Best Two-Part Reef Aquarium Additives of 2023
Most Popular Two-Part Solution & Best For Beginners
Bulk Reef Supply 2-Part Pharma Calcium & Alkalinity
Our best-selling two-part additive for 15 years running, the BRS Pharma 2-Part is affordable, easy to use, and effective. After the initial investment in the starter package, you then only need to purchase individual dry supplements to maintain calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium levels. For mature aquariums, trace elements can be incorporated into the system using the Tropic Marin DIY Trace Elements.
Best for Raising pH
Soda Ash Based Two Part Additives
Soda Ash or sodium carbonate delivers a boost to pH when dosed into the reef aquarium and for most reef hobbyists, this pH boost is welcome. There are a few different two-part additives that are made using sodium carbonate including BRS Pharma, Red Sea Reef Foundation Liquid, Brightwell Aquatics Reef Code, E.S.V. B-Ionic, and Triton Core7 Elements.
Best for Minimal Impact on pH
Sodium Bicarbonate Based Two Part Solutions
Sodium Bicarbonate is used to maintain alkalinity in reef aquariums without having a significant impact on pH levels. These bicarbonate based two-part solutions include Red Sea Reef Foundation DRY, Aquaforest Components, and Tropic Marin Balling Method. If using the BRS Pharma 2-Part, you can swap out the Soda Ash for Sodium Bicarbonate as well.
Best for Tanks with Refugiums
The macroalgae found in a refugium will consume various minor and trace elements as it grows. This means these elements will get depleted quicker and at different ratios compared to reef aquariums that don't have a refugium. Triton Core7 is one of the only two-part options that address and supplement the known consumption of elements by macroalgae.
Best on a Budget - Most Affordable Two-Part
Any dry supplement is going to be much more affordable than liquid additives. You wind up paying for water when buying liquid additives and it's easier for manufacturers to package and ship the supplements in dry form. While it does require that extra step of dissolving the dry supplements into RO/DI, it's not all that difficult and winds up being substantially more affordable.
Best Two-Part That Includes Trace Elements
Brightwell Aquatics Reef Code and E.S.V. B-Ionic
Minor and trace elements will drive up the cost of supplementing your aquarium. Not only the cost of the additives that include trace elements but also the additional dosing pumps required to automate.
Best DIY Trace Element Solution
Tropic Marin Pro-Coral A- and K+
Ocean Direct is a unique live sand that is naturally collected and bagged without any sifting or sterilization with the goal of capturing that natural ocean biome. Throughout our BRStv Investigates Biome Series, we were able to identify increased diversity and various beneficial microbes in the Ocean Direct sand that ultimately helped to establish a more stable ecosystem when setting up a new aquarium.
Most Affordable for Automation
Number of Dosing Pumps Required
Ocean Direct is a unique live sand that is naturally collected and bagged without any sifting or sterilization with the goal of capturing that natural ocean biome. Throughout our BRStv Investigates Biome Series, we were able to identify increased diversity and various beneficial microbes in the Ocean Direct sand that ultimately helped to establish a more stable ecosystem when setting up a new aquarium.
Best to Prevent Salinity Creep
BRS Pharma Hybrid Balling Method
Ocean Direct is a unique live sand that is naturally collected and bagged without any sifting or sterilization with the goal of capturing that natural ocean biome. Throughout our BRStv Investigates Biome Series, we were able to identify increased diversity and various beneficial microbes in the Ocean Direct sand that ultimately helped to establish a more stable ecosystem when setting up a new aquarium. blish a more stable ecosystem when setting up a new aquarium.
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