Purple Up

Mark0818 · 07/13/2008, 10:51 AM

What's do you guys think of Purple Up? I just have live rock I been using it the past month and haven't really seen any difference yet.

I do 20% water changes every month as well.

drparker · 07/13/2008, 11:01 AM

Waste of money. read through Randy's articles in the Chemistry forum. Pay attention to Ca, Alkalinity and Mg. Use his two part recipe or you can buy commercial equivalents.

Once I started testing Mg and brought it up to were it belongs my coraline and hard corals took off.

brad2048 · 07/13/2008, 11:02 AM

yeah dont waste your money. just dose your tank and watch all your levels closey as drparker stated

weluvfish54 · 07/13/2008, 11:08 AM

OVERPRICED CALCIUM IN A PURPLE BOTTLE..GOT SOME FREE BACK IN THE DAY AND ALL IT DID WAS SKYROCKET MY CALCIUM LEVEL.

drparker · 07/13/2008, 01:11 PM

I just noticed that you have a FOWLR, What kind of light do you have? Stronger lights are not need for the fish or for the LR to function as a bio filter but is for coraline to grow.

Andrew · 07/13/2008, 02:05 PM

Purple up does actually work and will raise your calcium levels but there are many better ways out there to raise your calcium levels and to promote coraline algae. Products such as purple up and Kent's liquid calcium do work but in the end, you will end up paying way too much. I myself prefer to dose limewater which raises your calcium levels. You can buy a fairly large jar of pickle lime from WalMart or other grocery stores. There's many articles here on RC and a few in the RK Magazine on this topic.

Mark0818 · 07/13/2008, 02:59 PM

I have 2 Power compacts that have brand new bulbs.

fattyratrat · 07/13/2008, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by drparker
I just noticed that you have a FOWLR, What kind of light do you have? Stronger lights are not need for the fish or for the LR to function as a bio filter but is for coraline to grow.

In my experience, stronger light is not beneficial for coraline to grow. I have 300 watts of halides and 440 watts of actinic VHO, and coraline algae barely grows on the tops of my rocks. It grows on the bottom sides of my rocks (where there is little light) and places that there is lots of flow (on and around powerheads).

fattyratrat · 07/13/2008, 03:33 PM

As for purple up, I think it's a waste of money, just get your calcium in the 400's, alk over 10 dKh, and mag over 1300 and you will have coraline everywhere.

mray · 07/13/2008, 04:43 PM

Purple up has iodine so it is not completely useless but there are better ways to raise calcium levels.

MalHavoc · 07/13/2008, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fattyratrat
As for purple up, I think it's a waste of money, just get your calcium in the 400's, alk over 10 dKh, and mag over 1300 and you will have coraline everywhere.

And get your phosphates to undetectable levels. Phosphate poisons the calcification process and I find that any trace of it can really mess with coralline and stony coral growth.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 07/13/2008, 05:57 PM

Purple up has iodine so it is not completely useless but there are better ways to raise calcium levels.

Actually, I think that iodide additives are wasted too.

But the magnesium in it, however much is there, is probably useful.

sandsurfsd · 07/13/2008, 06:24 PM

I used it, didn't do anything for me..waste of money

drparker · 07/13/2008, 07:20 PM

Quote:

I have 2 Power compacts that have brand new bulbs.

That should be good.

Quote:

In my experience, stronger light is not beneficial for coraline to grow. I have 300 watts of halides and 440 watts of actinic VHO, and coraline algae barely grows on the tops of my rocks. It grows on the bottom sides of my rocks (where there is little light) and places that there is lots of flow (on and around powerheads).

Sorry I didn't mean tons of metal halides I meant just not a plain old florescent bulb in standard hood.

Mark0818 · 07/13/2008, 07:27 PM

Okâ€¦â€¦I really need the help here.

I shouldnâ€™t have any Phosphateâ€™s b/c I use RO water, however is there any cause for phosphates besides using tap water? and if so hiw to get rid of it?

Currently Iâ€™m using Purple Up b/c it seemed simple to use, but now I want to try something else. Please give any suggestions that I can buy either online or at my LFS. And if it isnâ€™t to much to ask what kind of schedule should be on with this stuff.

I know this seems like a lot to ask, but I appreciate all the help I can get.

Thanks for all replies!
Mark

MinnFish · 07/13/2008, 07:46 PM

Foods, some additives can introduce Phosp. RO can also, need to check store (and own) purchase RO. Check out the chemistry forum here. We have quite afew experts here in that area. Hope i could help.

drparker · 07/13/2008, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mark0818
Okâ€¦â€¦I really need the help here. .....

......Please give any suggestions that I can buy either online or at my LFS. And if it isnâ€™t to much to ask what kind of schedule should be on with this stuff.

Head to the chemistry forum and read the articles that Randy has written Randy's Articles

Start with the beginner series, then calcium and alkalinity. Then Mg and Kalk water, go from there. Use his two part recipe plus Mg or buy commercial equivalents.

