what's the best multipurpose reef additive?

tsutaoka · 08/31/2007, 11:25 PM

hi all, i've been using "reef solutions" http://www.ecosystemaquarium.com/html/reef.html which at the time i started using was one of the best. well its been awhile since i've researched these things...and my last bottle just ran out. i would love to hear what's the lastest/greatest in multipurpose additives for my reef. i mostly have sps. thanks for any references in advance.

mile sq. reefer · 08/31/2007, 11:49 PM

The best multipurpose reef additive is your salt.

tsutaoka · 08/31/2007, 11:51 PM

i do 10% natural sea water changes about every week...but still like to supplement with trace elements and vitamins. is that overkill?

mile sq. reefer · 09/01/2007, 12:03 AM

What are the tank parameters?

tsutaoka · 09/01/2007, 12:08 AM

although i have test kits, i don't usually test.

dareefking · 09/01/2007, 12:15 AM

Will still sell Reef Solution like crazy at my shop. Dont know if there is anything better? I'd keep using it if you're happy with the results.

tsutaoka · 09/01/2007, 12:18 AM

i'm happy with it...just wondering if there's something better

mile sq. reefer · 09/01/2007, 12:24 AM

Its important to test. I dont add anything to the tank that cannot be tested. I use Kalk, 1 tsp per gallon RO/DI water for top off and use Bionic two part, which contains trace elements to boost CA and ALK when needed.

Fish Filet · 09/01/2007, 12:28 AM

B-Ionic two part is good stuff.

tsutaoka · 09/01/2007, 12:34 AM

i change 10% water each week. i like to add trace elements/vitamins daily (thus the question). i do have a pretty good skimmer, ca reactor set-up (lifereef)... do most people test before adding additives?

mile sq. reefer · 09/01/2007, 01:14 AM

What salt do you use? It is a good practice to do frequent water changes, and I too, do weekly 10% changes using Reef Crytals salt mixed overnite to a S.G. of 1.025.

Testing is a good practice to get into. I dont think you need to dose the vitamins and additives daily. You may run into problems with water quality issues. Most good salts contain the trace elements you are adding everyday and your weekly water changes replenish them. I doubt they are being depleted that rapidly.

tsutaoka · 09/01/2007, 08:21 AM

i use natural sea water...

since i'm out of my daily additive, i'll stop for a few weeks and see what happens.

thanks for the tips.

InLimbo87 · 09/01/2007, 08:31 AM

Never dose anything that you're not testing for.

On that note, you need not worry about dosing any calc/alk since you have a calcium reactor. The only other thing I would really worry about/dose for is magnesium

tsutaoka · 09/02/2007, 09:27 AM

thanks. what about vitamins and other trace elements besides magnesium?

xtm · 09/02/2007, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tsutaoka
hi all, i've been using "reef solutions" http://www.ecosystemaquarium.com/html/reef.html which at the time i started using was one of the best. well its been awhile since i've researched these things...and my last bottle just ran out. i would love to hear what's the lastest/greatest in multipurpose additives for my reef. i mostly have sps. thanks for any references in advance.

tsutaoka,

There's a mixed feelings about the Zeovit and Prodibio additives ...some people swear by them up and down. Some people hate them. I haven't tried these however. check out THIS thread

also this

zeovit thread

more

Snowboarda42 · 09/02/2007, 11:12 AM

I dose ReefPlus 1-2 times a week

cabowabo · 09/02/2007, 11:53 AM

I have been using b-ionic for years with realy good consistant results. The only down side is having to add every day. The truth is it's worked so good that other than Kalk drip it's the only thing I've ever used in my reef tanks.

tsutaoka · 09/08/2007, 08:46 PM

thanks all for the advice. its been a week since i've stopped. some sps are noticablly less colored. i'll give it another week...

melev · 09/08/2007, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tsutaoka
thanks all for the advice. its been a week since i've stopped. some sps are noticablly less colored. i'll give it another week...

I went to your website to check out your tank, but all I found was puppies and Google Fish.

plyle02 · 09/08/2007, 09:24 PM

IMO, No one purpose additive to get things in check. IME, stabilizing alk, ca, and mag, seem to be important in keeping finicky corals such as sps. Not to mention temp, ph, and salinity....

loosecannon · 09/08/2007, 09:43 PM

What`s the best multipurpose reef additive? Thars only one water change.

08/31/2007, 11:25 PM	#1
tsutaoka Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: bay area Posts: 259	what's the best multipurpose reef additive? hi all, i've been using "reef solutions" http://www.ecosystemaquarium.com/html/reef.html which at the time i started using was one of the best. well its been awhile since i've researched these things...and my last bottle just ran out. i would love to hear what's the lastest/greatest in multipurpose additives for my reef. i mostly have sps. thanks for any references in advance. __________________ tsutaoka Current Tank Info: nc12; i had a custom Aquarium Obsessed tank which sprung a leak...

08/31/2007, 11:51 PM	#3
tsutaoka Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: bay area Posts: 259	thanks mile sq. reefer i do 10% natural sea water changes about every week...but still like to supplement with trace elements and vitamins. is that overkill? __________________ tsutaoka Current Tank Info: nc12; i had a custom Aquarium Obsessed tank which sprung a leak...

