what do you dose?

[technomex]

Of all the hundreds of products out there, I was wondering what everyone uses. I know how much varies from tank to tank, but overall we all probably need the same things.
I have a 150 reef in which I use a 1kg sea-lab block for mineral replacement, liquid reactor, esential elements, and seachem 8.3.
This seems to be working fine in my tank, just wondering if there is something else I should/should not be using.
Also, post any great products that you recomend and any you feel are completely useless.

[Jimnorris]

ESV products IMO are the very best on the market today. I use the B-ioncs, kalkwasser and magn. additives. If you come to the meeting you can see what they do!
Jim

[malofish]

I use liquid reacter, tech-I, tech-M, and sront. and mont. in a bottle. I'm about to swich to seachem's reef complete, it's working awsome for coraline in my brothers ten!!

[MikeP]

Kalkwasser added via auto topoff. Most trace elements are replaced by monthly water changes though I have been occasionally adding some Tropic marin bio calcium every other week or so.

[matt]

I don't add anything to my tank other than food and replacement water. I have never read a compelling argument for dosing anything other than calcium and carbonate, which I do with my calcium reactor. This opinion is shared by Eric Borneman and Ron Shimek, as well as many other respected experts writing about our hobby.

So, if you're asking which "supplements" are completely useless, my opinion would be all of them, other than what's necessary to maintain calcium and carbonate levels in a reef tank. That's just my opinion, though.

[Henry]

I dose nothing at all, just my calcium reactor and water changes.

[SueT]

I'm also of the mind that less is more in a reef system. I now have a properly maintaining calcium reactor so that takes care of all my calcium and alk. needs. I also do not dose anything either unless I can test for it to see if it is even necessary. For that the only other thing I dose is magnesium of the Tech M brand. That is again only if I test and my level is such that the system requires adding some. I feed my fish and the waste they produce feeds my sps corals so I only maybe, feed the tank once a week or bi-weekly. I also do bi-weekly water changes and that replenishes any and all trace elements.

[cubera]

Please save yourself lots of trouble and get a high quality reactor. If you do this, you can add select supplements judicioulsy and observe the benefits. We use additives alot in addition to running calcium reactors but usually "less is more". Some things are eliminated or depleted very rapidly, such as Strontium and Iodate, and might need to be supplemented ifthere is an 'observed' problem or concern:) The key is observation, of course.

[Instar]

I've stopped adding anything other than foods for the array from sandbed creatures thru the fish. Maybe some calcium and carbonate if I run it down with a large water change.

[adamRS80]

Just curious, how much does it cost to set up a good calcium reactor? I'm away at college and my mom takes really good care of my tank. I know that sounds kind of silly but she's been doing it for about 2 years and my tank is doing great. I do a small water change every month or so. Would a calcium reactor be a better way to go for calcium and carbonate? B-ionic is doing great but it would also be nice to not have to mess with it. What kinds of things can go wrong?