Captiv8 Master Solution Experience?

[Krux]

After watching a few videos about the master solution offering I am interested in possibly trying the system. Currently I am throwing a cocktail of KZ products into my reef, but without knowing what is actually in them, and in reading my ICP tests I still have some deficiencies.

I was considering trying to Moonshiner method, as my reef is pretty stable and I just need some small adjustments to chase color, but this bespoke dosing system seems like it might be less time intensive.

Has anyone tried this that would be willing to share their experiences positive or otherwise before I bite the bullet? I have been collecting chemicals to start making my own base dosing elements, but I am no chemist and this may be a safer route to go.

Is Isola8 more cost effective than Moonshiners? It seems so in the short term, but maybe over the course of the year it ends up being more expensive?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

 

[VintageReefer]

Interesting

I don’t see how the daily dosing has any correlation to the number of days until your next icp. Things are consumed at different rates and an icp schedule of 1 month vs 2 months would yield very different dosing amounts

ICP Customized Master Dosing Solution 1000 mL | Captiv8Aquaculture

Customized solution for addressing ionic deficiencies identified by our review of customer-provided ICP analysis, for systems with a net volume ≤500 U.S. gallons. Process requires that the customer provides us with a copy of their ICP analysis, or a link to review it online. Following this, a...

www.captiv8aquaculture.com

 

[Krux]

I imagine the usage rates would be move variable in the first few months - it sounds like they estimate current usage and then fine tune it in future solutions based on the results of the second ICP. I hope after a few solutions the only change in need would be due to coral growth or new additions to the reef.

I believe from one of the videos you tell them when you will run your next ICP test, and they build the solution strength to that, then you divide the 1L bottle into that many days. I haven't been able to find anyone locally who has tried this to verify this is the case though.

 

[Oldreefer44]

I am using it now and will be sending in an ICP that should show its effectiveness and should have the results next week some time. Will share it then.

 

[billyocean]

I use moonshiners but captiv8 is supposed to be great also.

 

[rishma]

I am using it now and will be sending in an ICP that should show its effectiveness and should have the results next week some time. Will share it then.

It’s a reef chemistry forum, so of course we like to know the ICP results. But how’s the coral doing? Any noticeable changes?

 

[Oldreefer44]

It’s a reef chemistry forum, so of course we like to know the ICP results. But how’s the coral doing? Any noticeable changes?

only been about 3 weeks and won't be able to isolate the effectiveness of the solution other than to compare ICP results for deficient trace elements that the solution was based on. Coral were already doing well.

 

[djkms]

I don't purchase their master dosing solution but I make my own with their elements. This system is similar to moonshiners but Captiv8 lets you mix all their elements together except for strontium (calcium/mag/alk as well I believe). Moonshiners requires their elements to be dosed separately. Also with my larger system it is much more cost effective then RM.

The owner of Captiv8 is a biologist/chemist (cant remember his exact field). He is very responsive to emails and a wealth of information.

If you submit your ICP test to them they will send you a very detailed analysis and dosing instructions via excel spreadsheet.

Their solutions get me good results, most recent ICP test attached. I am battling Dino's at the moment so I am halting the Captiv8 system until the dinos are gone (carbon is stripping out trace elements).

Overall though I really like the system and recommend it to anyone who wants to geek out and wants something a bit simpler then RM to dose. Hard to quantify results coral wise yet though, I have only been doing it 3 months and currently paused but the corals do look good.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Overall though I really like the system and recommend it to anyone who wants to geek out and wants something a bit simpler then RM to dose. Hard to quantify results coral wise yet though, I have only been doing it 3 months and currently paused but the corals do look good.

