hotbod999

Pharos or Maxspect. Personally I'm using Pharos.

What do u keep? Corals or FOWLR?

It's quite good. How big is your tank?

Interesting, very interesting. I really don't have much time to spend debating all day. Since Tanzy is a moderator and AT the chief, I'm sure you guys know I don't log in often. Yesterday I'm on MC, today I'm not. I'm sure you have more important things to do as well. Regarding the sue here sue there thing, I'm just reminding one to be careful as things can get out of hand if wrong things are said on the net. But let's make just a few things clear. "This is also not a place for you to vent your frustration when people rationally speak negatively against your product." This is not my product. I just use it. I don't know who the distributors are or how they are doing. But one thing I'm sure is that I defend what I believe, just like what you are doing now, defending what you believe. Pardon me but I am a very very straighforward person. If somebody said something bad about other products I believe in, e.g. Seachem, I would most likely stand up against it too. I'm sure there are lots of people out there having wonderful looking tanks without having to use the product, but I'm sure they are using some other unless of course their tank is the Ocean itself. "he's not fondly called our wise old resident sea turtle for nothing" "Wah, i think this is the first time i see sumone trying to debate with tanzy on topics like this" Hmmm, maybe I'm right about the thesis thing since Tanzy is still a student. You know, students tend to debate more to bring across their theory (would you disagree?). I don't know what Tanzy is studying in UK and I'm not trying to be haughty, but if Tanzy is studying marine biology, no worries, a marine biologist teaching in a renown university is just beside me having a holiday break and I'm sure they can discuss in details about stuff like that. One may be knowledgeable in the subject, but everyone knows there are definitely somebody else better out there. You may have the theoretical credentials, but there's definitely someone out there having a more practical knowledge. Since you advocate and remind all of us to use testkits, I will put it to you again, how do you dose trace elements without testing? Isn't that blind dosing if you can't determine the levels?" Well, of course nothing is perfect, everybody knows that. Presuming I don't know how, can you then share with us how you do your trace element dosing? I'm sure many people out there would like to know how you do it since you are wise sea turtle and said this is not accurate and that is not reliable. Don't you ever practice what you preach? How about you not make Hmmm....if you ask anybody to add the olive oil, of course they will say no. But if Seachem ask the user to add the intended amount, would he not do so? So let's hope you can differentiate between olive oil and marine products that the buyer trust because it works for him. Oh, with the 'char kway teow' thing, I'm trying to tell others that if they don't try it, how would they know. Of course if it is the obvious or tons of people have use it and gave a bad feedback then there's no point using it. But how can one criticise a product before having the facts right and lump it with other products? It's like you hate this guy who has short hair because he has ill-treated you and you start to believe all men with short hair are bad people. So you said that "if you see a hawker adds a lot salt and rotten cockles to the char kway teow, do you need to taste it to know that it will taste bad?" How would you know the amount he add is too much for the amount of noodles he is cooking unless you taste it? Are you a better hawker to gauge the amount of salt added to the amount of noodles he is cooking? I didn't know that you have the sixth sense and can tell that the noodles are too salty and cockles are rotten before you even try it. So people, if you heed Tanzy's advice, start working on your sixth sense. So that before you go for a seafood buffet you can tell that their oysters are bad. If all of us can do this, food poisoning won't even exist in this world. You really don't know what is going on huh. Issues with other companies we leave them since it's none of our concern. Well, in the first place why would a company (doesn't matter what kind of company) want to sue somebody? Definitely because what he said would probably affect sales of the product. Simple. Anyhow, I wished I could go on to cover all the issues, but I really got to leave it here. Will try to continue if I'm back. Thanks Tanzy and AT, I really think this is a healthy debate that will keep our minds working. Cheers *edited by AT for easier reading*

