chemicals/additives

[jkhunter]

Up until now I have tried to keep my tank as simple as possible. I use red sea coral pro salt, bionic for calcium, and kent essential elements (which I only use because someone told me to when I first started, so it is just habit and I have no idea if it is beneficial in any way). Here is my question.....


What chemicals do ya'll use in your tanks and why?

I want to begin keeping more difficult corals and I figure that means I need to change the simplicity of my tank. I am nervous about mixing chemicals, because so many additives duplicate some of the elements they contain. I do not want to overdose my tank! I am really interested to see what many people here on maast use in to their tanks and how each additive might be valuable. I just don't want to end up with a million pointless bottles under my tank!

[Righteous Reefin']

B-ionic and water changes = happy tank. All of the elements you will need should be in your salt, and Red Sea Coral Pro is a very good choice.

[technomex]

Calcium reactor, kalk in auto top-off, water changes

[jkhunter]

I like that answer! So simple is good. Currently I am keeping softies and lps. I have had great luck with both. I have 3 very happy sun corals, carnations love it in my tank (which they are my favorite so I am thankful for that), rics grow and multiply well for me. When I started 2 years ago I knew that sps was something I would want to get into eventually. I paid a very pretty penny for an outer orbit fixture so that I had metal halides in my tank. I guess let me put it all out there.....I have a 100 gallon tank . The lighting is 2x 150 watt mh which are 14k. I removed the pc lights from the outer orbit and retro fitted 5ft vho actinics in there. I run a coral life 220 super skimmer hob and my main filtration other than that and live rock is a canister filter (my tank is not drilled). So far I have had no luck with sps and clams, so I have decided I need to no longer rely on luck! I plan on making major changes on my tank to better house more (expensive) corals. My first addition will be a uv sterilizer. I have killed 3 birdsnest now when they quickly became covered in algae. I have never run carbon, phosphate sponge or other products like that. I have always relied more on water changes than chemical filtration. I am thinking nitrate and phosphate sponge might be good to run, but still not rely on. I have spoken to many people who add strontium into their tanks. I am curious what additives (if any) major maast sps keepers use. I am thankful though that someone agrees that simple works!

Jennifer

[hobogato]

totally agree - most of those additives are not necessary. the canister filter may not be the best choice for filtration, most people use a sump and refugium along with a good protein skimmer to maintain water quality.