General purpose additive?

MarinePaethor · 02/26/2011, 01:22 PM

I have a FOWLR setup at the moment. The only additive I currently dose is Marine-Max every couple of weeks. I do not currently test for Calc, Mag, etc. I was wondering if there is something more general purpose, or maybe a couple different things I should be dosing just to help maintain healthy water chemistry and proper mineral levels. Any suggestions on products or chemicals that might be beneficial for me to dose?

Thanks for any info and advice you can offer.

Misled · 02/26/2011, 01:27 PM

I don't know what you dose Marine Max for, but doing regular water changes with good water, (RO/DI), and a quality salt mix is all you need for a FOWLR tank. The cal levels should even stay enough to get the coraline on the rocks.

dots · 02/26/2011, 04:14 PM

Especially when it comes to a FOWLER, you don't need to add anything. Regular WC's should keep the Alk/Ca up as well as the trace elements.

As a general rule, only supplement and dose what you can test for and only do so when you find there is a need to dose from a test result.

Palting · 02/26/2011, 06:36 PM

What they said, plus 1

.

Sk8r · 02/26/2011, 07:43 PM

You're good.

Korrine · 02/26/2011, 07:50 PM

x2 You can cause unstable water chemistry by adding things that you don't need. If you have a fowlr you may still need to change a decent amount of water a week...say 20-25%. These kinds usually have messy fish in them. What is your stocking? You have a sump and skimmer?

02/26/2011, 01:22 PM	#1
MarinePaethor Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 94	General purpose additive? I have a FOWLR setup at the moment. The only additive I currently dose is Marine-Max every couple of weeks. I do not currently test for Calc, Mag, etc. I was wondering if there is something more general purpose, or maybe a couple different things I should be dosing just to help maintain healthy water chemistry and proper mineral levels. Any suggestions on products or chemicals that might be beneficial for me to dose? Thanks for any info and advice you can offer.

02/26/2011, 01:27 PM	#2
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	I don't know what you dose Marine Max for, but doing regular water changes with good water, (RO/DI), and a quality salt mix is all you need for a FOWLR tank. The cal levels should even stay enough to get the coraline on the rocks. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

02/26/2011, 04:14 PM	#3
dots Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 6,258	Especially when it comes to a FOWLER, you don't need to add anything. Regular WC's should keep the Alk/Ca up as well as the trace elements. As a general rule, only supplement and dose what you can test for and only do so when you find there is a need to dose from a test result. __________________ ~Doug

02/26/2011, 06:36 PM	#4
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	What they said, plus 1 . __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

02/26/2011, 07:43 PM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	You're good. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/26/2011, 07:50 PM	#6
Korrine You could get a ticket!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 4,288 Blog Entries: 1	x2 You can cause unstable water chemistry by adding things that you don't need. If you have a fowlr you may still need to change a decent amount of water a week...say 20-25%. These kinds usually have messy fish in them. What is your stocking? You have a sump and skimmer? __________________ Try to keep in mind that we are all human...mistakes do happen! Be kinder than necessary because every one you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Current Tank Info: 40 breeder - started 9/2011 - platinum perc and sanjay's black photon clownfishes; sps and lps, and soft corals; 250w MH, 20 long sump w Bubble Magus Nac 3.5 skimmer 12g nano cube -serpent star, mini carpet anemones, w 6 sexy shrimp, 150w MH, maxi je

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