Supplement question..

[ReefFan]

Other than the usual standard dosing (KH, Ca, Mg) What else might be a good all around but effective reef supplement. Ive been using Marc Wiess Coral Vital quite a bit. A full dose every day/every other day in between water changes, then i taper off to a couple times a week.

Anyone else use this product? (its not exactly cheap) I had heard to stay away from all in one trace element supps like Kent reef essential, although imnot sure why. But lets assume someone does a decent water change weekly/biweekly... what else might i consider trying to increase growth and vitality of everything from my Frogspawn to my Purple Rim Cap?

-Jay

 

[Dre]

Food ,good lighting and high grade salt mixes although some people don't feed at all but i do.

 

[ReefFan]

thanks Dre! Im just happy i got a reply lol. I realize many reefers dont use any supplementation, but if someone were so inclined, what would they use? I noticed a post above mine about CoralAmino? something like that? Anyway Im sure some diggin around on the net will find an answer on the importance or lack of. Im also a big fan of using high grade salts. I dont use anything but TM proreef and i feel pretty confident that as long as i stay on top of the WCs with it, other supplementation will rarely be needed. Maybe in between WCs

 

[Awibrandy]

I would also love to hear from the "Reefing Gurus" what if anything do they dose, and why (besides cal, alk & mag)!

I've been hearing that weekly 20% water changes is not enough, that Trace elements need to be added. Is this true?

 

[greggnyce]

I've been hearing that weekly 20% water changes is not enough, that Trace elements need to be added. Is this true?

I think it would depend on what you are keeping and how many animals you are keeping.

 

[Awibrandy]

Hi Greg, my reef is a mixture of sps, lps, leathers, shrooms, featherdusters, sea fans, clam, zoas,etc.etc., with a hefty fish load.
I do 20% - 30gallons or so weekly w/c, and my pars fall within range more specifically alk 9, cal 450+, mag 1350.

My question is in regards to those bottles of "Trace Elements". Is that necessary?

 

[ReefFan]

thats ok, you go ahead n steal my thread Awi Im kidding, your answers are my answers so you ask away..

Ive been using quite a bit of CoralVital as directed on the bottle. I think it does really depend on the animal load though. For example, my system has a good amount of Macro algae. It processes alot of phosphate but also Iron and Manganese i believe. So if youre only doing 20% WCs, even weekly, I would think the iron and Mang. would get diluted and it would have to be replaced.

It only makes sense that supplementation be necissary. When ya do WCs, its not like your replacing all the water with the ideal parameters of everything. Over time I would think vital minerals and what not, are depleted.

So thats why ive been using the Coral Vital. Just wanted to get some ideas on stuff others use..

thanks all.

 

[greggnyce]

The only problem is unless you can measure what you are taking out, how do you know what to replace?

 

[ReefFan]

thats a good question. Im definetely into those lengthy strontium n Iodide tests. I do have an Iron test but its just as annoying to use. Basically ive just come to the conclusion that along with weekly water changes with high quality reef salts, maybe a once a week small dose of a good all in one (like Coral Vital) and once a month with Iron/Mn, for heavily planted tanks maybe bi-weekly. At least thats the way Im going about it. With the Ca reactor im hoping KH,Ca and Mg will constantly be maintained. I have Lugols Solution (Iodide) that i use for frag dippin but i havnt been using it in my system. Ive heard many times Xenia need Iodide to thrive and pulse but mine still go nuts and propagate all over the place for a year now.. I think i dosed Iodide once to the system.

So im with ya 100%. You never wanna consistantly dose what you cant test for. Occaisional dosing between WCs, based on the animal load you have is wut you gotta do. Ill be reefing with the idea that its better to underdose with this stuff than it is to overdose.

 

[pdnyc69]

i dose iodine, coralvite, essential elements, coral accel, and strotium all kent marine brand. i dose according to directions on bottle. i have tremendous growth in my tank. i also do water changes quaterly.

 

[pdnyc69]

also get good test kits. i use salifert

 

[Awibrandy]

ReefFan, I didn't think you'd mine since my question was basically the same question you asked, and I didn't want to bog down the site with another thread after the same info. I'm sorry..

The only problem is unless you can measure what you are taking out, how do you know what to replace?

My point exactly!

As much as I feed (and all foods soaked in VitaChem, Selcon, Vitamin C, and Garlic Extreme) with no maro-algae to take up the extra nutrients, and weekly 20%+ water changes, and an under rated skimmer (picking up a stronger one in the next week or so) can someone tell me why I would need to add anything else called "Trace Elements"?

What exactly is in those bottles of "Trace Elements"?


So my corals don't grow overnight, but they do grow, and are keeping their colors. The fish look fat, and healthy. Only thing that annoys me just a little is the lack of coralline, and even that I don't much care about.

 

[charliethetuna88]

I would like to try coral accel and vite out anyone have any luck with these