B-Ionic?

[EricandBrandi]

I have heard a lot about this B-Ionic and I am just wondering if this is a good supplement. Can anyone shed some light on this? Any suggestions to something better?

[Sisterlimonpot]

A lot of sps keepers that dose 2 part dose b ionics. It is a great source for alk and calc but the good thing about this brand is that it also has trace elements.
Imo the only thing better than b ionics is brs 2 part.

[EricandBrandi]

Thanks. I saw that brs 2 part system as well and it seemed a little more complicated to dose. Is that true or do they both follow the same general concept?

[Sisterlimonpot]

Yep. You dose both of them the same. The only complication with brs is that it comes in powder form and you have to mix it precisely every time you make a new batch.

[EricandBrandi]

That is what confused me... I didnt know it was powder. Well thanks for the advice. Seeing as how I am new I may start with the B Ionic and work my way up as I get more sps.

[Sport507]

I have heard a lot about this B-Ionic and I am just wondering if this is a good supplement. Can anyone shed some light on this? Any suggestions to something better?

I notice you have been a member for quite some time so I don't want to insult anyone.

B-Ionic 2 part will get the job done and is a good product and a very well thought of company. Now it is very expensive and easy to use.

Part one is nothing more than baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) already prepared and easy to use.

Part two is calcium chloride ready, easy to use.

You can make both on your own and the question you have to ask yourself is.

Do I want to take 15 minutes to make my own ½ gallons or gallons and just pour it in ready to use or, spend the $$$ pour it in ready to use.

I would visit that Chemistry thread to make that choice.

Then there is Kalk Wasser as an options.

[Sisterlimonpot]

Part one is nothing more than baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)

Correction. Part 1of b ionics is sodium carbonate which is soda ash not baking soda.
There's a slight difference between the two when it comes to the buffering qualities of your ph.

Sodium bicarbonate will raise the ph as sodium carbonate will help maintain ph levels.

[Wolverine]

I haven't used it in a few years, but a while back I had great success with it (this was before people figured out all the good homemade recipes).

[EricandBrandi]

Well what about the trace elements you get from the B-Ionic and BRS? I am assuming you wouldn't get those if you used a home made recipe. Is that an incorrect assumption?

[Gary Majchrzak]

this is an incorrect assumption.

Any "trace elements" in liquid two part supplements is likely from impurities in the ingredients involved.

[Gary Majchrzak]

from Randy Holmes-Farley's Reef Chemistry vault:


How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/2/chemistry)

FWIW it's necessary to understand and maintain calcium and alkalinity in a reef aquarium in order for it to reach it's fullest potential for coral growth.

Different "schemes" can be mixed.
In other words, although I perform regular water changes, run a calcium reactor and topoff with kalkwasser my calcium and alkalinity levels still slowly slide downwards and I must occasionally boost them with liquid two parts (or similar). Nowadays I prefer BRS ingredients simply because they are less expensive and just as good as the commercial preparations.

Use the online Reef Chemistry calculator
here (http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chem_calc3.html) to determine dosage after you test your water

[Sport507]

from Randy Holmes-Farley's Reef Chemistry vault:


How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/2/chemistry)

FWIW it's necessary to understand and maintain calcium and alkalinity in a reef aquarium in order for it to reach it's fullest potential for coral growth.

Different "schemes" can be mixed.
In other words, although I perform regular water changes, run a calcium reactor and topoff with kalkwasser my calcium and alkalinity levels still slowly slide downwards and I must occasionally boost them with liquid two parts (or similar). Nowadays I prefer BRS ingredients simply because they are less expensive and just as good as the commercial preparations.

Use the online Reef Chemistry calculator
here (http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chem_calc3.html) to determine dosage after you test your water

Excellent post.

I use Mag. and Cal. products form BRS but still hold off on Alk. I just use baking soda.:reading:

[EricandBrandi]

Wow! Thank you Gary Majchrzak. That is some good information. I will have to study over that quite extensively.

[streak]

Since I have a nano for now I picked up Kents 2 part for nano tanks, and kents trace mineral bottle. Its pretty easy to use if you follow the directions. But its for smaller tanks. I do bi weekly water changes 1-3 gallons depending on the state of the tank. I only add the trace elements at 1/4 strength for the simple fact I dont have a Iodine test, and only every other water change.

[EricandBrandi]

Well up until recently I have not had any corals so I was just putting seachem reef carbonate in the tank. The lfs had said thats all I need to build coraline. Honestly I dont like or trust this particular fish store but on occasion they get something they have no clue about and let it go for cheap. For example a piece of live rock with 12 green spotted mushrooms for $14. Anyway should I stop using this reef carbonate or is there something I can use with this since I dont have many corals? I am under the impression seachem is a good brand is this true?

[Gary Majchrzak]

you're basically dealing with a few basic components that need to be supplemented in a closed system with rapidly growing corals. They are all mentioned in Randy's Reef Chemistry articles
here (http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=102605)

Most of the major brands have few impurities but there are exceptions.

Corallines are major consumers of magnesium (Mg) but you really need to test for and maintain OPTIMUM calcium, alkalinity and magnesium levels for calcifying alga and reef corals to thrive and grow.

As a side note, when you purchase a "brand" of anything, (let's use sodium carbonate as an example), there is very likely a much less expensive alternative.