coral supplements?

bosko · 01/08/2009, 06:50 PM

i'm thinking about supplementing my reef tank. i've got clams, soft corals, leathers, anemones and some other stuff that im not to sure of. (just starting off). any info for a good supplement would be appreciated? thx.

has anyone tried BLACKPOWDER!

capture · 01/08/2009, 07:28 PM

I have not tried blackpowder.
what are you looking to do in particular?
there are so many different supplements. you'd be here all day just reading what this person doses and what someone else uses.

right now a lot of folks are using the prodibio system. I have heard nothing but good things about them. but i think the folks who are seeing the most from it are those keeping sps.

you can dose amino acids. you can feed. the possibilities are just about endless.

do your research. check out some reputable dealers and read a few reviews.
you could always go into the coral sub forums and ask what people are dosing for specifics.

personally, i would make sure everything is in check and stable for a while before supplementing with anything.

Good luck.

klepto · 01/08/2009, 07:38 PM

im using B-Ionic to keep my alkalinity and calcium in check. My corals look dramatically better since I started.

and some of Prodibio's Bio Kit when I feel its needed.

Capture has a great point- get your chemistry in check and stay up on water changes with low/0 tds water and a quality reef salt and then supplement.

That said, I think that the bacteria in Prodibio's Bio Digest works great to stabilize a both a cycling and mature systems - I would highly recommend it for practically any tank.

d2mini · 01/08/2009, 07:40 PM

I just tried Coral Frenzy for the first time and my whole tank went crazy for it.

lb013 · 01/08/2009, 09:53 PM

I use to use Blackpowder, when I was "Green" to the hobby and it always caused MASSIVE cyano bacteria blooms in my tank. I would battle it for weeks then I realized everytime I would dose it always got worse. So, I stopped using it and the cyano cleared up within 2 weeks.

The question really is why do you feel you need to supplement?

Are your corals and inverts florishing?

Do you do regular water changes? Do you use good quality salt?

If you use good salt and do regular water changes you don't really need to supplement. If you want to find something to feed the clams and corals. Then try the frozen Cyclop Eeze or some phyto plankton.

Since I started with this hobby I have wasted THOUSANDS of $$$'s on this supplement or the newest hot item that the LFS said would make my tank better.(It never did). My tank is thriving right now and I don't touch it! All my corals and anemone are growing and have awesome polyp extension. My fish are plump and doing there normal fish thing. I do a water change every now and then, maybe 10 gallons every month. Should be doing double but I have a very low bioload. I feed the fish every other day and only have 7 small fish in my tank, the tomato clown is the largest @ 3-4". I top the water off every 2 days and clean my skimmer twice a week. I don't dose anything. I use quality salt though, Oceanic, great stuff. And that is all. I believe that the more we try and improve this or that or dose this and that, we just complicate it and cause more problems than we solve. Most have overstocked tanks and are always having a crisis. I read my fish, corals and anemone. If they are showing any signs of a problem, I can tell.

Some may disagree but if it is working for the Aquatic life why mess with it? To sell more stuff from the LFS? You betcha. Unfortunately, most not ALL, LFS sell folks garbage we don't need but that is the only way they make money. NO sales No money. Can't blame them, that is there job.

Sit back, relax, do your water changes, don't overstock and enjoy your tank. My long winded 2 pennies.

01/08/2009, 06:50 PM	#1
bosko Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: EL PASO TEXAS Posts: 131	coral supplements? i'm thinking about supplementing my reef tank. i've got clams, soft corals, leathers, anemones and some other stuff that im not to sure of. (just starting off). any info for a good supplement would be appreciated? thx. has anyone tried BLACKPOWDER!

01/08/2009, 07:38 PM	#3
klepto Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Monterey, California Posts: 1,955	im using B-Ionic to keep my alkalinity and calcium in check. My corals look dramatically better since I started. and some of Prodibio's Bio Kit when I feel its needed. Capture has a great point- get your chemistry in check and stay up on water changes with low/0 tds water and a quality reef salt and then supplement. That said, I think that the bacteria in Prodibio's Bio Digest works great to stabilize a both a cycling and mature systems - I would highly recommend it for practically any tank. __________________ Everything you do can be done better from a place of relaxation. Stephen C. Paul

01/08/2009, 07:40 PM	#4
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	I just tried Coral Frenzy for the first time and my whole tank went crazy for it. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

01/08/2009, 07:28 PM	#2
capture Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: CT Posts: 678	I have not tried blackpowder. what are you looking to do in particular? there are so many different supplements. you'd be here all day just reading what this person doses and what someone else uses. right now a lot of folks are using the prodibio system. I have heard nothing but good things about them. but i think the folks who are seeing the most from it are those keeping sps. you can dose amino acids. you can feed. the possibilities are just about endless. do your research. check out some reputable dealers and read a few reviews. you could always go into the coral sub forums and ask what people are dosing for specifics. personally, i would make sure everything is in check and stable for a while before supplementing with anything. Good luck.

01/08/2009, 09:53 PM	#5
lb013 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: PA Posts: 83	I use to use Blackpowder, when I was "Green" to the hobby and it always caused MASSIVE cyano bacteria blooms in my tank. I would battle it for weeks then I realized everytime I would dose it always got worse. So, I stopped using it and the cyano cleared up within 2 weeks. The question really is why do you feel you need to supplement? Are your corals and inverts florishing? Do you do regular water changes? Do you use good quality salt? If you use good salt and do regular water changes you don't really need to supplement. If you want to find something to feed the clams and corals. Then try the frozen Cyclop Eeze or some phyto plankton. Since I started with this hobby I have wasted THOUSANDS of $$$'s on this supplement or the newest hot item that the LFS said would make my tank better.(It never did). My tank is thriving right now and I don't touch it! All my corals and anemone are growing and have awesome polyp extension. My fish are plump and doing there normal fish thing. I do a water change every now and then, maybe 10 gallons every month. Should be doing double but I have a very low bioload. I feed the fish every other day and only have 7 small fish in my tank, the tomato clown is the largest @ 3-4". I top the water off every 2 days and clean my skimmer twice a week. I don't dose anything. I use quality salt though, Oceanic, great stuff. And that is all. I believe that the more we try and improve this or that or dose this and that, we just complicate it and cause more problems than we solve. Most have overstocked tanks and are always having a crisis. I read my fish, corals and anemone. If they are showing any signs of a problem, I can tell. Some may disagree but if it is working for the Aquatic life why mess with it? To sell more stuff from the LFS? You betcha. Unfortunately, most not ALL, LFS sell folks garbage we don't need but that is the only way they make money. NO sales No money. Can't blame them, that is there job. Sit back, relax, do your water changes, don't overstock and enjoy your tank. My long winded 2 pennies.