opinions on additives

[JKurtz]

Just wondering which aquarium additives you folks think are essential for a reef with soft and LPS corals. I'm currently using Kent's liquid calcium, strontium & molybdenum, Lugol's, and Coral-Vital reef life energizer. I'm wondering if all of these are really necessary or if frequent water changes--say once a week--using Instant Ocean would provide more stability.
My biggest concern is, there's no practical way to test for the levels of some of these, so they could be doing more harm than good if the concentrations are out of proportion to natural sea water.
Any thoughts?

Jeff

 

[vder1]

I was using ESV the two part make up for Alk/Cal and now have switched to just Kalk to top my tank for make up each day. Tank seems to have responded better to that than all the additives combined. Just my way of doing it . I also add Iodine too once per week.

 

[JKurtz]

How are you dosing your kalk, vder? I've been reading that calcium chloride additions can adversely affect alkalinity, so I'm considering switching to kalk. Have you stopped all other additives except the kalk and iodine?

Jeff

 

[toptank]

Have found that the less additives the better your tank will be. IMO & IME

I use a ca reactor for alk and ca. DT's for food suppliment and other than regular water changes that is about it.

Barry

 

[Anonymous]

Jkurtz-
kalk is an alk and calcium supplement (0.5meq/l for every 10ppm calcium)

CaCl supplements calcium only

Remember, there are no calcium ion structures in the tank--it's all calcium carbonate (CaCO3)--your tank uses both calcium and alk. Without one, it has no use for the other.

Ty

 

[JKurtz]

Got it! Thanks everyone.

By the way, Ty. If she weighs the same as a duck, she's made out of wood, and, therefore, a witch! (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

Jeff

 

[Anonymous]

Additives are not so much the deal as is maintaining natural seawater (or higher in the case of alkalinity) values/concentrations of ions (calcium, alkalinity, magnesium...). Additives that have this capability are many and varied (some minor ones such as magnesium may even be replenished adequately through regular water changes. Each person may have a pro and con for each. The trick will be to find which method of adding these ions will be best for you... I'd read past threads on dosing kalkwasser, using calcium reactors, using 2 parters. Check out articles in the Aquarium Frontiers publication archives for information on trace elements, natural seawater ions, their concentration, etc.
HTH,
Chris

 

[JKurtz]

I appreciate the info! I'm trying to get away from the "a teaspoon of this and a teaspoon of that" approach to reefkeeping. Coming from a non-scientific background, it's sometime hard to know whether you're on the right track or not.

Am I correct in assuming that kalkwasser is the ideal method of maintaining the proper calcium level while calcium chloride is better suited for elevating the level if it starts to drop?

Jeff

 

[Anonymous]

JKurtz,
Kalkwasser and Using a CO2 reactor with aragonite media are probably the two preferred methods of calcium maintainence. While calcium chloride is more popular as a calcium raising instrument, it is used as a maintainer in two part solutions, and alone. It is not as popular due to the huge amounts that may be required (and the fact additional buffer is required to maintain alkalinity). It is used mostly by labs that require the precision measuring and dosing calcium chloride gives.

[ March 29, 2002: Message edited by: galleon ]</p>