09/01/2007, 12:08 AM	#5
tsutaoka Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: bay area Posts: 259	don't usually test although i have test kits, i don't usually test. __________________ tsutaoka Current Tank Info: nc12; i had a custom Aquarium Obsessed tank which sprung a leak...

09/01/2007, 12:18 AM	#7
tsutaoka Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: bay area Posts: 259	thanks dareefking i'm happy with it...just wondering if there's something better __________________ tsutaoka Current Tank Info: nc12; i had a custom Aquarium Obsessed tank which sprung a leak...

09/01/2007, 12:34 AM	#10
tsutaoka Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: bay area Posts: 259	no test but... i change 10% water each week. i like to add trace elements/vitamins daily (thus the question). i do have a pretty good skimmer, ca reactor set-up (lifereef)... do most people test before adding additives? __________________ tsutaoka Current Tank Info: nc12; i had a custom Aquarium Obsessed tank which sprung a leak...

08/31/2007, 11:49 PM	#2
mile sq. reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,045	The best multipurpose reef additive is your salt.

09/01/2007, 12:03 AM	#4
mile sq. reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,045	What are the tank parameters?

09/01/2007, 12:15 AM	#6
dareefking Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Metairie Posts: 93	Will still sell Reef Solution like crazy at my shop. Dont know if there is anything better? I'd keep using it if you're happy with the results.

09/01/2007, 12:24 AM	#8
mile sq. reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,045	Its important to test. I dont add anything to the tank that cannot be tested. I use Kalk, 1 tsp per gallon RO/DI water for top off and use Bionic two part, which contains trace elements to boost CA and ALK when needed.

09/01/2007, 12:28 AM	#9
Fish Filet Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 282	B-Ionic two part is good stuff.

09/01/2007, 01:14 AM	#11
mile sq. reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,045	What salt do you use? It is a good practice to do frequent water changes, and I too, do weekly 10% changes using Reef Crytals salt mixed overnite to a S.G. of 1.025. Testing is a good practice to get into. I dont think you need to dose the vitamins and additives daily. You may run into problems with water quality issues. Most good salts contain the trace elements you are adding everyday and your weekly water changes replenish them. I doubt they are being depleted that rapidly.

09/01/2007, 08:21 AM	#12
tsutaoka Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: bay area Posts: 259	thank again mile sq. reefer i use natural sea water... since i'm out of my daily additive, i'll stop for a few weeks and see what happens. thanks for the tips. __________________ tsutaoka Current Tank Info: nc12; i had a custom Aquarium Obsessed tank which sprung a leak...

09/01/2007, 08:31 AM	#13
InLimbo87 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Central FL Posts: 3,197	Never dose anything that you're not testing for. On that note, you need not worry about dosing any calc/alk since you have a calcium reactor. The only other thing I would really worry about/dose for is magnesium __________________ We are forever responsible for that which we tame... Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

09/02/2007, 09:27 AM	#14
tsutaoka Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: bay area Posts: 259	InLimbo87 thanks. what about vitamins and other trace elements besides magnesium? __________________ tsutaoka Current Tank Info: nc12; i had a custom Aquarium Obsessed tank which sprung a leak...

09/02/2007, 11:12 AM	#16
Snowboarda42 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Warshington Posts: 1,094	I dose ReefPlus 1-2 times a week __________________ 40B Mixed Reef 100% Captive Grown Corals See, that's the trouble with the world today. Not enough danger to kill off stupid people before they get old enough to breed. Bring back lawn darts! -PrivateJoker64 Current Tank Info: 40B, 20L Sump/Fuge, Mag 9.5 Return, 2x Hydor Koralia #2's, 150W 14K HQI, 139W T-5, Euro-Reef RS-80P Mesh Modded, 40LB LR, 80LB LS, 54x Turnover, Mostly SPS, Some Softys Too.

09/02/2007, 11:53 AM	#17
cabowabo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 248	I have been using b-ionic for years with realy good consistant results. The only down side is having to add every day. The truth is it's worked so good that other than Kalk drip it's the only thing I've ever used in my reef tanks.

09/08/2007, 08:46 PM	#18
tsutaoka Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: bay area Posts: 259	thanks thanks all for the advice. its been a week since i've stopped. some sps are noticablly less colored. i'll give it another week... __________________ tsutaoka Current Tank Info: nc12; i had a custom Aquarium Obsessed tank which sprung a leak...

09/08/2007, 09:24 PM	#20
plyle02 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lake Helen, FL Posts: 5,526	IMO, No one purpose additive to get things in check. IME, stabilizing alk, ca, and mag, seem to be important in keeping finicky corals such as sps. Not to mention temp, ph, and salinity.... __________________ Perry "Anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die" ~Buddha~ Current Tank Info: 50 Gallon AIO Cube, Aquamaxx WS-1 Skimmer, LED/ Hybrid 4x24 watt t5

09/08/2007, 09:43 PM	#21
loosecannon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: port kent Posts: 1,292	What`s the best multipurpose reef additive? Thars only one water change. __________________ I like getting WET! Current Tank Info: 44gal. 40 gal. 75 gal. 30gal. and working on a 75gal. rigt