 cup to 1 gal water.
Couldn't you just tone down the params levels by adjusting the ratio as needed?
DivingTheWorld
Active member
I guess it depends on what you want to tone down. AFAIK the only parameter which is generally too high is Alk, and I find them both to be way too high in Alk so mixing wouldn't help.
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