Polyp Lab One tackles Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium in single product
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Polyp Lab recently brought One, an all-in-one dosing product, to the market taking two-part dosing a step further with the addition of magnesium to traditional calcium and alkalinity solutions. The Canadian manufacturer has combined calcium acetate, magnesium acetate and hydroxide salts to deliver levels of 400 ppm Ca, 1,300 ppm Mg and alkalinity of 7 dKH. The company planned One to deliver these parameters on the low end to help prevent overdosing. According to the website:
One is engineered from two forms of acetate and hydroxide salts. It contains calcium ions, magnesium ions and acetate ions. When dosed, the calcium and magnesium ions are freely available for uptake by corals, clams and other reef organisms. The acetate ions are promptly metabolized by bacteria to create biologically available bicarbonate. This process provides alkalinity to your reef aquarium. The hydroxide salts in our product are present to help maintain a higher pH as well as to provide more alkalinity.
Polyp Lab also recommends on its FAQ page using One as a maintenance product and suggests hobbyists raise their tank’s levels of calcium, magnesium and alkalinity to the desired levels with other products such as calcium chloride or baking soda before beginning the One dosing regimen. The recommended dose ranges from one capful (5 ml) a day per 50 gallons for new and softie tanks all the way up to four capfuls (20 ml) per 50 gallons for heavy SPS tanks. Not a daily doser? Polyp Lab also documents a twice weekly dosing schedule. Through years of collective experiences, we have learned a lot in this hobby and are rightfully skeptical of “all-in-one” solutions. We have to wonder the long-term benefits of this product to see if it matches it’s claims and wonder why we haven’t seen similar products on the market before. Many reefers will most likely opt for the control of each individual parameter via two-part with magnesium supplementation as needed or through advanced dosing techniques like the Balling Method. Interested in trying it out? One is available from online at Marine Depot for $21.95 USD for a 500 ml bottle.
These all in one supplements worry me, what if your alk is low but calcium and magnesium are fine?
DT’s has a great 3 part dosing system called PURE, calicum alk and magnesium.
November 4th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
DT’s is highly watered down and most stores dropped it like it was nuclear waste.
November 4th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Reef keepers have been putting Vinegar and lime together for a long time to avoid going to the next step of 2 parts.
It does work!
If you add some magnesium hydroxide, and control amount of vinegar you can maintain a one part under low demand, it might make sense.
November 4th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
“DT’s is highly watered down and most stores dropped it like it was nuclear waste.”
Really? I compared it to Bionic and it was more concentrated.
November 4th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
why go to all this effort when you can just go balling its cheaper you can adjust each parameter individually and have full control.
Two part is not a substitute for balling either.
November 4th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Mike – I agree. The concept of a one-shot solution is good in principle, but with the ever-abundant amount of variables in the hobby, individual control is key.
michael – I appreciate the Balling Methodology and while the Balling additives may be cheaper, the level of understanding needed to properly implement the method scares off many hobbyists. Fact is we live in a fast, convenient and now society so products that do more with one drop, shot or does are appealing to consumers.
November 4th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
balling could not be simpler
See here – http://shop.faunamarin.de/media/content/Balling%2022.06JK-comm_ENG.doc
November 5th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Michael — thanks for adding the document, maybe I should have clarified my comment above with the term “perceived” as in perceived understanding needed to properly implement….
November 5th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
The only issue with balling is people trying to do their own DIY attempts at it, either using over the counter salts full of bromide trying to save a buck or two or adopting two part of some sort or another and then getting balance issues.
I wont go into the chemistry of all this but if you use proper certified pure salts like fauna and follow their guideline you will get easy success and can dump out that old pony called the calcium and kalk reactor.
Being from the UK, balling is not a new thing to me, in Europe it is by far the most popular method for mineralization and it is really catching on here. The only hurdle is making people aware two part IS NOT balling.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Calcium acetate is an effective and easy means of supplementation, its downside is it is expensive.
As for all of the comments above about individual control, do you use a salt mix? Or do you supplement the sodium, chloride, etc., etc. all individually?
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm
November 19th, 2009 at 7:36 pm