Dosing trace elements- should I?

yakfishin · 09/25/2007, 10:30 AM

I have a 215G aquarium that is setup as a hardy reef, mainly have just hardier corals such as zoanthids, brain coral, leathers, mushrooms and ricdordias. The tank isn't stocked very heavily at the current time. I take my time with new additions because I tend to save up my money to purchase really nicely colored specimens- which always seem to cost more. I was reading some information last night on alkalinity, calcium and ph adjustments and how they all interact and the author in the article suggested to never dose with iodine, magnesium, strotinum and other trace elements unless the aquarium absolutely has a need for it, too much chance for poisioning if over dosed. I change out about an average of 5 gallons or a little more every other day- which works out to be about 40% a month. I run carbon for a couple of days twice a month. I have always added Iodine, magnesium, strotinum and calcium since I started the tank 8 months ago. I go by the recommendations on the different bottles- reduced a bit since I know I don't have as much livestock as would be average. Are frequent water changes good enough for my current setup? I'm thinking of continuing to add a bit of calcium and my buffer and just leave it at that. What's everyone elses opinion on this?

Gwynhidwy · 09/25/2007, 11:03 AM

Personally I do add trace elements. However I also test to make sure that my levels are still where they should be. Take iodine for instance, I had trouble keeping shrimp healthy for a while when I was only monitoring/adding calcium and alkalinity. Then I tested and found out that I didn't have nearly enough iodine in the water and the shrimp probably couldn't molt properly. I've been adding it ever since and all my shrimp have been healthy and growing.

I try to test for everything that I add and I try to add the safest product that does/adds what I need. Depending on what is in your tank you may not need anything extra. If all your critters seem happy I probably wouldn't change anything. In my experience tanks with fewer fish need more additives.

papagimp · 09/25/2007, 11:17 AM

if you are changing water every other day or so, than I would say you probably won't need the trace elements at all, but you also stated that it's not a very heavily stocked tank. Once it's got a bit more in it, the need to dose stuff other than ca and alk may arise, but personally, I've never had to. My water changes takes care of that stuff just fine.

The few people with larger tanks that I've had the pleasure to visit with and see their setups claim they do not add the trace stuff if they have a calc reactor, while some of them who do not use one, will dose occasionally, but they also don't do water changes as often, every couple months or so.

WaterKeeper · 09/25/2007, 11:42 AM

Never add things where you don't test for first. Adding Sr (Strontium) for example; make sure it is much lower than 8 ppm before using an additive. High levels can be as bad as low levels.

Usually normal water changes will keep things in balance. Exceptions are calcium and magnesium in stoney coral systems that are depleted faster than can be maintained by water changes. Even here-test first.

arts007 · 09/25/2007, 12:08 PM

I think the best thing that can be said about adding anything is testing first, as was said. I do 2 5% water changes a week and find that I still need to add elements...mg, sr, ca and alk.. I do this in small amounts everyday to keep it fairly level

yakfishin · 09/25/2007, 01:11 PM

I test my alkalinity and calcium levels, don't have test kits for iodine, magnesium or stotnium. I figured due to my low stocking, and frequent changes I would add 1/3 of what was recommended on the bottles. I think I will stop using the additives for awhile and see what happens- I'd hate to buy test kits for these elements if I then end up not adding them seperately to the system anyways. As always- thanks for the opinions.

WaterKeeper · 09/26/2007, 09:08 AM

Why buy something that is a mystery product. Anyone can make claims about how their secret potion improves reef performance but their claim are usually backed up by a few testimonials and no sound scientific data.

The only product that I know really works is PlaSeaBo

09/25/2007, 10:30 AM	#1
yakfishin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 696	Dosing trace elements- should I? I have a 215G aquarium that is setup as a hardy reef, mainly have just hardier corals such as zoanthids, brain coral, leathers, mushrooms and ricdordias. The tank isn't stocked very heavily at the current time. I take my time with new additions because I tend to save up my money to purchase really nicely colored specimens- which always seem to cost more. I was reading some information last night on alkalinity, calcium and ph adjustments and how they all interact and the author in the article suggested to never dose with iodine, magnesium, strotinum and other trace elements unless the aquarium absolutely has a need for it, too much chance for poisioning if over dosed. I change out about an average of 5 gallons or a little more every other day- which works out to be about 40% a month. I run carbon for a couple of days twice a month. I have always added Iodine, magnesium, strotinum and calcium since I started the tank 8 months ago. I go by the recommendations on the different bottles- reduced a bit since I know I don't have as much livestock as would be average. Are frequent water changes good enough for my current setup? I'm thinking of continuing to add a bit of calcium and my buffer and just leave it at that. What's everyone elses opinion on this?

09/25/2007, 11:03 AM	#2
Gwynhidwy Meat Popsicle Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,511	Personally I do add trace elements. However I also test to make sure that my levels are still where they should be. Take iodine for instance, I had trouble keeping shrimp healthy for a while when I was only monitoring/adding calcium and alkalinity. Then I tested and found out that I didn't have nearly enough iodine in the water and the shrimp probably couldn't molt properly. I've been adding it ever since and all my shrimp have been healthy and growing. I try to test for everything that I add and I try to add the safest product that does/adds what I need. Depending on what is in your tank you may not need anything extra. If all your critters seem happy I probably wouldn't change anything. In my experience tanks with fewer fish need more additives. __________________ -- He who learns must suffer, and, even in our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God. -- Aeschylus

09/25/2007, 11:17 AM	#3
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	if you are changing water every other day or so, than I would say you probably won't need the trace elements at all, but you also stated that it's not a very heavily stocked tank. Once it's got a bit more in it, the need to dose stuff other than ca and alk may arise, but personally, I've never had to. My water changes takes care of that stuff just fine. The few people with larger tanks that I've had the pleasure to visit with and see their setups claim they do not add the trace stuff if they have a calc reactor, while some of them who do not use one, will dose occasionally, but they also don't do water changes as often, every couple months or so. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

09/25/2007, 11:42 AM	#4
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Never add things where you don't test for first. Adding Sr (Strontium) for example; make sure it is much lower than 8 ppm before using an additive. High levels can be as bad as low levels. Usually normal water changes will keep things in balance. Exceptions are calcium and magnesium in stoney coral systems that are depleted faster than can be maintained by water changes. Even here-test first. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

09/25/2007, 12:08 PM	#5
arts007 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 600	I think the best thing that can be said about adding anything is testing first, as was said. I do 2 5% water changes a week and find that I still need to add elements...mg, sr, ca and alk.. I do this in small amounts everyday to keep it fairly level __________________ Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99% perspiration, which is why engineers sometimes smell really bad. Current Tank Info: 120g SPS reef tank. 2x 400 watt Reeflux 12k on lumenbrights

09/25/2007, 01:11 PM	#6
yakfishin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 696	I test my alkalinity and calcium levels, don't have test kits for iodine, magnesium or stotnium. I figured due to my low stocking, and frequent changes I would add 1/3 of what was recommended on the bottles. I think I will stop using the additives for awhile and see what happens- I'd hate to buy test kits for these elements if I then end up not adding them seperately to the system anyways. As always- thanks for the opinions.

09/26/2007, 09:08 AM	#7
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Why buy something that is a mystery product. Anyone can make claims about how their secret potion improves reef performance but their claim are usually backed up by a few testimonials and no sound scientific data. The only product that I know really works is PlaSeaBo __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29