Water additives/supplements???

UCF · 03/08/2006, 01:02 AM

I am not planning on having a calcium reactor for my 75 gallon. Therefore, I would like to know what additives should I be adding to the water to keep the PH up as well as the corals healthy.

I was planning on adding Kent Kalkwasser mix as well as Kent liquid calcium. Will these two be fine or should I be adding something else?

bertoni · 03/08/2006, 01:29 AM

This article might be useful:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

You need a balanced supplementation scheme. Kalk is balanced, but the Liquid Calcium doesn't add alkalinity. So I would suggest trying kalk, and if that doesn't add enough alkalinity and calcium, look into B-Ionic or its DIY equivalent.

This article goes into details on dosing lime:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php

RLMainers · 03/08/2006, 10:03 AM

We don't add any supplements to our tank, except for the occasional dose of Coral Vital. We use Tropic Marin PRO salt, which IMO is the best salt out there. If you're not doing large amounts of SPS corals, and you do weekly 10% water changes, you won't need any supplements. My tank is proof. Good luck!

Paintbug · 03/08/2006, 10:19 AM

for me i use a 2 part calc suppliment to balance the calc and alk. it works best for me, and my tanks demands. thats the only thing i add. you will need to find out your demand first. if your tank has a high demand, your going to need to add what it needs. that means you will need to test the water often for things like calc, alk, PH, etc. and go from there. heres an article on picking a calc dosing scheme. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

as far most the other elements water changes will take care them. heres another article on water chemistry. it tells you more about each element. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

mckeec · 03/08/2006, 11:04 AM

I have about twenty SPS in a 90 gal tank. The only supplement the tank sees is ESV B-ionic.

besl · 03/08/2006, 12:15 PM

mckeec, how much do you dose and at what frequency? Also do you think it makes a difference if you dose at night or morning?

mckeec · 03/08/2006, 12:23 PM

It is best to dose at the point of day when your pH is at it's lowest, because the B-ionic will cause a slight increase. Therefore, I dose first thing in the morning before my main lights come on. I see about a .2 rise in pH as a result of the dosing. Starts at 8.0 before addition ends at 8.2 after. The directions state to not allow the pH to rise above 8.45. I dose equal volumes as the directions state. If the Alk and pH are out of balance relative to each other you can dose more of one component than another until they come into balance. How much to dose is unique to each system. The B-ionic comes with little cups for the additions and I am currently adding 1.25 cup fulls per day. This keeps my calcium at 430-450 and my Alk at 10-10.5.

UCF · 03/08/2006, 04:07 PM

Thanks for the info guys. I plan to have a lot of corals and clams in the tank so I guess the first purchase needs to be a quality test kit.

I'll check out the B-ionic.

03/08/2006, 01:02 AM	#1
UCF Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Elkridge, MD Posts: 26	Water additives/supplements??? I am not planning on having a calcium reactor for my 75 gallon. Therefore, I would like to know what additives should I be adding to the water to keep the PH up as well as the corals healthy. I was planning on adding Kent Kalkwasser mix as well as Kent liquid calcium. Will these two be fine or should I be adding something else?

03/08/2006, 01:29 AM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	This article might be useful: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm You need a balanced supplementation scheme. Kalk is balanced, but the Liquid Calcium doesn't add alkalinity. So I would suggest trying kalk, and if that doesn't add enough alkalinity and calcium, look into B-Ionic or its DIY equivalent. This article goes into details on dosing lime: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/08/2006, 10:19 AM	#4
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	for me i use a 2 part calc suppliment to balance the calc and alk. it works best for me, and my tanks demands. thats the only thing i add. you will need to find out your demand first. if your tank has a high demand, your going to need to add what it needs. that means you will need to test the water often for things like calc, alk, PH, etc. and go from there. heres an article on picking a calc dosing scheme. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm as far most the other elements water changes will take care them. heres another article on water chemistry. it tells you more about each element. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

03/08/2006, 12:15 PM	#6
besl Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Boston-burb, MA Posts: 800	mckeec, how much do you dose and at what frequency? Also do you think it makes a difference if you dose at night or morning? __________________ Why did kamakazi pilots wear helmets? Current Tank Info: 55 Gal, 260W CF, 60 lbs LR, CC base, 7 fish, 10 corals, Aquafuge - chaetomorpha & grape

03/08/2006, 10:03 AM	#3
RLMainers Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 241	We don't add any supplements to our tank, except for the occasional dose of Coral Vital. We use Tropic Marin PRO salt, which IMO is the best salt out there. If you're not doing large amounts of SPS corals, and you do weekly 10% water changes, you won't need any supplements. My tank is proof. Good luck!

03/08/2006, 11:04 AM	#5
mckeec Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toms River, NJ Posts: 302	I have about twenty SPS in a 90 gal tank. The only supplement the tank sees is ESV B-ionic.

03/08/2006, 12:23 PM	#7
mckeec Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toms River, NJ Posts: 302	It is best to dose at the point of day when your pH is at it's lowest, because the B-ionic will cause a slight increase. Therefore, I dose first thing in the morning before my main lights come on. I see about a .2 rise in pH as a result of the dosing. Starts at 8.0 before addition ends at 8.2 after. The directions state to not allow the pH to rise above 8.45. I dose equal volumes as the directions state. If the Alk and pH are out of balance relative to each other you can dose more of one component than another until they come into balance. How much to dose is unique to each system. The B-ionic comes with little cups for the additions and I am currently adding 1.25 cup fulls per day. This keeps my calcium at 430-450 and my Alk at 10-10.5.

03/08/2006, 04:07 PM	#8
UCF Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Elkridge, MD Posts: 26	Thanks for the info guys. I plan to have a lot of corals and clams in the tank so I guess the first purchase needs to be a quality test kit. I'll check out the B-ionic.