Trace elements

[GaryP]

I've noticed that the more experienced the aquarist the less they seem to dose... but thats just my informal survey results

I think that pretty much describes me. As I have gotten more knowledgeable I have used less and less supplements. Partly that is due to less reliance on the "expertise" of LFS employees. A lot of it has to do with learning from the folks here or info like the article that was linked earlier that I may not have been aware of.

[don-n-sa]

Yeah...if you follow all the instructions on the "Kent" line , then you will be spending a ton of time and money on their products. Not to say that they dont work but you just got to wonder how much of that stuff is really necessary.

[CD]

Dan -
I know most of the above comments are addressing your additives, but I would also like to comment on the inhabitants of your tank. IMHO a 29G tank is much too small for a Hippo tang (12.2" when they are full grown). An engineer goby will also quickly outgrow your tank. Other inhabitants seem fine. Since you only have one Percula, maybe you could get another one of those. They may fight at first (depending on their age), but I think that would be a much better choice. If you have your heart set on having a goby, maybe one of the Shrimp Goby (there are quite a few that do not exceed 5" full grown).
Anybody else want to comment on this issue?

BTW - Welcome to MAAST


Wendy

[Polkster13]

I agree. There isn't any tang that is not going to out grow the 29 gallon tank. You will need to have a plan in place when it out grows your tank. If it is set up as a reef, it will be very difficult getting it out later.

Also, be aware that the engineer goby is going to try and rearrange the tank to satisfy itself. And I have never seen a satisfied Engineer Goby. :roll So if you really like your tank to have the decorations a certain way, forget about it. Get that guy outta there now. There are a lot of smaller gobies and blennies that will fill its spot nicely.

[jaded]

tangs will reportedy go crazy in a small or low flow tank. I know my scopas started chase his reflection and freak out during the 2 weeks I had low flow waiting for the new pump to come in... maybe this is normal, but it seemed to be a reaction to the change in the tank instead of a normal behavior

[bigdscobra]

You guys have been a great help!!!!!!!!! I have already cut down on the DTs. I will prob just keep adding the trace elements to get rid of them maybe not as offten. The hippo tang is only 1in long right now. How long does it take to they get too big?? The engineer was rearanging the tank a bunch but now he found his spot and hasnt done much more. I think its cool watching him move the stuff around. I am also building a wet dry filter since my buddy gave me a bunch of plexi glass. I have 325, 1in bio balls. And was thinking about getting another 29 gallon tank for a lion fish and maybe some other non-reef fish. Would it be a bad idea to run both tanks off that one wet dry filter. The filter should hold about 10-15 gallons of water.
Thanks
Dan 8)

[Andrew]

I'd recommend moving the regal tang to a bigger tank once he hits 2-3 inches, which might take 6 months - 1 year. A 75 gallon (minimum) would be ok for one regal, or sell it if you arn't able to upgrade.

I wouldn't worry about moving the engineer goby, they have relatively low metabolism and often are content to sit in a cave most of the time as adults.

I also advise against adding any other fish to this size tank - you're pretty heavily stocked for a 29, even with a sump.

Best of luck,

andrew

[mkengr45]

I think you adding way too much stuff. I only dose bionic alk. and calcium, and do water changes. You can easily over do it when it comes to adding supplements. When I got into reef tanks I bought every friggin bottle of stuff available, but now realize you dont really need all that crap. Water changes, and adding calc. and alk. as needed.


Randy