Additive related question

[ElitePirate]

Hi Friends,

1st off please excuse my noob questions, im new to reef chemistry all.

Ok, I'll try to be as detailed as possible so that you guys can help me.

So I bought my 15G nano tank from a LFS. They had their own version of minerals/additives (screenshot attached).

- Reef carbonate (KH)
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Trace Elements
- Strontium
- Iodine + Iodate

I used to dose them weekly (not anymore) to maintain my water levels. After doing water test with API/Salifert test kits my current water params :

Alkalinity - 9
Calcium - 420
Mg - 1150
Nitrite - 0
Ammonia - 0
Nitrate - around 50 (I'm working on it, using NOPOX daily to get rid of this)
Phosphate - 0.5 (same as above).

Now, I'm slowly trying to get rid of my LSF additive, coz it's not branded and not sure how safe it is. I'm planning on getting some branded additives like Red sea, c-balance, aqua forest Nyos, or seachem(in Singapore commonly we only have these famous brands).

I read about C-Balance, so I bought C-Balance part A and B. Unfortunately after using Part A & B something went wrong and my KH dropped. From 8 to 6 within an hour which is really weird. I didn't know using this c-Blanace will deplete my KH.

Now I;m quite confused what to do.

Ultimately, I'd like to buy a product which will not affect / deplete my KH level.

1) Is there any 2 part additive which will not affect my KH level? for example, in C-Balance bottle they've stated this -

"C-Balance will correct imbalances, but if calcium and alk are far out of balance, correct low alk by adding pH-Balance or sodium bicarbonate, and correct low calcium level by adding just calcium chloride"

2) I'd rather dose them separately than using the 2-part and testing every other days. Which one is better? individual dosing or 2 part minerals?

3) If individual dosing is preferred, which product you will choose - Red sea, Nyos, aqua forest or seachem? Please vote!


Thanks in advance guys

 

[Hitman]

I've hear great things about the Red Sea dosing. Your mg needs to come up to 1300 ish or so to help keep your Ca and Alk balanced so that may be a bit of your trouble. In my tank if I let Mg fall below 1300 my Ca and Alk levels are all over and I get percipient issues. Sorry I can't help with the other products you ask about.

 

[wesman42]

Mixing your own using Randy's 2 part recipe is by far the cheapest. Honestly, if your LFS is making one, it's probably randy's recipe. You could ask them about it unless they're charging the same price as BRS or another brand. Same for BRS 2 part, it's...you guessed it...Randy's recipe. However, if I had to choose a brand, I'd probably go with Seachem simply because I've never had a product that failed to do it's job from Seachem.

 

[Hitman]

Mixing your own using Randy's 2 part recipe is by far the cheapest. Honestly, if your LFS is making one, it's probably randy's recipe. You could ask them about it unless they're charging the same price as BRS or another brand. Same for BRS 2 part, it's...you guessed it...Randy's recipe. However, if I had to choose a brand, I'd probably go with Seachem simply because I've never had a product that failed to do it's job from Seachem.

Sounds like he is in Singapore and unable to get that stuff if I understand correctly. If he can get the stuff to make Randy's mix your 100% right.

 

[ElitePirate]

I've hear great things about the Red Sea dosing. Your mg needs to come up to 1300 ish or so to help keep your Ca and Alk balanced so that may be a bit of your trouble. In my tank if I let Mg fall below 1300 my Ca and Alk levels are all over and I get percipient issues. Sorry I can't help with the other products you ask about.

Yes, you;re correct. So in order to bring my Mg level, can I dose only Mg additive now? Not sure if it's gonna mess up my Ca , KH levels

Mixing your own using Randy's 2 part recipe is by far the cheapest. Honestly, if your LFS is making one, it's probably randy's recipe. You could ask them about it unless they're charging the same price as BRS or another brand. Same for BRS 2 part, it's...you guessed it...Randy's recipe. However, if I had to choose a brand, I'd probably go with Seachem simply because I've never had a product that failed to do it's job from Seachem.

We don't get those recipe items here

Sounds like he is in Singapore and unable to get that stuff if I understand correctly. If he can get the stuff to make Randy's mix your 100% right.

You're right) we don't have Randy's mix here

 

[Hitman]

Yes you can add mg now. Randy always recommends small additions so go slow and dose it over the next few days testing CA, ALK, and MG daily just to keep a eye on things.