Good Idea: yay or nay?

Jblank44 · 11/29/2012, 10:23 AM

As i have been doing some research I have realized i am probably lacking a lot of things my corals/reef need, so i am thinking about these products after doing some research:

Seachem Fusion two part Ca and Carbonate
Seachem Reef Buffer
Lugol's Coral Dip
Seachem Reef Magnesium
Seachem Reef Trace
Seachem Reef Plus

Do i need others? Should I not use these?

Thanks for the help,
Jacob

gbru316 · 11/29/2012, 10:34 AM

Don't add things based on research and suggestion, add based on proof. Unless you test for it and know you are deficient, don't add it.

Jblank44 · 11/29/2012, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbru316

Don't add things based on research and suggestion, add based on proof. Unless you test for it and know you are deficient, don't add it.

Okay, I am in the process of stabilizing my tank, my sal is low, and corals are closing up. So once I'm stable I am gonna test for these things. My ph was low, so the buffer would be necessary, but I'll wait till things are stable again

gbru316 · 11/29/2012, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jblank44

Okay, I am in the process of stabilizing my tank, my sal is low, and corals are closing up. So once I'm stable I am gonna test for these things. My ph was low, so the buffer would be necessary, but I'll wait till things are stable again

don't chase PH, it's more likely an alkalinity problem, if a problem exists at all.

A PH of 7.8-8.4 is fine as long as it's stable. Lower than 7.8 would cause concern, as would large swings.

If you're having problems, it's best to step back, analyze the situation, decide on the best course of action, then act. Making too make changes too quick is a recipe for disaster.

downbeach · 11/29/2012, 11:27 AM

Give us some information on your system. Size, what you're keeping, etc. What are you using to test your Salinity with? I would suggest you use a decent refractometer calibrated using calibration fluid. What are you using to measure your Ca, Mg and Alk with? Good test kits for these three would be: Salifert, Elos, Red Sea Pro. I've been using the new Red Sea Pro, and find it accurate and affordable.
If your bio load is small enough you may not need to do any dosing, if your doing periodic WC's with the proper salinity.

ryeguyy84 · 11/29/2012, 11:52 AM

also if you do end up needing to dose cal/alk/mag try BRS. it's way cheaper.

Arkayology · 11/29/2012, 12:05 PM

Make sure you have the test kits.

bertoni · 11/29/2012, 11:52 PM

The 2-part should be okay to use. The coral dip can be useful when purchasing new corals, and I used that product myself.

The other products aren't as useful, IMO. The Reef Buffer is going to about the same thing as the alkalinity solution of the 2-part. They are both high-pH alkalinity supplements. The magnesium supplement is mostly epsom salts, but higher in price. I would go with a DIY supplement or another commercial supplement that has mostly magnesium chloride in it.

The trace element supplements are likewise suspect. Our tanks get trace elements from the salt and from food, so I'd skip those.

11/29/2012, 10:23 AM	#1
Jblank44 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 594	Good Idea: yay or nay? As i have been doing some research I have realized i am probably lacking a lot of things my corals/reef need, so i am thinking about these products after doing some research: Seachem Fusion two part Ca and Carbonate Seachem Reef Buffer Lugol's Coral Dip Seachem Reef Magnesium Seachem Reef Trace Seachem Reef Plus Do i need others? Should I not use these? Thanks for the help, Jacob

11/29/2012, 12:05 PM	#7
Arkayology Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,597	Make sure you have the test kits. __________________ -Matt in between tanks

11/29/2012, 11:52 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The 2-part should be okay to use. The coral dip can be useful when purchasing new corals, and I used that product myself. The other products aren't as useful, IMO. The Reef Buffer is going to about the same thing as the alkalinity solution of the 2-part. They are both high-pH alkalinity supplements. The magnesium supplement is mostly epsom salts, but higher in price. I would go with a DIY supplement or another commercial supplement that has mostly magnesium chloride in it. The trace element supplements are likewise suspect. Our tanks get trace elements from the salt and from food, so I'd skip those. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/29/2012, 10:34 AM	#2
gbru316 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,720	Don't add things based on research and suggestion, add based on proof. Unless you test for it and know you are deficient, don't add it.

11/29/2012, 11:27 AM	#5
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	Give us some information on your system. Size, what you're keeping, etc. What are you using to test your Salinity with? I would suggest you use a decent refractometer calibrated using calibration fluid. What are you using to measure your Ca, Mg and Alk with? Good test kits for these three would be: Salifert, Elos, Red Sea Pro. I've been using the new Red Sea Pro, and find it accurate and affordable. If your bio load is small enough you may not need to do any dosing, if your doing periodic WC's with the proper salinity.

11/29/2012, 11:52 AM	#6
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	also if you do end up needing to dose cal/alk/mag try BRS. it's way cheaper.