I don't know if they have a selenium product, but if, based on the ICP, you want to dose it, we have a couple of DIY recipes here:

DIY Trace liquid: need help on formula

Hello Randy, I am digging the forums to seek formula to DIY trace liquid. I try my best, but still cannot find formulas for following traces. I need help on formula. 1. Nickel. I can buy NiCL2.6H2O powdered. 2. Selenium. I can buy Na2SeO3 powdered I also hope you could share formula for...

www.reef2reef.com

DIY Trace liquid: need help on formula

Hello Randy, I am digging the forums to seek formula to DIY trace liquid. I try my best, but still cannot find formulas for following traces. I need help on formula. 1. Nickel. I can buy NiCL2.6H2O powdered. 2. Selenium. I can buy Na2SeO3 powdered I also hope you could share formula for...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[djkms]

I don't know if they have a selenium product, but if, based on the ICP, you want to dose it, we have a couple of DIY recipes here:

DIY Trace liquid: need help on formula

Hello Randy, I am digging the forums to seek formula to DIY trace liquid. I try my best, but still cannot find formulas for following traces. I need help on formula. 1. Nickel. I can buy NiCL2.6H2O powdered. 2. Selenium. I can buy Na2SeO3 powdered I also hope you could share formula for...

www.reef2reef.com

DIY Trace liquid: need help on formula

Hello Randy, I am digging the forums to seek formula to DIY trace liquid. I try my best, but still cannot find formulas for following traces. I need help on formula. 1. Nickel. I can buy NiCL2.6H2O powdered. 2. Selenium. I can buy Na2SeO3 powdered I also hope you could share formula for...

www.reef2reef.com

Thanks, Randy. They do have a selenium solution. Not sure why it was low on that test. Still trying to get my consumption rates down per month.

Thanks for the links

 

[rishma]

only been about 3 weeks and won't be able to isolate the effectiveness of the solution other than to compare ICP results for deficient trace elements that the solution was based on. Coral were already doing well.

Corals already doing well, that’s good! It’s a hobby so we tinker even when there is no problem to solve . Hope you see something in the corals, they are even more fun to look at then ICP results.

 

[ti_lavender]

I have been utilizing the Captiv8 / Isol methodology for more than a year now. A local club member did a presentation on it and I thought I'd give it a go. My 2-part (ATI Essentials Pro) has traces in it so the Captiv8 master solution does fine tuning. I'd recommend it, I've changed too many things to say it was specifically this but I'm getting good growth and color.

They ask for number of days until your next ICP so it can adjust the master solution amount to make. The daily amount of elements will remain the same but will adjust based on water added to the master solution. I was doing month at a time and have transitioned to 2 months. If there's no large changes I'll keep extending the ICP testing interval.

Overall it's super easy to use. I mix mine up in the BRS space saver 1 gallon jug and use one of my DOS heads to deliver it.

 

[rishma]

I have been utilizing the Captiv8 / Isol methodology for more than a year now. A local club member did a presentation on it and I thought I'd give it a go. My 2-part (ATI Essentials Pro) has traces in it so the Captiv8 master solution does fine tuning. I'd recommend it, I've changed too many things to say it was specifically this but I'm getting good growth and color.

They ask for number of days until your next ICP so it can adjust the master solution amount to make. The daily amount of elements will remain the same but will adjust based on water added to the master solution. I was doing month at a time and have transitioned to 2 months. If there's no large changes I'll keep extending the ICP testing interval.

Overall it's super easy to use. I mix mine up in the BRS space saver 1 gallon jug and use one of my DOS heads to deliver it.

That sounds like a trace element program I could stick with.

 

[Vested]

Also have been doing this for almost a year on multiple tanks. I like the system but at this point have made my own calculator, I think Chris’s is a good place to get used to the system but has flaws and in general is EXTREMELY conservative on how much to dose.

If you are using triton or another icp that has a minimum reading of 1ug/l to show its there keep in mind chris’s calculator will tell you to increase the dose until it actually hits 1ug/l. If this happens to be an element that you want to keep below 1ug/l you have now way overdosed. Here is an example of the last (custom) calculator on my 160g tank, still increasing every month on most things especially V, Zn, Se, Cu. You’ll notice a few big jumps, just getting this master in line with others I know it will require much more now. Red elements on the master section are ones that you should not mix together in the same solution.

I have a section for the last months icp/master and new icp/master and with them next to each other decide how I want to increase.

 

[djkms]

I agree that the Captiv8 calculator is a bit confusing and the dosage levels cant be adjusted (cells locked in excel).

@subodhs has a calculator and implemented the Captiv8 elements. You can also upload your ICP results and the calculator will give you the dosage recommendations based on certain criteria. I do believe he is also working on adding custom values to the ICP dosage results. Here is the website:
https://reef.tools/