Modern Reef users experience thread

[slingfox]

Has anyone used their ICP service ? If so, what was your turn around ?

I just mailed my first ICP-MS to Modern Reef earlier this week. I will post once I get the results.

 

[slingfox]

What is the data supporting that claim?

Users on the Reef Moonshiner’s board of ICP-MS before and after when using CAC and it showed de minimus impact on trace. That is why the Moonshienr folk’s run CAC form of carbon.

I also run CAC carbon (I bought bulk amount from one of the drinker water filtration vendors) and have also seen zero noticeable impact on trace vs. when I ran zero carbon.

Mike Paletta switched to CAC carbon due to the Moonshiner’s info I believe (I saw him talking about it a year or so ago).

It is possible that the minimal impact on trace is affected by how Moonshiner’s folks and Mike Paletta recommend running CAC: put the CAC into a mesh bag and place it in a low flow area of the sump. This is in contrast to folks who run carbon in a reactor. Perhaps less water is being filtered? I am not sure but if you buy CAC in bulk it is economical and doesn’t seem to impact trace as tested by periodic ICP-MS.

 

[Yazannreef]

I just mailed my first ICP-MS to Modern Reef earlier this week. I will post once I get the results.

I used it 4 times so far and compared the results versus the actions I made. The results changed for the better as I tackled that metal issues I had( mounted metal washers in the tank) as I took them out and did multiple water changes. My icp results showed a dramatic change in levels( levels went down substantially) but most importantly my tank is doing much better!!

 

[Yazannreef]

Users on the Reef Moonshiner’s board of ICP-MS before and after when using CAC and it showed de minimus impact on trace. That is why the Moonshienr folk’s run CAC form of carbon.

I also run CAC carbon (I bought bulk amount from one of the drinker water filtration vendors) and have also seen zero noticeable impact on trace vs. when I ran zero carbon.

Mike Poletta switched to CAC carbon due to the Moonshiner’s info I believe (I saw him talking about it a year or so ago).

Thank you for chiming in with the input.

 

[slingfox]

I used it 4 times so far and compared the results versus the actions I made. The results changed for the better as I tackled that metal issues I had( mounted metal washers in the tank) as I took them out and did multiple water changes. My icp results showed a dramatic change in levels( levels went down substantially) but most importantly my tank is doing much better!!

I just sent MR ICP-MS out at the same time I sent ATI ICP-MS. My tank was slightly lower salinity than normal (maybe 34 to 34.5 ppt salinity) but I wanted to get the tests out before I went on a trip. Will see how the results compare head-to-head. The MR ICP sampling process and containers is pretty bare bones. If it can match the quality of the new ATI ICP-MS at half the price or so that will be great!

MR ICP-MS: Fill one vial. No filtration of the water sample.

ATI ICP-MS: Fill three separate vials, two of which are run through a syringe mounted filter. I assume the higher volume of water collected and filtering of samples is a positive.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Users on the Reef Moonshiner’s board of ICP-MS before and after when using CAC and it showed de minimus impact on trace. That is why the Moonshienr folk’s run CAC form of carbon.

I also run CAC carbon (I bought bulk amount from one of the drinker water filtration vendors) and have also seen zero noticeable impact on trace vs. when I ran zero carbon.

Mike Poletta switched to CAC carbon due to the Moonshiner’s info I believe (I saw him talking about it a year or so ago).

I’m not a fan of the scientific rigor of moonshiners, and what you state they say would only be convincing if it was directly compared to something else in the same system, and then would only apply to that specific something else.

This question is very complex. Some trace elements in seawater are almost completely bound by organic matter. Copper is an example. A carbon that bound organics would tend to bind these trace elements.

I’m not convinced that most activated carbon is a substantial directly binding sink for most trace elements.

Oceamo made some measurements. He does not identify the brand used, but it is clear that minerals such as GFO and
Aluminum oxide bind far, far more trace elements.

 

[slingfox]

I’m not a fan of the scientific rigor of moonshiners, and what you state they say would only be convincing if it was directly compared to something else in the same system, and then would only apply to that specific something else.

This question is very complex. Some trace elements in seawater are almost completely bound by organic matter. Copper is an example. A carbon that bound organics would tend to bind these trace elements.

I’m not convinced that most activated carbon is a substantial directly binding sink for most trace elements.

Oceamo made some measurements. He does not identify the brand used, but it is clear that minerals such as GFO and
Aluminum oxide bind far, far more trace elements.

