Trusted Reefers Occasionally Lie a LIttle

[Moneymaks24]

In the last 2 years that I have been keeping reef tanks, I've trusted many strangers to give me advice about this hobby. Some of it was good, some turns out was a huge waste of money! Do these reefers lie on purpose? NO! Some just believe everything they read, others got talked into it by someone else who they trusted.

The good news is: You don't have to make the same mistakes I made! You can save a LOT of money simply by NOT buying these products. The choice is yours, you don't have to trust me, but believe it or not.... This hobby is a huge business, a business that only cares about taking your money!

Don't be a victim of :Trusted Reefers who Occasionally Lie a Little.

 

[Moneymaks24]

Product #1: AcroPower (amino acids)
Cost:$30
Claim: Improves colors and health for both SPS and LPS Coral.
My Experience: No noticeable difference at all after months of use.
My Rating : 0 out of 5 Stars.

No

 

[jackson6745]

You have a lack of understanding about many things in this hobby. Blame yourself for not making the right decisions. Most of the guys on here offer their advice because they believe it is helpful, not for some hidden agenda.
That acropower product does work, but to actually see a difference you will need a full blown healthy SPS tank. That isn't a cure all in a bottle, just a product that can tweak color for some. The ingredients are proprietary, so we can only go by user results. Some gain color, some don't see a difference, some get cyano all over. I have a theory that it contains sodium nitrate, which can explain why my nitrates have risen since dosing, some see no results (they already have high nitrate), and why some get cyano from the increase in nutrients.

 

[Moneymaks24]

The suggestion to buy acropower came from ReefBuilders ( someone I'm suppose to trust) , not from here, go look at the Reefbuiders video about this product and tell me if they don't claim that anyone with sps or LPS MUST have this product. Then come back here n talk

 

[Moneymaks24]

http://reefbuilders.com/2013/12/05/acropower-review/

 

[jackson6745]

If you tried the product and it didn't do anything, state your user reviews on all the forums. Contact the company asking for a refund. The true user results of many will reveal the effectiveness of this product. Starting these point the finger type threads loses any credibility you may have had.

 

[jackson6745]

http://reefbuilders.com/2013/12/05/acropower-review/

I read this, but it was the user reviews that made me try it. That article is over the top for what this product actually does. We agree here

 

[Moneymaks24]

I'm not pointing fingers at anyone, just stating my reason for buying the product, if it works for you GREAT!feel free to share your experience w any products I review. Prove me wrong and I'll be the first to admit i was mistaken.

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

This hobby is loaded with products that can work for some and not for others , I have had success with things that other reefers have written off , I believe that every reef tank is a totally unique body of water chemistry and some of these things may hinder or give a undesired result.

I for one still listen to what's said by veteran reefers , ultimately it's trial by error unfortunately that is the expensive downside and risk that only you can deside to take or walk away from.

 

[Moneymaks24]

Product #2
Reef BioFuel & MicroBacter7
Claim: RAPID reduction of Nitrate&Phosphate and Increase of Beneficial Bacteria.
Price:$40
Review: NO reduction of nitrate or phosphate after months of use.
Increase bacteria? It's invisible so can't say for sure, but beneficial bacteria will naturally develop in a mature tank regardless of Microbacter7.
Rating: 0 out of 5 Stars.

No thank you.

 

[Moneymaks24]

Saltwaterinbrooklyn I always take advice from those in the hobby for years, however this hobby is a lifelong learning process. The problem with this site and others is they DON'T have an actual "expert" who works In the field and who went to school for this who can set the record straight.

Having a large tank and a reef for years doesn't make you an expert. Just means you have room for a large tank.

 

[jaa1456]

Just use a good salt and stay up on your maintence and you won't need any of that crap.

 

[Moneymaks24]

Your absolutely right jaa! The only equipment I run now is a cheap skimmer, that doesn't even skim anything most of the time. My previous tank didn't even have a skimmer and it was the best tank I've ever had. ( only 8 gallon nano)

Unfortunately you'll never hear a company admit that all most tanks needs is a skimmer ( if that) they'll go bankrupt in a month.

 

[Ariel110G]

All I have to say is that I am a big believer in ?You get what you pay for? & if you get high end equipment you will get high end results!!! Yes you can run a tank on the minimum but you will probably end up with some long term problems and you will probably have to do more maintenance.
My tank is not all high end equipment, I would say I have medium to high end equipment.

About the additives, yes some work and some don?t, but you can?t take your tank as an example if they work or don?t, you will have to do some lab grade testing to find that out, I believe on YouTube there is a video on Reef BioFuel & MicroBacter7 that a Vet did and he did send test samples to a lab, & the results did show that there is live bacteria present in the bottle and that it is alive & reproducing.

As for advice from other people, you just have to double check and do a lot of research I don?t think people on this reef site and other site purposely are looking to give out incorrect advice.

Last point is that in this hobby you have to have a lot of patience something that I did not have in the beginning; well my take made me a better person with more patience, I find it important to ?lessen? to your tank by looking at it and observing everything and every change, if you will understand your tanks behavior your tank will be happy and then you will be happy as well.

And don?t forget we are trying to mimic the ocean!!!

Have patience!!!!!!! Do your research!!!!!
My 75G.
If not for Manhattan Reef mostly!!! and some other reef sites, I would not have this tank!!!!
All my corals, rock, some equipment and some fish are from MR members!!!!

 

[dubs]

Renegade good maintenance/water changes/dose the essential 3 cal/alk/mag and u won't need any magic in a bottle at least that the way I reef and it works my tank is a proven result

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

Saltwaterinbrooklyn I always take advice from those in the hobby for years, however this hobby is a lifelong learning process. The problem with this site and others is they DON'T have an actual "expert" who works In the field and who went to school for this who can set the record straight.

Having a large tank and a reef for years doesn't make you an expert. Just means you have room for a large tank.

Some of the biggest tanks I have seen required very little maintenance once you begin a steady water change maintenance pattern.

 

[Moneymaks24]

Ariel I 100% disagree with you. I have all the high end best equipment on my tank and I can say with confidence I have one of the worst reef tanks and almost no growth on corals in the history of this forum. However it's my reef and I love it!

What i hate Is being lied to over and over and keep gettin told buy this now buy this now buy that. After a year or less I feel like tanks maintain themselves, so it's all a money making business. Can't get mad thou someone is smart and making millions of us.

 

[Moneymaks24]

Dubs- I agree those 3 additive and a skimmer is basically all we need.

However I saw a video comparing 3 identical tanks for 1 year and the growth on the tank with a skimmer only on 6/hrs day had the best results/growth/color. Sps and all. But that's another topic I guess.

 

[dubs]

A skimmer is a must have piece of equipment for every reef tank but we not go start that debate here ....my vertex better than ur octopus I paid this much etc

 

[jackson6745]

A skimmer is a must have piece of equipment for every reef tank but we not go start that debate here ....my vertex better than ur octopus I paid this much etc

Dubs, I always have skimmers on my reefs. This is how I like to balance my nutrient level, but The statement of evey reef tank must have a skimmer is not true. There are many many tanks that prove this. 2 great sps tank examples are prattreef and taphil. So many mixed reef examples out there. Good bacterial population, and some nutrient export is all that's needed. So many different ways to do this . I'm not being diplomatic here