Wow, this seems like a student doing thesis or a strong supporter of a competitor. I believe half of the people either don't know what you are talking about or are simply lost in your 'thesis'. Anyway, this is a review, not a place to vent your frustation after your bad experience with other products. And thanks but I think you are the one who failed bigtime to understand some very important points in reef water chemistry. So now let's start making things clear: 1) First, if you have done your research, you will realise that http://www.alphamarinereef.com/public/oceans_blend.html is not the manufacturer's website. The manufacturer's website is www.oceansblend.com. This can be found simply by typing ocean's blend in a search engine. Very simple. 2) Errrr...don't you add something in order to replace??? And it's exactly what you add in the tank that matters. This product is added to replace and make your water parameters closest to the natural ocean, not added to add more things to your tank. Please read carefully. 3) Who ask you to dose blindly???? Which product would ask you to dose blindly??? Yours??? you said "different tanks and system utilise elements and nutrients differently"??? If you have done your research or study more, you will understand that fishes, corals and creatures of the ocean practically uses the same trace elements. It's a matter of using how much of each. So you should say each different species uses trace elements in different amounts. you said "how can you replace and element you cannot measure".....errrrrrr.....Do you know what test kits are for??? Don't make the lovely creatures in your tank suffer, use test kits please. 4) you said:"SPS grow much faster than in nature when alkalinity and calcium levels are elevated compared to the natural sea levels." Oh, so you are trying to say those people keeping SPS cannot keep LPS? Then it's time for us LPS keepers to throw away our LPS! Hey, as mentioned earlier, that's what test kits are for, to measure how much calcium and other stuff are left in our tank. Use test kits please. you said: "Farmed Tridacnid clams are grown in water slightly enriched with nitrates (at levels that will remain undetectable with hobby testkits) to increase their growth rate. Do you fertilize your plants?" BTW, all clams grow better in water with higher nitrate level...even the cockles that we eat (or 'see harm' as we call it). So you mean you buy nitrate and add more nitrate into your tank to feed your clams and plants? I believe people are laughing their head off right now. I really can't believe how you learn to keep marine species. BTW, how do you keep your nitrate level low? or do you keep a clams-only tank? LOL 5) you said "How is an all-in-one additive going to adjust itself to provide different amounts of individual elements for each individual tank out there?" That's what this product is about! And that's what test kits are for! Duh... you said "This product is a Two-part element so same volumes of both solutions are added each time. Calcium and alkalinity is always increased proportionally. If calcium is at the right level but alkalinity is depressed and the the user doses the right amount to maintain the calcium that is used up, the alkalinity will remain depressed. If the user compensates for the depressed alkalinity and doses more of the two-part to increase it, calcium will be overdosed." That is why this is a two part additive and they should be use together to complement each other (you mentioned it yourself) so why are you beating your own words? Well, let me say it again, that's what test kits are for, and people who has a logical mind wouldn't add more calcium when their calcium level is already at 450ppm. And the good thing about this product is that when the level of one property is at the expected range, the other is usually also at the expected range. Do you still feed yourself when you are super full? Nobody ask you to add it without using brains. Well, I'm pretty sure you either don't use additive or you are only a one-product user (like stubbornly sticking to cycling a trishaw when there's a lexus waiting for you). If you have tried different additive, you will realise that some will create problems like algae bloom. Some don't, but they do not contain calcium, thus you have to add calcium separately be it in the form of kalwasser or using a calcium reactor etc, and to add calcium separately would bring out problems in balancing the pH/Alkalinity and calcium like you've mentioned before. Clear? you said: "what the heck is DOUBLE Deionized water?" If you don't understand, please read more before you make comments. CONCLUSION you said "This is a Two-part and nothing special or different from other Two-parts out there. The manufacturer unscrupulously hyped up the product and made unscientific and illogical claims to increase sales. " Have you use it before??? If not don't make such strong and bias comments. You are just like saying the brand Lacoste is the same as brand Crocodile. You will be sued for making this statement. Be prepared that somebody will contact AT for your contact details and IP address. I'm sure AT will tell you that comments stated in any form of medium in the World Wide Web may be deemed malicious resulting in defamation and such comments can be used as evidence in a court of law. As a user of this product and this forum, I strongly support logical comments or statements or even a few harmless jokes, but not bias or 'link-it-with-other-lousy-products' comments when a person haven't even try it. And please do more research before making apparent argumentative comments/statements. (If you don't try the Char Kway Teow offer by the food stall, how do you know whether his Char Keow Teow is good or bad?) So those who are skeptical about the product can easily check with other users or go to other websites or any other media not related to the manufacturer to check out reviews on this product, or they can simply just try it out; no harm in trying it anyway. I've tried it that's why I know. I'm still using it and guess what? All my fishes, SPS, LPS etc etc etc are doing perfectly well and are propagating. Even better then when I'm using REEF Solution. Don't believe? Then you are definitely welcome to my place to view my tank.

