Reef Tank Supplements

[DeAngelove]

Hello All - :)

What kind of supplements do you add to your reef tanks? Please let me know and have a great day!

Regards,
Denise

[georgeortiz]

Denise,
I guess the first question you need to ask is why and what are you trying to accomplish by adding supplements to your system.

I am a newbie reefer myself and I think posted the very same or similar question a month or two ago but, I have found out that less is more.

I would first suggest that you get to know how your system operates by this I mean know the ph,calcium,ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,alkalinity of your tank so you are familiar enough that if you do add a supplement you already know how it will affect your system.

Also don't knock water changes. Frequent changes can help put depleted elements back into the system.

I myself have started keeping a log of test readings,specimen additions,and maintenance for my system for this very purpose.

GaryP just posted a reference site : www.advancedaquarist.com in this month issue it has a two recipes for DIY Calcium and Alkalinity additives however, you need to now how the Ph in your system acts in order to know which recipe to follow.

[dan]

i use ESV B-IONIC two part for alk. and cal. i also use ESV B-IONIC mag. this is keeping my cal. around 450 to 475. must be added every day as well as the mag. would'nt use any thing else. i have use kent two part A&B. my tank is mostly sps so i need to keep cal. stable. i also do water changes [ 42 gal.] every three to four weeks.

[DeAngelove]

Thanks Dan & George -
I am in the process of upgrading from a 10 G to a 46G. I have some soft corals, and just acquired some Montipora (SPS?) this past weekend [Thanks SamIam :-) ] I currently check PH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, SG, and those are stable and at acceptable levels, and keep a log of them as well. I also do water changes of 20-30% every 1 1/2 - 2 weeks due to the low volume of water, and to make sure everything stays balanced. I have a Condy anemone, and Flashing Flame Scallop, in addition to a few small fish and scavengers.

Basically, I want to encourage growth in my corals & anemone. Also, in addition to the basics and calcium, what should I be testing for?

Thanks again! :-)

Denise

[Tim Marvin]

I dose Kalk, wouldn't use anything else. Calcium stays at 450-475 also. Heavy sps load.

[georgeortiz]

I would also test for Alkalinity. You might want to go to Wetwebmedia.com as well as some of the other reef geek reference sites so you can understand what conditions you need to promote in your tank to have good growth from your corals. Don't worry about getting lost in the Chemistry babble. You may need to read some of it a few times to understand what it is trying to explain. Good luck with the larger tank!

[StephenA]

Kalk only here!

[matt]

I agree with Josh here. As long as you do regular water changes and keep your Ca and Alk stable, there is little need to dose any chemicals. As far as "trace elements" your salt mixture has plenty of these, and fish food contains high levels of many compunds, like iodine and zinc. Keep your tank well fed and you'll have NO shortage of "supplements." There is a somewhat sketchy case to be made for adding HUFA to some tanks, but that's about it, as far as I know. If you're really concerned about it, you could get a magnesium test kit and see if you have any magnesium depletion, which is unlikely if you change your water with any sort of regularity.

[DeAngelove]

Thanks guys! :D

Denise

[havrda]

What about iodine for the corals? Is this something you need to add?

[RobertG]

A good general rule of thumb: If you can't/don't test for it, don't dose it!

I second this, Iodine should be tested before dosing. In the years I've been reef keeping I dont use it.
My Cal. reactor takes care of all the supplements. Also water changes.

[GaryP]

The only additives I would suggest are calcium, buffer, and possibly magnesium. Everything else should be taken care of by frequent water changes. I agree with the earlier statement about not adding it if you don't test for it.

As for iodine, I'm not convinced as the the accuracy of the test kits. Iodine may exist in 3 different forms (iodine, iodide, and iodate) in sea water and I doubt that a single test kit would catch all 3. For the record, Lugol's contains iodide and and iodine, most other additives contain potassium iodide. Theses are converted to iodate in sea water. Another note: it is very easy to overdose with Lugol's. Iodine is chemically like chlorine and can be a strong oxidizer and is toxic. Use it with care. If you do use Lugol's, several small additions every few days, rather than larger weekly additions, are the way to go. When I say small, I mean 1-2 drops.

Gary

[obtusewit]

Josh gave you the best advice, "If you don't test for it, don't add it." After your tank cycles testing is pretty much a no-brainer... Nitrates-fixed by water changes and cutting back on those feeding frenzies, Calcium and Alkalinity-gotta add something sometimes, Magnesium - maybe, but most salt mixes handle that, Strontium and Molybdenum - dang, Kent made some buckeroos on that stuff, Iodine - its mainly for cuts if you lived in the 50's, I have vintage bottle FULL and a test kit covered with dust - water changes seems to be enough (Lugol's makes up into a great "tick dip" for ailing corals, tho).

I use carbon from time to time to get the yellow out, but even so, I have no compelling urge to pee in the sump... well maybe that one time after all those margarita snails..no salt please, I have plenty!

[StephenA]

One thing everyone here has taught me is to Keep It Simple!

Gary:
Isn't Iodine removed by a skimmer?

I only use it as dip when I have issues or frag a leather.

[GaryP]

Stephen,

Yes, Iodine is removed by the skimmer, as well as by carbon.

Gary