I'm using Bromine and MPS as shock. My Bromine has no chlorine in it (Brilliance). Water maintenance is relatively easy- set the floater the the correct level, refill it every couple weeks, shock one a week. I Monitor PH, Bromine, and alk levels every few days.
Either the bromine or mps or both cause the PH to drift lower gradually, so I occasionally have to adjust.
It takes a week or two after a water change to get everything balanced, but after that it's pretty easy.
Just a matter of that newbie learning curve, and for me it was resisting the temptation to micro manage the water.
Brewman
