Project: Reef

[NikeLV]

Hey guys! I want ULTIMATE reef care for my 100g reef aquarium! First off, I want to begin by asking you this, would it be smart to buy ALL Vitamin and Mineral supplements + the Iodide from KentMarine and dose them to my tank in amounts they recommend? (Please do not erase or delete anything I say on this thread because I want serious, honest answers.) Do I feed all my coral (sps, lps, soft) mysis shrimp and brine shrimp? Is AlgaGen Coral Smoothie any good and nutritious for Coral? (Please actually take a look at the smoothie and it's ingredients) Also considering Kent Zooplex, Kent Marine MicroVert, Kent Coral Accel, and Kent PhytoPlex. Again, I am looking for serious, honest answers to the questions concerning my reef aquarium. I am NOT advertising for any of these brands!

Then, How much do QT's usually cost altogether? Thinking about getting a 10gal QT. I never did my math on that subject.. and do I need to QT corals when I first get them? What is the minimum medicine brands **FOR NEWLY ACQUIRED FISH AND CORAL** I absolutely REQUIRE? - Formalin and Cupramin? I know the whole process of Leebca's acclimation and freshwater dip.

[richard2]

I don’t think good reefkeeping starts with buying all available additives, you’ll probably even do worse than without them if you just blindly start dosing.
For instance the iodine is lethal if concentrations get too high, so be sure to measure what you can before dosing. For the elements that can’t be measured I rely on waterchanges instead of additives.

[Reefing Madness]

Calcium Reactor
CO2 Reactor
Phyto to feed your corals
Watch your water parameters really and do your water changes, and you don't need all that crap in your tank. Some will dose maby one or 2 other things, but thats about it.

[chrisfont23]

I feed: Phyto (3 x a week) and Kent Coral Vite (once a week), Cyclop-eeze (3 x a week). IMO, all are incredible and in my 29g, I do see a difference.
I dose: 2 Part Supps (2 Little Fishies); Microbacter 7; Microbacter Reef Biofuel

I do not know if you have seen my tank pics on this board, but it's doing well. IMO, that's really all you need. Don't ever dose anything you can't test for before, during and after.

Thats it!

- Chris

[NikeLV]

Fix my list if needed now, ty
Supplements
-B-Ionic 2-Part Calcium/Alkalinity buffer
-Kent Tech M Magnesium [to maintain the calcium level]
-Kent Coral Vite / Essential Elements
-Kent Purple Tech
Food
-Kent Coral Accel / PhytoPlex / Zooplex
*in the future when I have a successful reef, I am going to try out AlgaGen Coral Smoothie..

[NikeLV]

Fix my list if needed now, ty
Supplements
-B-Ionic 2-Part Calcium/Alkalinity buffer
-Kent Tech M Magnesium [to maintain the calcium level]
-Kent Coral Vite / Essential Elements
-Kent Purple Tech
Food
-Kent Coral Accel / PhytoPlex / Zooplex
*in the future when I have a successful reef, I am going to try out AlgaGen Coral Smoothie..

What test kits do you know that I will need when supplementing my aquarium with all of this? I am looking at API Calcium Test kit, API High-range PH Test Kit, and API Carbonate Hardness (Alkalinity) test kit. I will have my LFS test the other water parameters (nitrate, nitrite, phos, etc.) every 2 weeks when I go in for RO/DI saltwater.

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

What test kits do you know that I will need when supplementing my aquarium with all of this? I am looking at API Calcium Test kit, API High-range PH Test Kit, and API Carbonate Hardness (Alkalinity) test kit. I will have my LFS test the other water parameters (nitrate, nitrite, phos, etc.) every 2 weeks when I go in for RO/DI saltwater.

Why depend on your LFS to test your water? Things can happen that would require you to test your own water for nitrate, phosphate, etc... IMO, to have a successful reef aquarium, the hobbyist needs to have these tests readily available. The tests you should be able to perform are: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, Ph, temperature, salinity, calcium, alkalinity, magnesium and phosphate. If you really want to be in control of your tank's water quality, you need to be able to test your own water.

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Also, purple tech is not needed and is a waste of money. The only additives i use are calcium, alkalinity and magnesium (two part dosing ingredients ). Combine that with frequent water changes, and my tank has all it needs.

[chrisfont23]

Fix my list if needed now, ty
Supplements
-B-Ionic 2-Part Calcium/Alkalinity buffer
-Kent Coral Vite / Essential Elements
*in the future when I have a successful reef, I am going to try out AlgaGen Coral Smoothie..

IMO, I left everything you need (above edited quote)