Back in 2002 when i started marines, used 'ceramic rings', bio balls, wet/dry trickle filters. The guy in question knows his stuff, it may look simple to a new reefer....but it took me 6 years understanding of water chemistry before finally making headway into sps. There are different ways to skin a cat, the guys with lots of knowledge could easily do the same and make things work using methods long regarded as old way of doing things.
The key is not the product (Siporax, Carbon Dosing, N & P Pellets, Zeolites, etc), its the reefers understanding of water chemistry and marine husbandry that will get you results that you want
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