Black Powder by Marc Weiss??

[Rownsurf]

Hey all,

Just wondering if anyone had a used a product by Marc Weiss called Black Powder. Had noticed it at a few LFS and finally asked about it. From the explanation I got it seems to replace everything you might need to dose into the water eecept a buffer. Just curious if it is any good really?

thanks,

Justin

 

[Elmo18]

I wouldn't use any Marc Weiss products. Waste of money. Maintain your calcium and alkalinity using kalkwasser or cheaper pickling lime (or the use of a calcium reactor...or both), and do water changes.

When i started this hobby, I could just imagine all the money I could have saved of NOT buying any bad additives that you really do not need.

- Elmo

 

[mattseattle]

i definitely agree with Elmo on this. When I first got into the hobby I bought all sorts of 'voodoo' products hoping they would miraculously make my corals grow and keep my water quality great.

Save your money. Just buy a good kalk or a good 2 part additive or a calcium reactor and go that route. Do your regular water changes with a quality salt and all and you are good to go.

 

[DonW]

Actually Black Powder is more of a food than a additive.

But really what is so bad about Marc Weiss products. It seems that alot of people have had good luck. What personal experience have you had with his stuff? Just wondering.

Don

 

[mattseattle]

I haven't used it personally but read some differing views about it on Reefcentral. I go more the plain route now without buying tons of additives and stuff.

From what I've read it's high in phosphates and causes hair algae and other unwanted stuff. Some believe they've even lost their tanks do to his stuff. I won't even touch it do to the negatives I've read on Reefcentral about it.

 

[DonW]

Matt,
I guess I should have used the quote button. My question was more so directed to Elmo. "I wouldn't use any Marc Weiss products" Is a pretty strong statement.

Don

 

[mattseattle]

ok....i just wanted to make sure if it was directed at me I answered it. Nothing worse than a thread that just dies without someone answering

 

[fishermann]

There is nothing that the average coral needs to live other then light, good water parims and the detritus from the fish, the rocks and the little bit of food that doesn't get eatin by fish. Except maybe for some very exotic corals that most of us won't see you don't need to put any of this other stuff in your tank, no matter who makes it. If I'm not mistaken blk pwdr has nthing to do with keeping calc and alk levels up, I think it is some kind of enzyme isn't it that is supposed to stimulate your corals to eating or something like that.

 

[captivereefs]

Junk stay away. Althought the mark up from a retail stand point is excellent!! which is why so many still sell them.

 

[mattseattle]

Looks like enzymes according to the description:

IT WILL BLOW YOU AWAY! FOR ADVANCED HOBBYISTS AND PROFESSIONAL APPLICATIONS TO MAXIMIZE GROWTH AND COLOR IN ANEMONES, TREE CORALS, XENIA, SEA SQUIRTS, CUCUMBERS, SEA APPLES, ZOOANTHIDS, LARGE AND SMALL POLYP STONY CORALS, GONIOPORA, SINULARIA, CARNATIONS, EUPHYLLIA, MONASTREA, MILLEPORA, MANY FILTER FEEDERS AND CRYPTIC ORGANISMS! ON TARGET, DIRECT PIGMENT PRIMING AND GROWTH ENHANCEMENT! NO PLANKTON, NO WASTE! POWDER IS ALMOST TOTALLY ABSORBED AND UTILIZED BY YOUR REEF LIFE WITHOUT UNDIGESTED PARTICLES BEING LEFTOVER TO POLLUTE!
Colorful life that you did not know even existed in your live rock proliferates!
Can be used with pro-biotic SpectraVital to help avoid die-off pollution!
Exploits growth and reproductive potential in captive organisms that are deprived of missing enzymes in the captive reef

 

[Elmo18]

Matt,
I guess I should have used the quote button. My question was more so directed to Elmo. "I wouldn't use any Marc Weiss products" Is a pretty strong statement.

Don

I haven't heard of one soul yet who have used it and found it to be beneficial, if at that.

We should all make our own products and market it alongside Marc Weiss :lol:

- Elmo