Sea Lab no 28 blocks - kilo

[Mr Cob]

Just started using the Sea-Lab #28 kilo blocks...I'm always looking for ways to easily dose and keep up with the tank but in ways that I can't "overkill" with my inability to measure accurately.

Only started using them this week and I haven't seen any noticeable changes other than calcium staying up...PH has not changed either....our systems maintain 8.3-8.4. I haven't checked anything else and only mentioned PH because it's on a probe - easy to read (I hate testing).

your experience?
http://s3.amazonaws.com/tc-photos/11442/product/standard/510563.jpg

[cowboy572]

Rob, I have tried them as well because of some of the "hoopla" made by the LFS. Made them out as the miracle block for your tank. They slowly disolve in your tank as it needs the elements. Like you the only thing they did was keep my calcium and PH levels up.

[350gt]

Always wondered about these.....

[Mike]

Me also... If they keep your calcium/alk/PH levels up, would they take the place and be a cheaper solution that 2 part?

Interested to follow this and also hear others comments or experiences. I am a skeptic under the impression if it seems too easy or good to be true it usually is.

[Mr Cob]

I purchased them to replace 2 part / dosing to raise calcium. I was a big fan of Fiji Gold for calcium but that just wasn't keeping up with the demands of the MCC systems. Have Mike's old kalk reactor as well but I can't find a place for it and frankly it confuses the crud out of me.

[Mr Cob]

I placed the entire kilo block in the sump intake where there is indirect moderate flow. Total water volume on this system is 380g. Kilo block was about $25.

It's supposed to dissolve to replenish depleted elements:

SeaLab Concentrations (ppm)
Aluminum 0.01
Boron 4.6
Calcium 400.0
Chromium 0.00005
Cobalt 0.0005
Copper 0.003
Fluorine 0.3
Iodine 0.06
Iron 0.01
Manganese 0.002
Molybdenum 0.01
Nickel 0.002
Selenium 0.004
Strontium 8.0
Tin 0.002
Vanadium 0.002
Zinc 0.014

Claims...you can't overdose. Old school product that I'm hoping will just keep calcium up.

[allan]

tagging along. I'm finding that I have to add a lot more kalk than before.

Where did you put it, in the return area? What ppm does it keep your calcium at?

[allan]

oops...

[Mr Cob]

lots of forum posts out there saying it's garbage...reef central, but it might meet my needs, guess I'll see.

[allan]

I don't suppose it will be this easy, but once your water levels reach 400ppm, does it stop disolving?

[Mr Cob]

Without regular water changes the system quickly falls below 400 and hits 300 in no time. With regular water changes I can keep it just under 400...so far with this block I have been up above 400, I'd like to be at 440...but I'll be happy if it keeps me at 400.

Tossed it in on Monday. 02/06.2012

[Mr Cob]

I don't suppose it will be this easy, but once your water levels reach 400ppm, does it stop disolving?

that's the claim...my brain has a hard time processing that though, I just can't get passed "time dissolve".

[allan]

I was thinking somethng like homeostasis (??), but without a mechinism to allow it...

This thing pretty much disolves away to nothing, right? Seems like you're already noting some good out of it if it's keeping you above 400. I haven't checked my calcium in a long time, but I noticed now with the water changes and the additional scoop of kalkwasser I'm getting a lot of new growth from my SPS.

[Mr Cob]

quote from Sea-Lab:

No. 28 Automatic Replenisher
Manufactured by Sea-Lab
Sea-Lab Formula 28 is a mixture of naturally occurring buffer compounds that maintains natural ocean concentrations of calcium, strontium, and all 15 essential trace elements. Calcium and strontium are well recognized nutrients, but trace elements are not as well understood. They are, however, vitally necessary to marine life in the aquarium. Paradoxically, these same elements so essential to life, are also highly toxic. The trick is to tread the fine line between trace element starvation and trace element toxicity. Formula 28 is the first formula available to hobbyists and professionals that creates and maintains this fine balance. As elements are depleted from solution, Formula 28 delivers exactly equivalent amounts to replace them. Formula 28 stabilizes acid/alkaline balance (pH), and also prevents toxic ammonia buildup.

Instructions for Use:
Since Formula 28 is fully buffered, this is a constant supply of essential trace elements and no possibility of toxic overload, so dosage and application are extremely uncritical. The blocks can be placed in any location where there is a moderate current. When the blocks are mostly dissolved, add a similar number as recommended in the dosage.

[Cammed_02]

Would this benefit tanks that are softie dominated as well, or mostly tanks with lots of SPS?

[Scutterborn]

This seems to be a very interesting thread that I will be keeping an eye on. Interested to see how well it does vs what it says...

[mkengr45]

I have never heard anything good about them, but I have never used them myself. It will be interesting to see what the results are.

[allan]

I would imagine the primary purpose would be to assist with calcium, right? Softies don't have a large calcium requirement.

