Reef Supplements

[LeoLionFish]

How does everyone maintain a balance of trace elements in their reefs? By weekly water changes or by using a product like Kents Trace Elements? How do you test for these things?


Travis D.
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[Tchndir]

I does kent trace element once a week! How I test for it is I see how my corals are reacting to it! So far my colours and growth have increased!!

 

[LeoLionFish]

Have you used any other product?? Nothing against Kents I just like to see what all people have used.


Travis D.
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[Dowtish]

There is a saying in this hobby, if you can't test for it, don't dose it. If you use a quality salt, they have measured the amount of trace elements in their mix, and if you do regular water changes, I don't really see a need to spend more money on something that is already in my salt.

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[LeoLionFish]

Thats the rule I have always heard as well. But now that I want to venture out and start on SPS I want to ensure I am doing it right. Im still in the research phase of learning how to properly care for "expert" corals.


Travis D.
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[SmyrnaReefer]

I use reef plus by seachem and ever since I started, my color change is very noticeable...

 

[Dowtish]

Jay was trying to type "Reef Plus" by seachem, which is not really trace elements, but vitamins and amino acids. I have dosed it a few times as well, and it makes my skimmer go crazy. I read the label the other night, and noticed that there is nickel and copper in it. which can't be good.

 

[SmyrnaReefer]

the .001mg of copper and .00035mg of nickel make my brown corals turn green and purple so i like it...:bigsmile:

 

[dakotasreef]

There is copper found in minute quantities in sea water. Some of the zeovit additives contain copper as well. At some point, it will become toxic to your inverts.

 

[gmoney243]

if u want to do SPS good water flow and lights is all u need to get you started you can add and start all these other things later .. even Calcium wont be needed untill your frags grow a bit.

 

[angrycubano]

+1 with Chris. Since I can only test for Alk, Cal, and Mg then that's all I dose. I have been putting in some of that ReefPlus once a week, but don't know if that's making my corals look good or the fact that my Ecobak is kicking in. My corals are nowhere near as good as most folks but they're gettin there. As long as your phates and trates are very low, good flow, good light, and stable Alk, Cal, and Mg then you should be groovy.

 

[Salty Dog]

esv salt, weekly water changes, all the elements are in the mix

 

[LeoLionFish]

I currently use the Instant Ocean. Is that brand good and what about their Reef Crystals salt?? Better or same as IO??


Travis D.
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[poolkeeper1]

I currently use the Instant Ocean. Is that brand good and what about their Reef Crystals salt?? Better or same as IO??


Travis D.
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IO or RC is OK for Fish only tanks IMO but for Coral especially SPS you will want a Salt Mix with higher Ca levels and better Trace elements added to the salt. Some of the better Salts are D&D Marine H2 Ocean or ESV Red Sea Coral Pro and a few others, IO is widely used but not the highest quality salt out there JMHO
Bill

 

[Zef004]

Agree with bill a good salt with 10% WC weekly is all you need. I use half and half redsea and coralife.

 

[Bishop]

10+% weekly water changes and half way regular dosing of "PurpleUp". Purple up adds a little iodine to the system and my coral looked it's best when i was adding it. I use Kent's Essential Elements to the tanks that don't get changed very often. I don't test for anything this adds to the tank. During a water change, anything that is to low will go up as the new water adds it. Anything that is to high will go down some as it is removed.

I try to keep my water balanced with the salt I use plus the extra calcium and iodine from PurpleUp. I'd be just as happy with a two-part dozing as long as it has a lil iodine. Periodically, It is a good idea to do an extra large water change because you could be adding to much of one thing and not enough of anouther.

 

[LeoLionFish]

Thats what I was thinking. Its hard to go to an LFS or shop online for that matter and not be overwhelmed by all the "guaranteed" solutions and all the many supplements by all the many companies. I want the best for my fish and corals but in the same turn I dont want to flush money either.


Travis D.
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[Devonjevon]

I don't dose anything but kalksweiser, vinegar and mag Very heavy stocked sps. I feed fish pellets formula 1 at noon formula 2 at 5pm I keep it simple. No supplements. I don't feed my coral. Didn't feed my clam the 5 years I had it. I don't even feed frozen food. With that said maybe my tank would be awesome if I did. But maybe it would be a soup of cyano. I don't have the money or it.