I have no idea if CAC is better than other forms of carbon but I figured it is useful to have some form of carbon around. CAC is more cumbersome to acquire since it is not sold in small quantities. I tried to get some locals to split an order with me but didn’t have any takers so I have half a bucket of CAC sitting in my garage! No complaints so far.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have no idea if CAC is better than other forms of carbon but I figured it is useful to have some form of carbon around. CAC is more cumbersome to acquire since it is not sold in small quantities. I tried to get some locals to split an order with me but didn’t have any takers so I have half a bucket of CAC sitting in my garage! No complaints so far.

I’m not saying there is anything good or bad about it relative to other quality products, such as rox 0.8. I’m just not aware of any actual info showing it is better.

 

[Daveph68]

Even though you add CRF and PP along with Modern Reef are users still feeding Benepets, ReefRoids, etc?

 

[Yazannreef]

Even though you add CRF and PP along with Modern Reef are users still feeding Benepets, ReefRoids, etc?

That de pends on your nutrients level. My nutrients are low so I do feed benereef and other coral foods if my no3 and po4 are too low.

 

[saltyfins]

so looking at this new way of doing things, it's confusing. I see someone saying that it's too expensive to use in a 280 tank. so how long do these 4 containers last? I am possibly thinking of switching...

 

[Yazannreef]

so looking at this new way of doing things, it's confusing. I see someone saying that it's too expensive to use in a 280 tank. so how long do these 4 containers last? I am possibly thinking of switching...

Depends of your coral uptake of dkh consumption . If I know your dl
Kh consumption in w4h i would calculate how long the set would last.

 

[saltyfins]

Depends of your coral uptake of dkh consumption . If I know your dl
Kh consumption in w4h i would calculate how long the set would last.

sorry...what's w4h?

 

[billyocean]

sorry...what's w4h?

Just need to know how much your dkh consumption is per day. Then you can math out how much 5000ml of the modern reef will last.

 

[saltyfins]

Just need to know how much your dkh consumption is per day. Then you can math out how much 5000ml of the modern reef will last.

so it's a gallon at a time? ok...that's helpful at least... seems kind of pricey, for the larger tanks. Hmmmm

 

[billyocean]

so it's a gallon at a time? ok...that's helpful at least... seems kind of pricey, for the larger tanks. Hmmmm

A gallon is 3785 ml so no. I run it on a 300 gallon tank...after displacement of everything I have about 260/265 actual gallons of water. Each ml will increase dkh by .02 for me.

 

[slingfox]

so looking at this new way of doing things, it's confusing. I see someone saying that it's too expensive to use in a 280 tank. so how long do these 4 containers last? I am possibly thinking of switching...

Cost is comparable to the various other off-the-shelf 2- and 3-part solutions from the large aquarium product companies. You can dose more cheaply if you use DIY balling method or want to primarily rely upon Kalk or a calcium reactor.

This is for folks that want an off the shelf dosing solution that handles, alk, calcium, magnesium and trace elements. If you are purely focused on saving money then DIY bulk quantities of Kalk + calc reactor is the way to go.

 

[saltyfins]

Cost is comparable to the various other off-the-shelf 2- and 3-part solutions from the large aquarium product companies. You can dose more cheaply if you use DIY balling method or want to primarily rely upon Kalk or a calcium reactor.

This is for folks that want an off the shelf dosing solution that handles, alk, calcium, magnesium and trace elements. If you are purely focused on saving money then DIY bulk quantities of Kalk + calc reactor is the way to go.

got it. I am doing RMS so I am looking for something comparable, but a smidge maybe, easier to deal with, or a bit cheaper. but...if it's going to be as much or more (bottles last quite a while, provided you dont need major corrections) then it may be best to just stay where I am with that. Thank You

 

[billyocean]

got it. I am doing RMS so I am looking for something comparable, but a smidge maybe, easier to deal with, or a bit cheaper. but...if it's going to be as much or more (bottles last quite a while, provided you dont need major corrections) then it may be best to just stay where I am with that. Thank You

Depends on coral load. I did RMS for a couple years.....DIY most of the trace. I still add a bit of a few trace with MR but my tank is full of sticks. Nothing wrong with RMS though.

 

[saltyfins]

got it. I am doing RMS so I am looking for something comparable, but a smidge maybe, easier to deal with, or a bit cheaper. but...if it's going to be as much or more (bottles last quite a while, provided you dont need major corrections) then it may be best to just stay where I am with that. Thank You

Depends on coral load. I did RMS for a couple years.....DIY most of the trace. I still add a bit of a few trace with MR but my tank is full of sticks. Nothing wrong with RMS though.

Mine is also full. And no, there’s nothing at all wrong with it. Just kind of looking and thinking is all