Hi, Just like to share with fellow aquarist about this great product that I've used and tested. Forgive me but I didn't mean to write such a long message but I'm on MC today (not geng ok! ) and have lots of time at home so thought of sharing with you guys. It's called Ocean's Blend and I managed to get a friend to get it for me from the states. I've tried Reef Solution, Koralin S-plus, Marc Weiss and you name it I've tried it. I'm not saying Reef Solution is no good, but there's no calcium in it and you've got to buy a separate calcium solution or kalwasser or calcium reactor to complement it. I'm too lazy to do that. As for Korallin S-plus, you are supposed to add it once a week and it claimed that those unused minerals etc will dissolved itself by it's matrix (or something like that). The problem with this is that after adding it, I guarantee you that the next day your aquarium will be covered with unwanted algae! This you can check with fellow aquarist who have use it before. Moreover, as with Reef Solution, no Calcium is included. I would really recommend this Ocean's Blend that I've used and am still using. It comes with 2 bottles (titled 'pH/Alkalinity' and 'Calcium'). It is the closest trace element additive to the ocean. I was skeptical at first but after using it there's no doubt about it. Moreover, who can claim that??? You just have to dose it either everyday or every other day or according to your calcium measurements in the tank. Personally I use it 2 -3 times a week and nothing else is added. I used to use Seachem products but now I don't have to buy a separate calcium, strontium, magnesium.............. I guess it's good news for me as I chance upon it in Reborn yeterday and they are selling it! It comes in TWO 16 oz bottles selling at only $50! (1 bottle of 16 oz Reef Solution is already selling at $45! I guess Ocean's Blend is cheaper because they dont 'bluff' you with fancy packaging) I bought it for over $60 from my friend! I managed to grab a piece of leaflet there on this and check out their website (www.alphamarinereef.com) on the product, they state where to buy the products too, I think they should advertise in sgreefclub too so that people will know.... maybe I'll try to see where I can get it cheaper...heeheehee....... I've read reviews on www.premiumaquatics.com and www.theculturedreef.com and the reviews are all great. Maybe you guys should check it out too. HB

You just have to call the shop that you'd got it from. Mine stopped working just a week after buying it. I got it back to the shop and they asked the supplier to fix it...for free. As for warranty, I'm not too sure.

Well, it definitely depends what u want for the background. I believe most of them would put the blue coloured paper which u can obtained from most lfs. To me, the blue background look like 'fake ocean blue'. So one day I kept myself thinking,hmmm.......what kind of background would look more natural..........and voila! It's what I call the 'Geylang paper'! You know those transparent coloured paper? If you get the red colour paper and wrap it aroung the bulb it will resemble the red in Geylang? That's it! BUT OF COURSE DON"T GET THE RED ONE. There's the greenish blue one which can be easily obtained from stationery shops. Just stick it to the back of your aquarium, switch on the light and TA DAH! Try it.

Well, it does look a bit larger than usual, but the magnifying effect is also due to the 0.8cm thickness of the glass as well. The good thing about it is that it's not the usual squarish looking tank. Not that I'm against square tanks (I have another 2 ft square tank as well), but more importantly, it will suit your house deco and that you feel comfortable looking at it...which I am! I spent hours after work just staring at my pretty babies, like watching discovery channel! I wouldn't say that it's 'big' because you will always want a bigger tank after a while... and you will feel that your tank is ever so small no matter what size your tank measures.

I've got the resun model that is mentioined earlier, same specifications. It's 0.8 cm think. Been using it for about a year and it's not too bad. Cheers