Black Powder/Spectra Vital/Combo Vital

[gamma]

Has anyone used Marc Weiss products: Black Powder, Spectra Vital, Combo Vital? I recently brought home my first coral and was recommended by the LFS to use Combo Vital every other day w/ a pinch. It is supposed to do wonders for corals & inverts. Anyway after a wk the only thing I've seen is an increase in algae on my glass. I used to clean the glass once a wk, but now I'm cleaning it at least once/day if not more often. Is this stuff "snake oil", have I been duped? Anyone else have any experience on this "miracle" stuff?

[Matt Rogers]

No experience here with that stuff, but for what it's worth, every single thing I've read on other boards has been negative. You are not the only one who felt duped.

[mlw427]

My LFS also recommended the combo vital. Claims he gets great results.
I have not started it in my tank yet. Will post results.

[shawnz28]

This stuff is basically the modern day reef equivalent to snake oil. Don't waste your money on it, spend it on quality items like DT's etc..

[Gresham]

Yah, algae booster, thats it! All marketting and hype IMO!

[Jason McKenzie]

I agree with above SNAKE OIL. Any product that will not publish it's ingredient is bogus in my books

J

[mlw427]

shawnz28 what is DT?

[shawnz28]

DT's is DT's Phytoplankton

Other good foods for filter feeders are Coralplankton and Bioplankton by Liquid Life. Bioplankton is similiar in size to DT's. And Coralplankton is rotifers. The only other thing I would recommend is Golden Pearls available thru Brine Shrimp Direct

[mlw427]

[smiley=2thumbsup.gif] Great infomation. Various LFS in san diego have those products.

[captivereefs]

I would not recomend it.No one knows what is in it and it does not even say on the bottle! Most places sell it because it has a great profit margin compared to other additives.