WD, I can't see videos from the office but I've heard good things so I'm looking forward to checking it out.
We're onto the 2nd page of this thread and you're still not understanding the point of the discussion. It's not whether you have a nice tank or not. The concept being being debated is 'best practice'. Batch dumping kalkwasser is not an example thereof. Yes, it can be very successful, but it's not best practice. I can find you examples of hard core systems (TOTM quality) that do not use a skimmer. Does that mean I'm going to ditch my skimmer? No. A skimmer is insurance I am not willing to do w/o. I can also find you some very nice tanks that run PC bulbs. I'm never going back to PCs. There are also many great tanks that do not run an ATO. I'm not giving up my ATO. There are tanks that don't do water changes (been there myself even). I'm not going to say that people shouldn't do water changes though. Shall I go on?
"Only stupid people never change their mind." That is a very childish jab by a person with such an esteemed role in this club. Isn't one of the fundemental principles of the club to 'share the knowledge'? I'm sorry, but you're failing to describe the options available. (This is a great place to start BTW...
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/2/chemistry if only Randy would update it to include his DIY two part recipe.)
Who didn't change their mind? Me? I've batch dosed kalk. I've tried a lot of Ca/alk schemas and had success with all of them.
1995-1997 (baking soda and off-the-shelf calcium products)
1997-2001 (ATO kalkwasser on some tanks, batch kalkwasser on others...500+ gallons at home and 600+ for clients)
2003-2004 (B-ionic then B-ionic with ATO kalkwasser)
2004-2009 (ATO kalkwasser then a calcium reactor then the two in combo)
2009-2011 (DIY two part with ATO kalkwasser then switched back to straight ATO kalkwasser due to lower Ca/alk demand)
2011-present (DIY two part on dosing pumps...the easiest solution yet)