What should I be adding for my corals?

[Fphipps]

I have a 75 gallon tank with a 30 gallon sump with a few LPS, SPS, zoas and mushrooms. I want to know what I should e adding to the tank as far as supplements. I dose micro vert once in a while but I feel its sketchy and causes algae to grown. I read that the corals feed on marine snow and phyto plankton. Do I have to target feed or can I just add it to the water column? Also, I see some people use "color enhances" and get good results. Is that the type of product that they sell because people will buy it or does tht stuff really work?

[Reefmedic79]

I feed Nuramar Ova, Cyclop-eeze, and phytoplankton. I tend to feed about 20-30 minutes after lights out. I've heard good things about marine snow as well. I also dose Fuel by AquaVitro and see great results.

[Reef264]

Nuramar Ova.Corals seems to eat it up, as well as smaller fish.

-Ray

[Touring]

i would advise just to do some research. Every product that was mentioned so far has mixed reviews.

[Fphipps]

I have done a but if research but it seems as everything gets mixed reviews lol. I guess it's more of a preference?

[Reefmedic79]

Also, I only feed my corals about twice a week. To answer other questions in your OP. Some corals need to be target fed, but most don't, and pretty much all will benefit from being target fed. I target feed some of my Zoanthid colonies if I want to speed up growth.

As for the so called "color enhancers" I personally don't care for them and for the most part are a waste of money, this is of course contradictory to my original response, because that is pretty much what Fuel is. I decided to give Fuel a try because of friend near me was using it and I was able to see the results for myself and it did seem to enhance polyp extension and growth, I also found a good deal on it.

[Palting]

Originally Posted by Fphipps

I have done a but if research but it seems as everything gets mixed reviews lol. I guess it's more of a preference?

Very true. Lots of marketing hype out there, and people who buy them are proud of whatever it is they spent their hard earned money on.

What are you asking about adding as supplements? Trace elements? Vitamins? Food?

All the trace elements and vitamins are found in quality salt. Routine water changes should supply it all. If you grow a lot of stonies, you may eventually need to add calcium/alk/magnesium dosing. For growing macroalgae, iron is recommended. Anything else is just meant to take your money, IMO. Here's a nice article: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php .

Coral food is even worse. So much hype out there. Also in here . Most SPS coral are photosynthetic animals, and will do fine just on good lights and good parameters alone. LPS and softies require higher nutrient levels, and do better with food. NPS (non-photosynthetic coral) definitely require food. Some reef tanks do well just with leftover fish food and fish poop, but these tanks have high ambient nutrient levels to start with. For those tanks that have low nutrient levels and need feeding, take your pick: Coral Frenzy, Reef Roids, Rod's food, Marine snow....... I picked one that has a lot of variety and is readily available, and Coral Frenzy fits the bill for me.