[profntbtr]

i have found that the blocks maintain levels pretty well, except for alkalinity, notice i didn't give you numbers because i don't have any. i just know that my corals were doing ok with just the blocks, but some of them were not thriving. when i started adding the alkalinity solution of b-ionic, everything perked up, the bonsai i got from allan is rapidly encrusting, and i'm getting new upright growth from parts that weren't even encrusted when i got the frag. the slimer i had been worried about losing is showing signs of new growth fluting away from the old skeleton, and the only thing i have changed was the addition of part number 2. most of the arguments against this product stem from the manufacturer's claim that it will adjust dissolution rates to replenish specific elements. while variable self regulation is preposterous, it doesn't make the blocks any less effective at adding a variety of elements over an extended period of time. you will still have to dose for alkalinity, so it's not set it and forget it, but if you forget for a day or two it isn't such a big deal. they have worked well for me, my corals are very healthy and adding new growth daily.

[ShAgMaN]

I have used the No.28 medium blocks for years and they were awesome for maintaining calcium...however my Ph ran consistently low...but with no problems. I ran into problems when I decided to ditch the blocks and buffer and mess with Alk and Ph. BTW, I use tap aqua. I'm finally back to coral recovery after returning to the blocks and running GFO.

IMO, these blocks kick butt for adding calcium, and my corals from SPS to softies thrived, but that’s just my experience.

[Big_Pun]

everything I read on RC said they where kinda junk because depending on how fast flow is the rate they dissolve increases. just something on relying on a gimmick that worries
me. I saw an article a while back where some one put it in front of a powerhead and it dissolved in a day in 10g tank, doesn't sound like controlled dosing to me.

[FireWater]

everything I read on RC said they where kinda junk because depending on how fast flow is the rate they dissolve increases. just something on relying on a gimmick that worries
me. I saw an article a while back where some one put it in front of a powerhead and it dissolved in a day in 10g tank, doesn't sound like controlled dosing to me.

Maybe that 10G was really deficient and needed the full dose? LOL

[Mr Cob]

agree Chris that it doesn't sound like controlled dosing....but I rarely listen to advice on reef central. While there are some very knowledgeable reefers that post sound advice, there are even more people that just chime in based on what they "heard" or think they know without any real first hand experience.

I like the test of placing a powerhead in front of it and while that proves it's not completely controled dosing it also doesn't prove that it's not. They kind of forced the results. Kind of like me telling you your tank will hold water for sure and then I start tapping on it gently with a hammer.

Anyways, I'm also a skeptic about what the manufacturer claims it will do but all I need this thing to do is keep my calcium up without throwing anything else out of whack.

[Big_Pun]

http://reefbuilders.com/2012/02/13/sealab-28-mineral-blocks/ guess everyone is wondering

[350gt]

Hahaha @ uber old timers......

Would love to read some responses on there or some sorta follow up..... Can't believe there is not one study or test if these really work...

[Mr Cob]

some notes...

-PH used to be 8.3-8.4 in this sytem and is now 8.4-8.5 stable
-I'm seeing lots more colors on the SPS...we have not been selling SPS because I haven't been able to keep up with the calcium demands on this system and the colors have been poor. Tri-Color valida looks great now and the overall helath of the SPS looks better than it has in a year in this sytem
-1/4 of the block has been released...I have it in low flow...bottom of sump laying flat near the intake

Will try and get a calcium reading tonight.

[Gseclipse02]

some notes...

-PH used to be 8.3-8.4 in this sytem and is now 8.4-8.5 stable
-I'm seeing lots more colors on the SPS...we have not been selling SPS because I haven't been able to keep up with the calcium demands on this system and the colors have been poor. Tri-Color valida looks great now and the overall helath of the SPS looks better than it has in a year in this sytem
-1/4 of the block has been released...I have it in low flow...bottom of sump laying flat near the intake

Will try and get a calcium reading tonight.


you know how sps always tends to brown out a little then colors up after time .... do u think its that or the blocks?

[Big_Pun]

nice if it just does calcium I may use them my sps suck cal so fast I struggle to keep in mid 300's

[ShAgMaN]

Leaving these blocks enabled me to crashing my tank. My coral thrived with them and Ph held consistent w/ Alk low, but I tried raising it (Ph/Alk) and man was that a bad move. I lost 90% of my livestock.

To be honnest, I would totally recommed the product to a newb who doesn't want to mess with their tank parameters and dose daily, but I will likely not go back to them. I could never get recommended Ph and Alk high enough...but I was using tap.

Cobby, if you are getting good Ph and Alk readings, then maybe it's just the tap that messes things up. But really, it wasn't a problem anyway. My coral grew decent and everthing seemed fine. I just wanted to see if my coral would benifit even more from higher Ph and alk.

My next tank I'm going GFO hardcore from the begining, RODI, Kalk, reefkeeper, skim hard and feed alot. Oh and the dreaded water changes.

[Mr Cob]

Shaggy...using RODI...have not tested ALK.

JT...I've been struggling with SPS ever since we opened shop over a year ago, I have never been able to keep calcium demands up, added the blocks and now SPS is looking great. So, it is what it is. There's no guarantee the results of the SPS are from using the blocks but there's no reason for me to believe that it's not because of the blocks.

If things continue as they are then I'll continue with the blocks.

