Three questions

[trc]

I'd be interested in everyone's thoughts on the following;

1. I've been looking at the two part additive threads for adding Alk/Calc/Mag using Dow Flake and I was wondering is this just not rock salt? Rock salt is nothing added a mined product.

2. Thinking of getting a refugium, is it better to get a simple one or one with a protein skimmer?

3. I read an interesting thread on a home made, over the top/non-drilled, recirculation system Krish did with a sea squirt. As I'm looking to increase flow in the tank, I got to adding up the costs of a pump to really move the water and now I'm wondering if getting the Eco or a Tunze system is about the same money and the water stays in the tank. Any thoughts?

 

[Krish]

1. I've been looking at the two part additive threads for adding Alk/Calc/Mag using Dow Flake and I was wondering is this just not rock salt? Rock salt is nothing added a mined product

Couldn't say for sure...I've only ever used the B-Ionic 2 part supplement before (calcium and alk) in a liquid form which worked well

Thinking of getting a refugium, is it better to get a simple one or one with a protein skimmer?

Personally I think the skimmer combo would be best which is mostly what you see in most setups. The skimmer is always an added benefit IMO removing all those little things everything else misses.

I read an interesting thread on a home made, over the top/non-drilled, recirculation system Krish did with a sea squirt. As I'm looking to increase flow in the tank, I got to adding up the costs of a pump to really move the water and now I'm wondering if getting the Eco or a Tunze system is about the same money and the water stays in the tank. Any thoughts?

Hey that's me! But I didn't use a squirt(LOL) I had a sea-swirl on just my return coming from the sump, but I did do a closed loop over the top that exited through 2 lockline outputs. I had tunzes as well and I love them. Much easier way to add flow if you don't mind the look. Also, a lot of the pumps that compare in flow to a tunze may add more heat to the water than a Tunze even sitting in the water. My 38gal got a lot hotter with 2 external pumps than it did with a tank using tunzes. Just a thought...Good luck

 

[mmkeeper]

rock Salt is sodium chloride and Dow flake is calium chloride I believe

 

[trc]

Thanks Krish.

In fact I was reading your thread about the closed loop last night and it got me thinking that it may be a viable option. Thought it would be rather inexpensive and not add a lot of heat to the water. Got up this morning and started to review the costs of the pumps and loc fittings. When I was done, I was surprised that it wasn't as cost effective and I'm surprised that it added heat. It may be better to get an Ecotech.

 

[trc]

mmkeeper, your right, I did a google search after posting and discovered this. I don't think this will work in the two part systems I've been reading about. I looked all over yesterday for the Dow Flake and couldn't find it. Living in the Northeast, with the winter we're still having, de-icer is something you think you'd be able to find.

 

[mmkeeper]

look in the water chemistry forum and dow flake is discussed.

 

[DonW]

mmkeeper, your right, I did a google search after posting and discovered this. I don't think this will work in the two part systems I've been reading about. I looked all over yesterday for the Dow Flake and couldn't find it. Living in the Northeast, with the winter we're still having, de-icer is something you think you'd be able to find.

Dri z air is something you can get year round anywhere.
Baking soda for the alk part
Epsom salts for the magnesium part
The mag portion is just as important as the other two. Regardless of wether or not your using dow flake or epsom its chloride or sulfate so keep up on the water changes or use a more balanced mg additive.


Don

 

[returnofsid]

I use Dri Z Air, Baking Soda and Epsom Salt, just as Don says. They're all very inexpensive and the supplements really work well!!

As for a refugium, I'd strongly suggest a sump/refugium with a skimmer. IMO, a skimmer is an essential piece of equipment in any reef aquarium.

I've also recently done a HOB closed loop system. It's a little different than Krish's. I did mine fairy inexpensively, using a Mag18. The Mag18 was too noisy for my application so I'm needing to upgrade to a different pump. Other than that, I'm very happy with the results I got, and as I said, it ended up being pretty inexpensive!!

 

[Damsel13]

Hummmmm..... HOB closed loop system? Could you go into a little more detail please .

Thanks,

 

[trc]

returnofsid,

Where do you get the Dri Z Air?

I have a remora pro for the main tank, should this suffice?

What manuf/style/gpm pump are you thinking of upgrading to?

 

[returnofsid]

I get Dri Z Air at Walmart. It's in the RV section and very inexpensive.

Can't really offer any advice on the Remora Pro without knowing the size of your tank.

I'm hoping to get a used, but recently rebuilt Blue Line HD70 from a fellow reefer in the area soon.

 

[trc]

Do you actually spell it Dry Z Air? Can't find anything on it when I google it.

 

[DonW]

Do you actually spell it Dry Z Air? Can't find anything on it when I google it.

Dri-Z-Air HD, Lowes walmart just about anyplace will have it.

Don

 

[returnofsid]

http://www.drizair.com/