What Chemicals Do I Need?

tent-tacal · 07/23/2008, 12:58 PM

what are the basic things i need for sps reef tank.i know i need calcium what else do i need to supplement and also feed them.what are the best brands?im looking for the basics,the simplist ammount of bottles and hopefully all from the same brand.sometimes i get confused with all the differant kinds of stuff i have to add to the tank and how to use them(and what exactly do they do).basically its THE IDIOTS GUIDE TO SUPPLEMENTING AND FEEDING CORAL.thanx again!

BurntOutReefer · 07/23/2008, 01:02 PM

I would suggest you read up on things before you invest in $$....

Cranbureefer · 07/23/2008, 01:09 PM

had an LFS guy tell me, when starting a nano, "I would suggest dumping lots of chemicals in there!" Woah, bad advice...

with calcium, you'll need to supplement alkalinity, and eventually magnesium. Apart from that, you shouldn't need many other chemicals.

I agree, though... you gots some readin' to do.

sassafrass · 07/23/2008, 01:16 PM

B-ionic two part calcium and alk supplements nothing else is needed however many people will tell you different. From my experience fish poop will take care of the food for your corals.
Lee

Playa-1 · 07/23/2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BurntOutReefer
I would suggest you read up on things before you invest in $$....

I agree with everybody above. You will eventually just need a balanced ALK and Calcium supplement program if your going to keep corals. You can just use limewater (aka Kalk) or a two part additive solution. The chemistry forum has lots of information that your looking for. Every once in a while you might need a specific product to make an adjustment but I would worry about that when the time comes.

tent-tacal · 07/23/2008, 06:26 PM

thanx!yeah ima have to do a whole lot of reading.im not even beginning to start my tank for another 5-8 months so i think i have time to learn a thing or two.just get ready for the millions of questions im gonna have for yall!

Playa-1 · 07/23/2008, 06:39 PM

With the proper research you will be way ahead of the game when you get started.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-01/tips/index.php

reefworm · 07/23/2008, 06:47 PM

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=102605

and for other questions:

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1031074

lots of good books out there, too. I think most of us that have been at this for a while have a decent library. can't read enough

lloydkeller · 07/23/2008, 06:48 PM

I have a 120ga I do 10ga sea water change a week use no additives at all it cost me 9.00 a week in the water change but worth it

tent-tacal · 07/24/2008, 09:09 AM

ok really quick really simple,,the basic idea...calcium and alkilinity must be added to tank to help coral grow.calcium and alkilinity kind of cancel each other out in a sense and so when there is a problem keeping them where you want them you add kalkwasser(limewater)but kalkwasser has a tendancy to mess with the ph so viniger is added to control that.,is that pretty much it?i know there is many other factors included but is that the basic idea??

07/23/2008, 12:58 PM	#1
tent-tacal Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: west palm Posts: 148	What Chemicals Do I Need? what are the basic things i need for sps reef tank.i know i need calcium what else do i need to supplement and also feed them.what are the best brands?im looking for the basics,the simplist ammount of bottles and hopefully all from the same brand.sometimes i get confused with all the differant kinds of stuff i have to add to the tank and how to use them(and what exactly do they do).basically its THE IDIOTS GUIDE TO SUPPLEMENTING AND FEEDING CORAL.thanx again!

07/23/2008, 06:47 PM	#8
reefworm Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Waxhaw, NC USA Posts: 2,139	http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=102605 and for other questions: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1031074 lots of good books out there, too. I think most of us that have been at this for a while have a decent library. can't read enough __________________ "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." - Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: 29 gal. reef/assist with 75 gal. at the school

07/23/2008, 01:02 PM	#2
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	I would suggest you read up on things before you invest in $$....

07/23/2008, 01:09 PM	#3
Cranbureefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Pennington, NJ Posts: 4	had an LFS guy tell me, when starting a nano, "I would suggest dumping lots of chemicals in there!" Woah, bad advice... with calcium, you'll need to supplement alkalinity, and eventually magnesium. Apart from that, you shouldn't need many other chemicals. I agree, though... you gots some readin' to do.

07/23/2008, 01:16 PM	#4
sassafrass Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: capitola ca Posts: 1,729	B-ionic two part calcium and alk supplements nothing else is needed however many people will tell you different. From my experience fish poop will take care of the food for your corals. Lee

07/23/2008, 06:26 PM	#6
tent-tacal Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: west palm Posts: 148	thanx!yeah ima have to do a whole lot of reading.im not even beginning to start my tank for another 5-8 months so i think i have time to learn a thing or two.just get ready for the millions of questions im gonna have for yall!

07/23/2008, 06:39 PM	#7
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	With the proper research you will be way ahead of the game when you get started. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-01/tips/index.php

07/23/2008, 06:48 PM	#9
lloydkeller Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ca Posts: 563	I have a 120ga I do 10ga sea water change a week use no additives at all it cost me 9.00 a week in the water change but worth it

07/24/2008, 09:09 AM	#10
tent-tacal Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: west palm Posts: 148	ok really quick really simple,,the basic idea...calcium and alkilinity must be added to tank to help coral grow.calcium and alkilinity kind of cancel each other out in a sense and so when there is a problem keeping them where you want them you add kalkwasser(limewater)but kalkwasser has a tendancy to mess with the ph so viniger is added to control that.,is that pretty much it?i know there is many other factors included but is that the basic idea??