Opinion on best products (kent marine)

[Noober]

The only thing available to me at a short drive into town is the kent marine products. I have been told I need to make a kalkwasser reactor and that it will help my tank. Which kent marine products do any of you stand by if any at all, otherwise I will ask the shop to start stocking other brands products that I need. I'm going to get some stars, so would I need an iodine suppliment. I also hear I need some calicium suppliment. I've seen Coral Accell, Coral Vite, Liquid Calc, Super Idodine Concentrate,
Strontium & Molybdenum Mineral Supplement, Phytoplex Phytoplankton, and Essential Elements all by Kent Marine. I've seen several other products that they provide and was curious about them. I would not need to use all these at once would I? What would be a good complete reef care combination of these, and if I built the kalkwasser reactor would I be able to leave out the liquid calc while keeping my alkalinity in check. Thank you very much friends! :)

[klondike4001]

If you need to add calcium, I'd recomment their 2 part system, cA and cB I think it's called, at least for me I never add iodine. If you can't test for it, don't add it.

Once you start adding calcium you'll need to watch your magnesium, there's test kits for mag and a suppliemtn from kent, good luck

[Bill S]

How big is your tank? Try putting it in your signature - that we people won't keep asking.

As noted above 1) don't dose what you don't test for and 2) I'd go with the 2 part. As an alternative, if your tank is relatively small and you aren't keeping SPS, regular (twice a month) large (25%) water changes will accomplish the same thing.

[Kristy]

It helps to know a few more details such as how big is your tank, how much live rock do you have, how long has it been set up, how many and what types of corals do you have now and also plan to have in the future...

You mentioned getting some stars and it sounds like that would be one of your first corals? If so, then right now you should be good just focusing on water quality (clean water with low nitrates and no ammonia or nitrites at all), do regular (2 to 4x / month) water changes and that will replenish the small amount of minerals you will need at first. You don't really start to deplete the minerals in your water significantly until you start putting in LPS and SPS corals.

Don't be in a rush to buy a lot of products, no matter what your LFS is recommending. Just buy salt instead and do another water change. (We've all been there!) Slow down, read more, and test your water for anything you would consider adding as a supplement.

[Texreefer]

I personally would not add anything but water changes for the first 6 months at least.. dont' get dragged into all the hype that these products claim... I add nothing but cal, alk, mag.. and this was not until my reef was well established.. some good advise above.. take it slow, read, practice and develope good maintenance skills, and enjoy

[klondike4001]

I think the stars were referring to starfish. But in order to get a good idea of what you need, it'd really help to know how big your tank is.

[Noober]

Thanks a bunch for you guys and girls time and information. I am very new to the hobby and patience is something I'm trying to incorporate into the hobby haha, for now I'm trying to keep myself busy learning as much as I can when I'm not working (which is all the time lol). Anyway I'm editing my signature line as we speak.. :) kudos

[wesheltonj]

When I first started I did a 25% water change monthly and added Fuji Gold 2X week. It kept the CA, KH & Mag at proper levels. I was adding Phytoplex, but as its a dead product with would be skimmed out quickly. I was having an NO3 problem, I could just not get it below 20.

Now, I do a 10% water change weekly w/ light vac. Currently I am dosing two part, as CA Reactor & Kalk Reactor are being repaired, when back on line I will stop with the two part. Most folks like Bionic brand, just look at the labels, they are all the same. I buy for price. I add iodine once a week, look for possium iodine, otherwise buy for price. I have only had to add Mag while using two part.

I use DT a live product, I do not see it in my skimmer right away and NO3 level is at 0. My only problem now is iodine, I could dump the whole bottle in and I am not sure that would still bring it up.

[Kyle46N]

Like some have already mentioned, water changes will be more than sufficient. Its hard for us to accept that sometimes because it just seems too simple, but realize that all the basic supplements you need for a new tank are in the salt.