additives to add to my tank

[Reefrock]

Hi!..I have a fairly new 75gl reeft tank, mostly LPS, softies,shrooms,etc. I add alk and calcium as required. What I am wondering is what most folks are adding to the tank in terms of other additives like any of the Kent or Seachem type products. Do these products have benefits and why?..Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Reefrock

[GMAX]

Strontium twice a week and iodine every day. Thats it.

[Reefrock]

What is the purpose of the Strontium and Iodine additions?

[GMAX]

Strontium aids in corraline algae growth. Iodine is useful in keeping inverts healthy.

[Amphiprion]

I just add a balanced calcium and alkalinity supplement to my mixed reef. I don't really add magnesium because it has never managed to get low enough (via testing) to warrant its addition. In all, however, those are the only supplements I would recommend adding directly. Also be sure to test to be sure there is a need for what you are adding.

[MCary]

Never add anything you can't test for. A lot of people believe that adding iodine is not necessary and can be overdosed. I am in that camp. I have a calcium reactor so I don't need to add strontium, but even if I didn't, I would say this. Trace elements are found in small amounts, hence the word trace. The most economical and safest way to add trace elements is water changes with a quality reef salt.

Check your Alkalinity and Calcium. Bring it up to where you want it with your 2 part. Then check it every day for a while until you get an idea of the daily demand of your tank. Use one of the reef calculators to see how much you need to add daily, weekly, or periodically to supplement the daily requirements. Then do bi-weekly water changes. Leave all that miracle supplement stuff for the amateurs.

Mike

[rdmpe]

Only CA, ALK and MG here, and only as testing shows it's needed. Water changes will take care of the rest. Now if only I did water changes...

[allenpantino]

I agree with rdmpe CA,ALK and Mg. is all I test for water changes very important

[flyyyguy]

I ad nothing besides those three as well. I feed my carnivorous lps once a month and my fish once a week.

[GMAX]

While reading something in a book does not make it truth, I will point out for anyone with interest in seeing it for yourself. IN "A Practical Guide to Corals" by Puterbaugh and Borneman it contains this statement on page vii of the Introduction :

"Finally all reef tanks should be supplemented with a minimum of additions that include calcium, strontium and iodine."

[Travis L. Stevens]

Originally posted by GMAX
While reading something in a book does not make it truth, I will point out for anyone with interest in seeing it for yourself. IN "A Practical Guide to Corals" by Puterbaugh and Borneman it contains this statement on page vii of the Introduction :

"Finally all reef tanks should be supplemented with a minimum of additions that include calcium, strontium and iodine."

While that is true, the amount to dose is based on the livestock taking it up. A heavily stocked soft coral tank will need more iodine than a beginning reef. Plus, these chemicals build up over time if they are not used and will eventually become lethal. This is why testing is so important for anything you dose. Almost all the needed Iodine and Strontium are found in the synthetic salt mixes and natural sea water. If you are doing regular maintenance and water change, you shouldn't need to add any of the other stuff. And in some tanks, the addition of Calcium and Alkalinity is rarely used because of the water changes.

[UrbanSage]

I started out adding all kinds of stuff. Strontium, iodine etc. etc.

These days I am only adding calcium and alk. and being anal about my water changes. My reef has never looked better since I stopped adding all kinds of additives.

[dcombs44]

Amen to that....I was a real slacker with the water changes off the start. All i added was 2 part, which also contains many of the trace elements mentioned here. When my small reef tank started going downhill, I started with waterchanges either once a week or bi-weekly and the difference was amazing. It also cut the need for the 2 part way down as well. Water changes and testing is the key. I test for alk and calc and keep my water changes at the top of the list and all things are well.

[afelder]

Water changes more labor intensive but they work. I think about it this way. $20 for a bottle of chemicals which may or may not dose anywhere near what the bottle says. $50 for 200 gallon bucket of salt. How many bottles of chemicals would I need to equal the benefits I got from those water changes? Besides I like playing in the water.

[mg426]

In use Randys Homemade two part ca/alk Recipe #1 And regular water changes

[Amphiprion]

Originally posted by GMAX
While reading something in a book does not make it truth, I will point out for anyone with interest in seeing it for yourself. IN "A Practical Guide to Corals" by Puterbaugh and Borneman it contains this statement on page vii of the Introduction :

"Finally all reef tanks should be supplemented with a minimum of additions that include calcium, strontium and iodine."

Yes, and Eric practically rescinded that statement in "Aquarium Corals." Granted, I quite adding all these other supplements long before that book came out, it still iterated the reasons why I stopped. But people make mistakes, have their own ways of doing things successfully, etc.

[GMAX]

OK I will bite. I have Aquarium Corals. Where exactly does Borneman rescind the statement. Chapter and page please.

[UrbanSage]

Maybe you guys should put down the books and go look at your tanks to see what works

[GMAX]

I answered an open question on what I dose. I then explained the purpose for the dosing of both strontium and iodine. When challenged with a " some people believe this is unnecessary", I responding with a quote from a fairly well respected source who said it was essential. And I am asking for the quote for where Borneman says "ignor what I previously wrote."

I look at my tank daily in detail. And if you dont want to read this or anything thing else,. I would suggest skipping the thread.

[SDguy]

Ca/alk (in the form of two part - soon to be with a Ca reactor, and kalk) and Mg (though Mg just seemed to make coralline take over in my last tank. Not sure I want that much in my new one. We'll see).

[UrbanSage]

No insult intended. I thought it was amusing hence the

I have the books myself and enjoy reading them.

[Amphiprion]

Originally posted by GMAX
I answered an open question on what I dose. I then explained the purpose for the dosing of both strontium and iodine. When challenged with a " some people believe this is unnecessary", I responding with a quote from a fairly well respected source who said it was essential. And I am asking for the quote for where Borneman says "ignor what I previously wrote."

I look at my tank daily in detail. And if you dont want to read this or anything thing else,. I would suggest skipping the thread.

I never said that he rescinded it. I said he practically rescinded it--because he says something entirely different, namely that there is no established or proven need for the addition of these two elements for corals. I have also heard Eric's views on the matter through personal communication. I don't have the book with me, nor do I intend to quote it. It is there toward the back in the chemistry/parameters section, so feel free to find it yourself since you have the book. Neither of us have to justify our views so long as a particular method works for its respective user.

[Amphiprion]

Originally posted by UrbanSage
No insult intended. I thought it was amusing hence the

I have the books myself and enjoy reading them.

None taken

[GMAX]

Well I think what he says there is no current scientific research documenting the efficacy of the dosing. Much more discussion of how both are used in the chemical make up of corals and how the interaction is a bit complicated. He then goes on to quote for one of the chemicals I dont remember which now, much anecdotal evidence of an effect by not dosing.

I do agree that if very substantial and regular water changes are part of your regime, that its much more likely that you will not be in deficit of any trace chemical, including magnesium ( which I do not dose currently and it stays at 1300 ppm ). Could I stop either or both, yeah probably. But its a few drops or 15 ml a couple times a week. Not much cost or time invested and it seems to work for me.

[Acroholic]

How can you possibly dose something that you do not even test for?
How could you tell if you even need it at all or how much to dose?????.....without testing?
I spent the bucks and purchased a Stronti test kit...and in 5 months of testing every two weeks, my Strontium levels are more than efficient from just basic water changes....this is just my tank and definately will not apply to anyone elses...but IMO it is not a good idea to dose anything without knowing if or how much is actually needed......
Do YOU really know if your Strontium levels are in the recomended 5-15ppm range (as per Randy)
BTW: I still have an unopened bottle of Strontium supplement.....

Peace yall...