Late afternoon PH was 8.3, so it looks as though I have a 8.3 - 8.5 swing over 24 hours from day to day.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7047/6873830987_c5caf5c2ac.jpg

the block at day one: 02/06/2012
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7195/6873897571_3b6c7399d9_z.jpg


the block tonight 02/13/2013
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7061/6873831645_83937b5600.jpg

ORA Tri-Color (this has not seen purple tips and a white body for over 6 months+)
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/6873832607_c2b2c73643.jpg

ORA Purple Polyp B-nest (lots of new little white tips...seems to be taking off, wasn't really an issue before the blocks but I have seen extra growth from it)
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7069/6873833585_8e58b7f7f7_z.jpg

ORA Tri-Color Valida mother colony slowly coloring back up:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7203/6873834553_e92fb32ba6_z.jpg

[Mr Cob]

calcium is at 580 tonight and PH is at 8.4
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7186/6874002275_d48146dd0a.jpg

[alton]

If you get a chance Rob can you check Magnesium and ALk? And thanks for testing and posting this.

[Richard]

quote from Sea-Lab:

No. 28 Automatic Replenisher
Manufactured by Sea-Lab
Sea-Lab Formula 28 is a mixture of naturally occurring buffer compounds that maintains natural ocean concentrations of calcium, strontium, and all 15 essential trace elements. Calcium and strontium are well recognized nutrients, but trace elements are not as well understood. They are, however, vitally necessary to marine life in the aquarium. Paradoxically, these same elements so essential to life, are also highly toxic. The trick is to tread the fine line between trace element starvation and trace element toxicity. Formula 28 is the first formula available to hobbyists and professionals that creates and maintains this fine balance. As elements are depleted from solution, Formula 28 delivers exactly equivalent amounts to replace them. Formula 28 stabilizes acid/alkaline balance (pH), and also prevents toxic ammonia buildup.

Instructions for Use:
Since Formula 28 is fully buffered, this is a constant supply of essential trace elements and no possibility of toxic overload, so dosage and application are extremely uncritical. The blocks can be placed in any location where there is a moderate current. When the blocks are mostly dissolved, add a similar number as recommended in the dosage.

I don't know exactly where this description came from but it is different than the advice you'll get if call the manufacturer directly. This is a Hiatt product (www.hdltd.com) and you can contact the owner (Snake) directly and he'll talk your ear off telling you about how to use them. The blocks are calcium chloride plus trace elements. So it won't do anything for your alkalinity and you need to do regular water changes to keep your water from getting out of whack, just as you would with any other unbalanced calcium chloride additive. Also you are supposed to protect them from any current or they will dissolve too fast. Snake always recommended people bury the small ones in the sandbed to protect them from any current. It's a good product if used correctly and a bad product if not used correctly.

[Scutterborn]

So what's the latest on the block? Are you seeing any more changes in coral growth/color and how are the numbers looking?

[Mr Cob]

Yesterday marked the day that the block was fully dissolved.

Tossed it in on 02/06/2012
Fully dissolved on 02/28/2012

Looks like I'm in for 2 blocks a month to keep my calcium levels up.

I'm sorry but I have not tested anything other than calcium and PH.

Since calcium stayed between 550 and 620 I'm going to move them from the intake section of the sump and place in the return section where there is less flow and hopefully I can get calcium to stay around 500, I would like 440. The intake also had low flow since I don't run water through the sump very fast.

So far I'm happy and will continue to use them.

I have noticed stable PH, high calcium, great color on the SPS and faster SPS growth since using the block.

I have nothing negative to post at this point...maybe price but $50 a month to keep calcium up is not that bad.

[Mr Cob]

also note that I do weekly water changes..small but weekly, at least 10 gallons a week and 20 gallons a week when I'm not being lazy...but that is only once a month.

This is on a 380g total system...so I do about 5% water change a week.

[Big_Pun]

hey rob does the package state what other elements it puts back in system specificaly. SPS color thrives with potassium,iodine and iron and strontium. i use the the red sea colors kit for the basic three potassium,iodine,iron.

[Mr Cob]

...




SeaLab Concentrations (ppm)
Aluminum 0.01
Boron 4.6
Calcium 400.0
Chromium 0.00005
Cobalt 0.0005
Copper 0.003
Fluorine 0.3
Iodine 0.06
Iron 0.01
Manganese 0.002
Molybdenum 0.01
Nickel 0.002
Selenium 0.004
Strontium 8.0
Tin 0.002
Vanadium 0.002
Zinc 0.014



more info from the above snippet: http://www.qualitymarine.com/Additives/Sea-Lab/Sea-Lab-%2328-Replenisher-Kilo-Block

[Mr Cob]

Magnesium Salifert test kit was off the charts today. This test kit goes to 1500ppm. I continued the testing though and added more Mg-3 reagent and based on my calculations I'm at about 1600ppm for MG.

PH is running stable at 8.0-8.2 on this system (85g + about 60g sump water). Much lower than it used to run when it was hooked up with the 220g. I do more frequent water changes now though and have a lot less stock and obviously water plus longer lighting periods.

Will test calcium when I get a chance.

Do not have an alk test kit.