which chemicals are most important?

Zenttar · 03/04/2014, 01:49 PM

After your reef tank has cycled and done with the following two chums, what should I start adding next?
Ocean's Blend Part 1 (calcium)
Ocean's Blend Part 2 (ph\alkalinity)

If you could list in order of most important to least and maybe a time line I would really appreciate it!

disc1 · 03/04/2014, 02:08 PM

Only add what your tank needs. For a reef you should be testing alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium. If those show to be used up faster than they are replenished with water changes then you have to dose them. If they are stable as it is then you don't. But until you do some testing there's no way to tell.

Zenttar · 03/04/2014, 05:34 PM

Thank you, I was forgetting magnesium. How much depends on the salt I use?

bertoni · 03/04/2014, 05:47 PM

Some tanks will consume more magnesium than others. This article gives some ratios:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/10/chemistry

Water changes kept up with the magnesium consumption in my tanks, but every tank is different.

Zenttar · 03/04/2014, 07:05 PM

I noticed that chemistry thread is ten years old, has anything changed with more modern chemicals used as additives?

bertoni · 03/04/2014, 07:20 PM

Not really.

ridetheducati · 03/04/2014, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zenttar

I noticed that chemistry thread is ten years old, has anything changed with more modern chemicals used as additives?

You will find not much has changed in 20 years, especially chemistry.

Zenttar · 03/04/2014, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ridetheducati

You will find not much has changed in 20 years, especially chemistry.

I mean is their something better to add than just a chemical, for example instead of just adding a supplement, like iodine. Instead of adding iodine add Kent Coral-Vite since it adds more than just the iodine and helps corals thrive. Just a example and maybe not a good one but you get the jist.

Bpb · 03/04/2014, 11:32 PM

No. Stick with simple tried and true methods to begin with. You will likely NOT need to dose right off the bat. Like the more experienced folks said, until you get a lot of stony corals, water changes alone will be enough. When you do...simple kalkwasser addition or 2 part formulas for calcium and alkalinity.

Don't bother with bottles additives like iodine, trace elements, vitamins, filter feeder foods, ect. Almost every new hobbyist spends a mint on all that and it doesn't help them at all. They're mostly water, and what they provide is useless on a new tank and will only add waste at best, or overdose something at worst (like iodine). New tanks with few corals just don't need it and can't use it. Trace element supplements and dosing are for tanks with such heavy coral loads that the corals are stripping the water of major and trace elements DAILY. Until you can see more coral surface than rock surface, this is likely a problem you will NOT face and don't need these products for. Stock up on quality salt, RODI water, quality fish foods, good light, and spend your time and money researching the corals you want to keep, and actually purchasing these corals once you're ready. Just my two cents because I made those exact mistakes, and have watched a lot of new comers here locally do it too.

nicholasb · 03/05/2014, 01:01 AM

The next thing you need to add is Fish!! If you have just cycled a tank and your ammonia is 0 and nitrate is below 20ppm then use need nothing else. You only add calcium and alk if you have hard corals!!. You could add alk to keep P.H stable, if it is low (below7 dkh).

bertoni · 03/05/2014, 02:31 PM

I agree that iodine and trace elements generally seem to be a waste of money. When dosing magnesium, one issue is that it's not particularly tied to other elements, so I'd dose it own its own. Something like calcium and alkalinity, which are consumed in a reasonably fixed ratio, can be dosed together.

03/04/2014, 01:49 PM	#1
Zenttar Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 26	which chemicals are most important? After your reef tank has cycled and done with the following two chums, what should I start adding next? Ocean's Blend Part 1 (calcium) Ocean's Blend Part 2 (ph\alkalinity) If you could list in order of most important to least and maybe a time line I would really appreciate it!

03/04/2014, 02:08 PM	#2
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	Only add what your tank needs. For a reef you should be testing alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium. If those show to be used up faster than they are replenished with water changes then you have to dose them. If they are stable as it is then you don't. But until you do some testing there's no way to tell. __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...

03/04/2014, 05:47 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Some tanks will consume more magnesium than others. This article gives some ratios: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/10/chemistry Water changes kept up with the magnesium consumption in my tanks, but every tank is different. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/04/2014, 07:20 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Not really. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/05/2014, 02:31 PM	#11
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I agree that iodine and trace elements generally seem to be a waste of money. When dosing magnesium, one issue is that it's not particularly tied to other elements, so I'd dose it own its own. Something like calcium and alkalinity, which are consumed in a reasonably fixed ratio, can be dosed together. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/04/2014, 05:34 PM	#3
Zenttar Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 26	Thank you, I was forgetting magnesium. How much depends on the salt I use?

03/04/2014, 07:05 PM	#5
Zenttar Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 26	I noticed that chemistry thread is ten years old, has anything changed with more modern chemicals used as additives?

03/04/2014, 11:32 PM	#9
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	No. Stick with simple tried and true methods to begin with. You will likely NOT need to dose right off the bat. Like the more experienced folks said, until you get a lot of stony corals, water changes alone will be enough. When you do...simple kalkwasser addition or 2 part formulas for calcium and alkalinity. Don't bother with bottles additives like iodine, trace elements, vitamins, filter feeder foods, ect. Almost every new hobbyist spends a mint on all that and it doesn't help them at all. They're mostly water, and what they provide is useless on a new tank and will only add waste at best, or overdose something at worst (like iodine). New tanks with few corals just don't need it and can't use it. Trace element supplements and dosing are for tanks with such heavy coral loads that the corals are stripping the water of major and trace elements DAILY. Until you can see more coral surface than rock surface, this is likely a problem you will NOT face and don't need these products for. Stock up on quality salt, RODI water, quality fish foods, good light, and spend your time and money researching the corals you want to keep, and actually purchasing these corals once you're ready. Just my two cents because I made those exact mistakes, and have watched a lot of new comers here locally do it too.

03/05/2014, 01:01 AM	#10
nicholasb Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: south west england Posts: 292	The next thing you need to add is Fish!! If you have just cycled a tank and your ammonia is 0 and nitrate is below 20ppm then use need nothing else. You only add calcium and alk if you have hard corals!!. You could add alk to keep P.H stable, if it is low (below7 dkh).