Truth on Additives...?

Enjoy · 08/11/2009, 10:31 AM

I have been trying trying to do as much research as I can, but still havent found a clear answer. I know cal, alk, mag, and even vodka are dosed and im not sure why to do this compared to adding your standard 2 part cal/alk.
Same with essential trace minerals, iodine, etc...

Which of these should i really look into? All of them? I have about 10 bottles in my aquarium stand of different additives, and I feel this is alot of chemicals.

Would some people post a list of additives or (dosing) they use, how often and why dosing is needed?

Or any info, or links. Any, and all help is appreciated. I know someone in this awesome community can help me out! Thanks again

Enjoy:

woody283 · 08/11/2009, 10:43 AM

I use 2part and mag when needed and for trace minerals i do a 5g water change every 2 weeks. This is on a 30g sps. there are alot of chemicals out there that you can dose but most of them are found in your salt and never dose what you cant test for. HTH

Sugar Magnolia · 08/11/2009, 10:47 AM

In your size tank, the trace elements will easily be taken care of by doing weekly water changes. IMHO, the only things you need to dose would be calc, alk, and mg since most salt blends tend to be on the low end of the acceptable range. Stick with either Randy's home made two-part - http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php or one on the market. Dosing mg and keeping it in line is rather easy as well. I use Brightwell Aquatics liquid Magnesion. Just be sure you have a test kit for anything you plan on dosing.

Enjoy · 08/11/2009, 11:21 AM

I have been using CalMax by WM Research. Been happy with it so far.

I just want to make sure i spend my money on equipment, and supplies, before i go full force stocking.

I have:

20 gallon tank
approx 15 gallon sump/refug
60 lbs sand
50+ lbs tonga rock
Itech-100 skimmer
phosban reactor
Cheato for fuge

I want to be able to keep anything as far as corals go. As well as clams, and more.

I dose CalMax every 3 days
Kent marine essential trace elements weekly
Purple up weekly

Levels check:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate:0
Cal: 440
phos: 0
dkh: 9
PH: 8.2

Let me know if there is anything you think I should add or get rid of.

Thanks everyone

seapug · 08/11/2009, 12:36 PM

your params look good, but your ability to keep some corals and clams will be limited by your lighting.

You could probably give up the Purple Up and Kent Marine product once you're done with the bottles you have.

ERICinFL · 08/11/2009, 01:23 PM

As mentioned above, most of your trace elements will remain where the should if you keep a regular one or two week water change schedule. Calc, Alk and Mag are consumed more rapidly by your corals and that's why most people dose their tanks with it. Vodka is a touchy area, because it's easy to OD your tank and get a huge bacteria bloom, that'll suck the life right out of your tank. I dose the home made two part, because it's cheap and it works. My buddy and I split a 25lb. bag of Dow Flake about two years ago. I think it cost somewhere in the 20-30 dollar range for the bag. I put my half in an old salt bucket and I still have about 8-10 months worth. Arm and hammer is cheap, especially if you buy it from a big box store. I'll generally just buy Kent Tech-M for my Mag and the big bottle usually lasts me a year. Bottom line, don't get caught up with all the different supplements. You'll drive yourself crazy testing everything.

Enjoy · 08/12/2009, 07:17 AM

thanks for all the great advice.

I have the Current USA outer orbit pro, with moonlights, 4 t5's, and 150w MH. Over 20 gallons I should be able to keep just about anything i have been told by friends. I want to be able to keep an ultra maxima, and many sps.

And I hear that sps need stability as far as params. So thats why I want to make sure I have this all figured out.

Sugar Magnolia · 08/12/2009, 07:24 AM

This group of articles includes basic water chemistry - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1031074

More detailed water chemistry articles can be found here - http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=102605

Your lighting will be great for SPS and clams.

eyesinthedrk · 08/12/2009, 07:38 AM

I bought into the whole water change will handle your trace elements theory too until yesterday when i read this

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=2

even had melev rethinking this

Sugar Magnolia · 08/12/2009, 07:54 AM

I'd be hesitant to try that in a 20g tank, as the OP has. Much less room for error.

