Additives & Supplements

Menez · 06/11/2010, 08:01 AM

I have started a 120gallon marine aquarium, I have used Tropic marine salt, I am planning to have Fish invertebrates and some soft corals.

I would like to start properly from onset so could anyone give me advice as to what additives I should add to the water and how often.

thanks

crazylegs · 06/11/2010, 08:24 AM

It's completely dependant on your selection of salt, source water, livestock, etc. The best thing to do from the start is build good testing habbits. Start testing for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. Once your system cycles, and your ammonia and nitrites reach zero, your shouldn't have to test for them very often. Maybe once a month to safeguard. You should regularly, at least weekly, test for nitrates, calcium, alk, magnesium, and phosphates. You would dose calcium, alk, and magnesium depending on your test results. I would also test after my first couple of doses to see how it affects your system.

The rest is kinda up to you and your livestock selctions, water changes, and so on. If I left out any vitals, someone else chime in...

phenom5 · 06/11/2010, 09:08 AM

With just soft corals, I would guess you'll be fine with regular water changes.

Don't dose anything you don't test regularly for.

Calcium and alkalinity are the two that most dose to keep in range. You could use a 2-part (B-Ionic, C-Balance, etc) if you'd like. You'll want to test 24 hrs after your dose, so you'll start with your baseline, dose according to the instructions, then test 24 hrs later and adjust your dose based on the test results. Once you get your dosage dialed in, you can test less often. I test every week or two to see how my tank's demands are changing.

nvdiz · 06/11/2010, 10:35 AM

Additives aren't really needed in my experience for softies. Tanks differ though, so just test then dose accordingly.

mgdth · 06/11/2010, 02:52 PM

I agree...with softies, you only need to keep a regular schedule of water changes. It's only when you want to get into LPS and SPS that you'll need to pay closer attention to other parameters...

Crustman · 06/11/2010, 05:18 PM

Iodine levels may be important for softies.

06/11/2010, 08:01 AM	#1
Menez Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Gibraltar Posts: 147	Additives & Supplements I have started a 120gallon marine aquarium, I have used Tropic marine salt, I am planning to have Fish invertebrates and some soft corals. I would like to start properly from onset so could anyone give me advice as to what additives I should add to the water and how often. thanks __________________ ______________________ What goes around, comes around!!!! Dustin

06/11/2010, 09:08 AM	#3
phenom5 Unregistered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,096	With just soft corals, I would guess you'll be fine with regular water changes. Don't dose anything you don't test regularly for. Calcium and alkalinity are the two that most dose to keep in range. You could use a 2-part (B-Ionic, C-Balance, etc) if you'd like. You'll want to test 24 hrs after your dose, so you'll start with your baseline, dose according to the instructions, then test 24 hrs later and adjust your dose based on the test results. Once you get your dosage dialed in, you can test less often. I test every week or two to see how my tank's demands are changing. __________________ Rob Current Tank Info: DSA 155 Pro \| ATI Sunpower \| ATB 840 v2 \| Apex \| Wav

06/11/2010, 02:52 PM	#5
mgdth Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 108	I agree...with softies, you only need to keep a regular schedule of water changes. It's only when you want to get into LPS and SPS that you'll need to pay closer attention to other parameters... __________________ For my next tank, I will build a house around it... Current Tank Info: 125 Mixed Reef

06/11/2010, 05:18 PM	#6
Crustman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 941	Iodine levels may be important for softies. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: 65 gallon reef with 8 T-5's, ATI Blue Plus, Blue Special, KZ Fiji Purple, Vertex IN 100, phosphate and carbon reactor Coralife Turbo Sea Pump

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Reef Additives & Supplements? Kent Marine & Seachem products	edaskalos	New to the Hobby	0	08/18/2009 05:59 PM
Additives or Supplements to keep SPS happy	cirujano	SPS Keepers	12	09/08/2008 01:30 AM
Luminarcs & Supplements where to place?	MammothReefer	SPS Keepers	5	11/08/2006 09:07 AM
additives and supplements?	Serra	Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society	1	08/10/2006 03:03 PM

06/11/2010, 08:24 AM	#2
crazylegs Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Houston, TX. Posts: 174	It's completely dependant on your selection of salt, source water, livestock, etc. The best thing to do from the start is build good testing habbits. Start testing for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. Once your system cycles, and your ammonia and nitrites reach zero, your shouldn't have to test for them very often. Maybe once a month to safeguard. You should regularly, at least weekly, test for nitrates, calcium, alk, magnesium, and phosphates. You would dose calcium, alk, and magnesium depending on your test results. I would also test after my first couple of doses to see how it affects your system. The rest is kinda up to you and your livestock selctions, water changes, and so on. If I left out any vitals, someone else chime in...

06/11/2010, 10:35 AM	#4
nvdiz Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Skokie Posts: 1,345	Additives aren't really needed in my experience for softies. Tanks differ though, so just test then dose accordingly.