Additives

[pogodzib]

How does one know/learn what additives is neccessary in a reef aquarium? You can test for calcium and alkalinity, but does anyone really test for iodine or magnesium. I have some bottles of Seachem Reef Complete & Reef Iodide. I have noticed people adding Reef Builder, Reef Advantage, Reef Plus, Reef Calcium, Reef Complete, and Reef Iodide on a weekly basis. I don't have a kalk reactor and to start I plan on monitoring the calcium and alkalinity and adding Reef Complete once a week or as neccessary. What is the best additive to use to control the calcium level? Any input regarding additives would be a big help. I have also seen many people say that the additives in the salt mix is enough and no other additives are neccessary. I am looking to maximize coralline growth so the LR has some color. There currently is not any corals, just a few feather dusters.

 

[Anonymous]

This is some good reading:
http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t ... 1a20d3343d

People do test for iodine or magnesium. Most don't, and most don't add either.
Good additives for ca and alk are b ionic (2 parts) and/or kalk depending on the size of your tank.

 

[pogodzib]

Thanks for the quick response and link. It sounds much easier and less time consuming to dose using only kalk and b-ionic than to add all of the other types of mixes out there. The tank is a 125 gal w/ 40 gal sump. Eventually I would like to get a kalk reactor, but I can't afford one right now. Once I learn more about reef keeping and get some hard to heep corals, then I will upgrade.