08/11/2009, 10:31 AM	#1
Enjoy That's what she said.... Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fontana, CA Posts: 2,477	Truth on Additives...? I have been trying trying to do as much research as I can, but still havent found a clear answer. I know cal, alk, mag, and even vodka are dosed and im not sure why to do this compared to adding your standard 2 part cal/alk. Same with essential trace minerals, iodine, etc... Which of these should i really look into? All of them? I have about 10 bottles in my aquarium stand of different additives, and I feel this is alot of chemicals. Would some people post a list of additives or (dosing) they use, how often and why dosing is needed? Or any info, or links. Any, and all help is appreciated. I know someone in this awesome community can help me out! Thanks again Enjoy: __________________ -Andrew IIII20 Current Tank Info: 48x30x20 Rimless

08/11/2009, 10:43 AM	#2
woody283 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hustisford WI Posts: 132	I use 2part and mag when needed and for trace minerals i do a 5g water change every 2 weeks. This is on a 30g sps. there are alot of chemicals out there that you can dose but most of them are found in your salt and never dose what you cant test for. HTH __________________ If all else fails, use a bigger hammer. Current Tank Info: 30 gallon cube SPS, 65g sps in the works (slowly but surely)

08/11/2009, 10:47 AM	#3
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	In your size tank, the trace elements will easily be taken care of by doing weekly water changes. IMHO, the only things you need to dose would be calc, alk, and mg since most salt blends tend to be on the low end of the acceptable range. Stick with either Randy's home made two-part - http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php or one on the market. Dosing mg and keeping it in line is rather easy as well. I use Brightwell Aquatics liquid Magnesion. Just be sure you have a test kit for anything you plan on dosing. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

08/11/2009, 11:21 AM	#4
Enjoy That's what she said.... Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fontana, CA Posts: 2,477	I have been using CalMax by WM Research. Been happy with it so far. I just want to make sure i spend my money on equipment, and supplies, before i go full force stocking. I have: 20 gallon tank approx 15 gallon sump/refug 60 lbs sand 50+ lbs tonga rock Itech-100 skimmer phosban reactor Cheato for fuge I want to be able to keep anything as far as corals go. As well as clams, and more. I dose CalMax every 3 days Kent marine essential trace elements weekly Purple up weekly Levels check: Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate:0 Cal: 440 phos: 0 dkh: 9 PH: 8.2 Let me know if there is anything you think I should add or get rid of. Thanks everyone __________________ -Andrew IIII20 Current Tank Info: 48x30x20 Rimless

08/11/2009, 12:36 PM	#5
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	your params look good, but your ability to keep some corals and clams will be limited by your lighting. You could probably give up the Purple Up and Kent Marine product once you're done with the bottles you have. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

08/11/2009, 01:23 PM	#6
ERICinFL Rejisturd Mimbur Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Brevard County, FL Posts: 1,346	As mentioned above, most of your trace elements will remain where the should if you keep a regular one or two week water change schedule. Calc, Alk and Mag are consumed more rapidly by your corals and that's why most people dose their tanks with it. Vodka is a touchy area, because it's easy to OD your tank and get a huge bacteria bloom, that'll suck the life right out of your tank. I dose the home made two part, because it's cheap and it works. My buddy and I split a 25lb. bag of Dow Flake about two years ago. I think it cost somewhere in the 20-30 dollar range for the bag. I put my half in an old salt bucket and I still have about 8-10 months worth. Arm and hammer is cheap, especially if you buy it from a big box store. I'll generally just buy Kent Tech-M for my Mag and the big bottle usually lasts me a year. Bottom line, don't get caught up with all the different supplements. You'll drive yourself crazy testing everything. __________________ Ummmm... yeah... don't touch the Mag Float. Sorry kids, your college fund is gone, but the tank looks SWEET right? Current Tank Info: 150gal mixed reef. ER CS135, 65gal sump/fuge with a Mag12 return. (2) Korillia 4s, (1) modded MJ1200, two SunSun 3200gph powerheads. 250+lbs LR.

08/12/2009, 07:17 AM	#7
Enjoy That's what she said.... Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fontana, CA Posts: 2,477	thanks for all the great advice. I have the Current USA outer orbit pro, with moonlights, 4 t5's, and 150w MH. Over 20 gallons I should be able to keep just about anything i have been told by friends. I want to be able to keep an ultra maxima, and many sps. And I hear that sps need stability as far as params. So thats why I want to make sure I have this all figured out. __________________ -Andrew IIII20 Current Tank Info: 48x30x20 Rimless

08/12/2009, 07:24 AM	#8
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	This group of articles includes basic water chemistry - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1031074 More detailed water chemistry articles can be found here - http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=102605 Your lighting will be great for SPS and clams. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

08/12/2009, 07:38 AM	#9
eyesinthedrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Williamsport, PA Posts: 675	I bought into the whole water change will handle your trace elements theory too until yesterday when i read this http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=2 even had melev rethinking this __________________ Everybody knows you never go full retard. Current Tank Info: SPS dominated, 125 gallon dt with 3 Apollo reef LED pendants, Apex Controler. 100 gal basement sump, 100 gallon basement fuge, euro reef skimmer, reef octopu s cr140 calcium reactor. Phos an reactor.

08/12/2009, 07:54 AM	#10
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	I'd be hesitant to try that in a 20g tank, as the OP has. Much less room for error. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.