Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Thanks for this video BRS and @randyBRS.
Out of curiosity, if I purchased the one gallon calcium pouch and mixed it per the directions, what would be the final concentration of calcium in the solution?
Thanks for posting the video...you guys have some great videos out there with great factual information. However, I use the Coral Colors product, and I have found that dosing based on calcium uptake does NOT make sense. There is not a predictable correlation between trace elements and calcium utilization. Every tank and combination of life forms is different in its need and utilization of trace elements. While I agree that it is better than blind dosing, it is still misleading, especially to new reefers. Since iodine (and related forms) can be tested for (to a point), I have found that if you dose Red Sea Iodine based on calcium consumption you will overdose the tank with Iodine. I have also found that the Red Sea test cannot adequately detect Fe (and its various forms) so there is no valid way other than perhaps an ICP test to measure levels to see if you are dosing too much or too little. Likewise, potassium is not a trace element and it does not get consumed at the rate Red Sea suggests (at least not in my system or the systems of a number of my friends). Dosing based on calcium uptake resulted in elevated levels of K when I was utilizing their dosing regime. Although elevated K levels are not really harmful in the high 400, and perhaps even low 500 range, it is not something that is needed to obtain great colors from that element.
I like Red Sea products and they are my choice for many test kits and additives, but the coral colors dosing system, in my opinion, is misleading for new reefers and should not be followed to the letter as it can result in overdosing some of the elements. I use the Red Sea colors at about 25% of the dosing rate they recommend. For Iodine and Potassium, I only dose when the test indicates a deficiency, which is rare in my system. There are too many variables such as livestock, salt mix, frequency of water changes, etc, to make blanket dosing recommendations for this product.
I really enjoy the videos and as someone who is still very new to this hobby. I do have the question of what advantage is there to switching to your two part, as opposed to the Red Sea Foundation elements? They appear to be quite similar? (cheaper, better, more effective, ???) Again still figuring all this out.
OK, who's responsible for mixing up the orders of those bottles in each shot!? DABC, BACD, pretty much everything but ABCD LOL! On a serious note, thanks for the info.
Some reefers really like following an entire program, in which case Red Sea makes it very easy to get everything from major, minor and trace elements as well as coral food from their Reef Energy A & B. Others may simply start with supplementing just 2-part and desire to progress into minor/trace element supplementation down the road. There's been equal success among reefers in either approach, so choosing one that best fits your desires can lead to the same success.
Would weekly water changes keep anything that is elevating at safe levels over a long period
I believe it to be ~37,000 ppm calcium.
Thanks for posting the video...you guys have some great videos out there with great factual information. However, I use the Coral Colors product, and I have found that dosing based on calcium uptake does NOT make sense. There is not a predictable correlation between trace elements and calcium utilization. Every tank and combination of life forms is different in its need and utilization of trace elements. While I agree that it is better than blind dosing, it is still misleading, especially to new reefers. Since iodine (and related forms) can be tested for (to a point), I have found that if you dose Red Sea Iodine based on calcium consumption you will overdose the tank with Iodine. I have also found that the Red Sea test cannot adequately detect Fe (and its various forms) so there is no valid way other than perhaps an ICP test to measure levels to see if you are dosing too much or too little. Likewise, potassium is not a trace element and it does not get consumed at the rate Red Sea suggests (at least not in my system or the systems of a number of my friends). Dosing based on calcium uptake resulted in elevated levels of K when I was utilizing their dosing regime. Although elevated K levels are not really harmful in the high 400, and perhaps even low 500 range, it is not something that is needed to obtain great colors from that element.
I like Red Sea products and they are my choice for many test kits and additives, but the coral colors dosing system, in my opinion, is misleading for new reefers and should not be followed to the letter as it can result in overdosing some of the elements. I use the Red Sea colors at about 25% of the dosing rate they recommend. For Iodine and Potassium, I only dose when the test indicates a deficiency, which is rare in my system. There are too many variables such as livestock, salt mix, frequency of water changes, etc, to make blanket dosing recommendations for this product.
I definitely understand what you're getting at and that really speaks to the point of the difficulty here. Pretty much every single 2-4 part out there is tying trace elements to calcium and alkalinity uptake by including these elements in with the main solution. In that spirit the Red Sea is no different, other than they're able to maintain additional elements without perception.
However, if you choose to, with Red sea you can use less or more of each group of elements to match your tanks needs, in which flexibility like that is the significant benefit here. Alternatively, you could use ICP testing and dose each element independently but that really goes way beyond what most reefers would want to do.
I appreciate your reply back. I use it just as you suggested. I test what I can and dose when needed. Dosing FE (Coral Colors C) and Bioactive Elements (Coral Colors D) is the tough one since hobbyists can’t really test for FE or those trace metals in a meaningful fashion. You can use ICP for the D test at high cost. Testing for Iodine is tricky as well. Red Seas Iodine Test works well, but others like Seachem only pick up certain forms and make you think levels are low when in fact they may be high.
I felt it important to let inexperienced reefers know that blindly using a product based on the recommended dosing instructions is not always a good thing. Always best to test what you can and add or withhold accordingly.