BUT Don't add anything if you don't test for it.

Mark0818 · 07/14/2008, 07:12 PM

Thanks guys I will!

jdiddy8384 · 07/14/2008, 07:36 PM

I used it and it helped but like everyone else said better ways out there.

RicksReefs · 07/14/2008, 08:27 PM

bright lights grow coraline just fine.
I have 1000 watt halides and I'm in the process of removing my eggcrate racks for an acid soak and a razor blade to the rest of the tank to get rid of coraline.

what's the secret for growing corals but NOT coraline algae...

07/13/2008, 10:51 AM	#1
Mark0818 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dyer, In Posts: 99	Purple Up What's do you guys think of Purple Up? I just have live rock I been using it the past month and haven't really seen any difference yet. I do 20% water changes every month as well.

07/13/2008, 05:57 PM	#12
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Purple up has iodine so it is not completely useless but there are better ways to raise calcium levels. Actually, I think that iodide additives are wasted too. But the magnesium in it, however much is there, is probably useful. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

07/13/2008, 07:46 PM	#16
MinnFish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home of 10,000 lakes Posts: 917	Foods, some additives can introduce Phosp. RO can also, need to check store (and own) purchase RO. Check out the chemistry forum here. We have quite afew experts here in that area. Hope i could help. __________________ 33G Long, 4x54 watt T5, Tunze 6025, Tunze Osmolator ATO, Tunze Streamfilter 3163 Posts about moving an oversized fish to a bigger tank. Is like hearing every stripper is just working to pay for colle

07/13/2008, 11:01 AM	#2
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	Waste of money. read through Randy's articles in the Chemistry forum. Pay attention to Ca, Alkalinity and Mg. Use his two part recipe or you can buy commercial equivalents. Once I started testing Mg and brought it up to were it belongs my coraline and hard corals took off.

07/13/2008, 11:02 AM	#3
brad2048 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: st. petersburg, fl Posts: 233	yeah dont waste your money. just dose your tank and watch all your levels closey as drparker stated

07/13/2008, 11:08 AM	#4
weluvfish54 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: inland empire Posts: 771	OVERPRICED CALCIUM IN A PURPLE BOTTLE..GOT SOME FREE BACK IN THE DAY AND ALL IT DID WAS SKYROCKET MY CALCIUM LEVEL.

07/13/2008, 01:11 PM	#5
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	I just noticed that you have a FOWLR, What kind of light do you have? Stronger lights are not need for the fish or for the LR to function as a bio filter but is for coraline to grow.

07/13/2008, 02:05 PM	#6
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	Purple up does actually work and will raise your calcium levels but there are many better ways out there to raise your calcium levels and to promote coraline algae. Products such as purple up and Kent's liquid calcium do work but in the end, you will end up paying way too much. I myself prefer to dose limewater which raises your calcium levels. You can buy a fairly large jar of pickle lime from WalMart or other grocery stores. There's many articles here on RC and a few in the RK Magazine on this topic.

07/13/2008, 02:59 PM	#7
Mark0818 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dyer, In Posts: 99	I have 2 Power compacts that have brand new bulbs.

07/13/2008, 03:33 PM	#9
fattyratrat Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 278	As for purple up, I think it's a waste of money, just get your calcium in the 400's, alk over 10 dKh, and mag over 1300 and you will have coraline everywhere.

07/13/2008, 04:43 PM	#10
mray Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 122	Purple up has iodine so it is not completely useless but there are better ways to raise calcium levels.

07/13/2008, 06:24 PM	#13
sandsurfsd Moved On Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 41	I used it, didn't do anything for me..waste of money

07/13/2008, 07:27 PM	#15
Mark0818 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dyer, In Posts: 99	Okâ€¦â€¦I really need the help here. I shouldnâ€™t have any Phosphateâ€™s b/c I use RO water, however is there any cause for phosphates besides using tap water? and if so hiw to get rid of it? Currently Iâ€™m using Purple Up b/c it seemed simple to use, but now I want to try something else. Please give any suggestions that I can buy either online or at my LFS. And if it isnâ€™t to much to ask what kind of schedule should be on with this stuff. I know this seems like a lot to ask, but I appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks for all replies! Mark

07/14/2008, 07:12 PM	#18
Mark0818 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dyer, In Posts: 99	Thanks guys I will!

07/14/2008, 07:36 PM	#19
jdiddy8384 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 138	I used it and it helped but like everyone else said better ways out there.

07/14/2008, 08:27 PM	#20
RicksReefs Moved On Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In America's Dangling Junk State. Posts: 6,413	bright lights grow coraline just fine. I have 1000 watt halides and I'm in the process of removing my eggcrate racks for an acid soak and a razor blade to the rest of the tank to get rid of coraline. what's the secret for growing corals but NOT coraline algae...