Bolus dosing

[Hans-Werner]

And if its true that most zooxanthella in these corals normally exist in the skin - expanding polyps will more likely shadowing the skin below.

Image from https://scitechdaily.com/new-era-in...e-cultured-the-first-stable-coral-cell-lines/

The zooxanthellae are in the endoderm which is the inner tissue layer.

You can also see how zooxanthellae are distributed. Contraction will cause self shading because for example zooxanthellae in tentacles will shade the lower parts of polyp and coral.

 

[Hans-Werner]

What about the increase or decrease in particulate organic matter In the water column? Ive seen (mostly lps) corals respond by ectending polyps if the amount of organic matte rin the water column increases. For example when feeding frozen food to the fish or when my tangs take a dump

Around 30 years ago I "fertilized" reef tanks with a mix of urea, polyphosphate and trace elements with N and P in different ratios. Especially a brain coral expanded its tentacles regularily after dosing in the morning for a few hours. It doesn't have to be neither particulate nor food to cause a reaction in the corals. I think here it was the phosphate that triggered the reaction.

 

[Faria]

Energy wise, would polyp extension in reef aquaria be beneficial to corals? Sometimes I have the impression that corals look "worse" after the polyps retract back again.

 

[Hans-Werner]

Energy wise, would polyp extension in reef aquaria be beneficial to corals? Sometimes I have the impression that corals look "worse" after the polyps retract back again.

Yes, I think polyp extension is a sign that coral is doing well and polyp extension allows corals to gain more energy from light.

Polyp contraction may be a sign that there are adverse conditions in the tank or, more usually, that the coral does not get an additional benefit from more photosynthesis because i. e. nutrients are limiting.

 

[Hats_]

Yes, I think polyp extension is a sign that coral is doing well and polyp extension allows corals to gain more energy from light.

Polyp contraction may be a sign that there are adverse conditions in the tank or, more usually, that the coral does not get an additional benefit from more photosynthesis because i. e. nutrients are limiting.

retracted polyps always make me watch the tank inhabitants, blennies, gobies, angels, sometimes even tangs.

 

[IntrinsicReef]

I watched the Doug Dorrat interview on ReefBum last night. Let me see if I have this straight. He uses a formula and method devised by a chemist ( Balling). Claims that dumping the Alk part in all at once creates some crystallization that keeps the alkalinity stable all day. Then demeans chemists with their "textbook and theories" when they tell him his claims aren't possible.

 

[areefer01]

Then demeans chemists with their "textbook and theories" when they tell him his claims aren't possible.

More or less, yes but it is also a two way street. Lots of counters going on regardless of which side of the fence you fall. I'm not sure Hympty Dumpty, in the fictional sense, will ever be the same.

 

[Jari]

I watched the Doug Dorrat interview on ReefBum last night. Let me see if I have this straight. He uses a formula and method devised by a chemist ( Balling). Claims that dumping the Alk part in all at once creates some crystallization that keeps the alkalinity stable all day. Then demeans chemists with their "textbook and theories" when they tell him his claims aren't possible.

I thought that the big reveal is going to be about their calculations being wrong, but no. Magic halogens and the multiple downsides of kalk. And of course to top everything the most scientific way possible - "just look at the thousands of tanks using our method.

 

[Pod_01]

He uses a formula and method devised by a chemist ( Balling).

Learn something new everyday, I honestly didn’t know Hans-Werner Balling is a chemist, I assumed he was mainly biologist with knowledge in chemistry.

Claims that dumping the Alk part in all at once creates some crystallization that keeps the alkalinity stable all day.

That is new, I don’t recall this being mentioned before….
Did he explain how the crystals work!!!
Do they still talk about broken buffer system???

 

[IntrinsicReef]

Learn something new everyday, I honestly didn’t know Hans-Werner Balling is a chemist, I assumed he was mainly biologist with knowledge in chemistry.




That is new, I don’t recall this being mentioned before….
Did he explain how the crystals work!!!
Do they still talk about broken buffer system???

You might be right about Balling's background. I just know he is responsible for many chemical formulations at Tropic Marin. Doug didn't specifically name chemists. I added that. He called out critics with "their textbooks and theories." Scientists in general I guess

 

[IntrinsicReef]

That is new, I don’t recall this being mentioned before….
Did he explain how the crystals work!!!
Do they still talk about broken buffer system???

The bacterial biofilm feeding on the precipitate interfere with the crystals, or something. That's why it works sometimes, but doesn't work other times.
And a couple times he said "and then something magical happens."

 

[Pod_01]

The bacterial biofilm feeding on the precipitate interfere with the crystals, or something. That's why it works sometimes, but doesn't work other times.
And a couple times he said "and then something magical happens."

Based on the bacteria description it almost sounds like they are dosing AFR / Calcium Formate type product !!!

 

[rtparty]

The bacterial biofilm feeding on the precipitate interfere with the crystals, or something. That's why it works sometimes, but doesn't work other times.
And a couple times he said "and then something magical happens."

You can always tell how legit they are when they use the term “magical” and can’t actually explain or articulate it

 

[Faria]

Yes, I think polyp extension is a sign that coral is doing well and polyp extension allows corals to gain more energy from light.

Polyp contraction may be a sign that there are adverse conditions in the tank or, more usually, that the coral does not get an additional benefit from more photosynthesis because i. e. nutrients are limiting.

I'm sorry, by "polyp extension" I actually meant the mesenterial filaments that usually appear when adding "coral food" or simply frozen.

 

[Oldreefer44]

While I don't see anything magical happening in my system from following this method, there are several of us using it with good results.

 

[IntrinsicReef]

While I don't see anything magical happening in my system from following this method, there are several of us using it with good results.

If the underlying system is really just a 3 part clone, I'm sure you do see great results. It has been utilized successfully for decades, and most major manufacturers have a version. My gripe is his bashing of other techniques ( kalkwasser and elevated calcium leading to "old tank syndrome " and tank crashes). His claim of precipitates forming and redissolving back into the water during a short power outage and significantly skewing water chemistry. And that the reason it works is because he dumps a 24 hours dose in the morning. I think it steers people away from a conversation about the science of their reef tank and into more of a brand loyalty.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I watched the Doug Dorrat interview on ReefBum last night. Let me see if I have this straight. He uses a formula and method devised by a chemist ( Balling). Claims that dumping the Alk part in all at once creates some crystallization that keeps the alkalinity stable all day. Then demeans chemists with their "textbook and theories" when they tell him his claims aren't possible.

Well, let’s ask and see what the man himself says about that. Lol

@Hans-Werner

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Based on the bacteria description it almost sounds like they are dosing AFR / Calcium Formate type product !!!

It does seem like he may be confusing AFR and bolus dosing of bicarbonate.

 

[Dibi]

I thought that the big reveal is going to be about their calculations being wrong, but no. Magic halogens and the multiple downsides of kalk. And of course to top everything the most scientific way possible - "just look at the thousands of tanks using our method.

I don't know. I am not a chemist. But come on, what on earth is so wrong with Kalk?

Great Reefers are using for over 20 years.... I mean, seriously, what are the problems? What I am missing here?
Please try to convince me.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I don't know. I am not a chemist. But come on, what on earth is so wrong with Kalk?

Great Reefers are using for over 20 years.... I mean, seriously, what are the problems? What I am missing here?
Please try to convince me.

It’s cheap….compared to magic powders and potions