[dYnO]

Hey guys, I?m confused about what additives (supplements) are really needed in a reef tank, so I wanted to ask you guys what you use? Please tell us what type of corals you have in the tank, how often and how big of a water change you do, and what brand salt you use>? If you have any other info on any supplements on their importance or if they suck don?t hesitate to say so! please list brand names! Thanks

I?ll start I have a 38 gallon: polyps, mushrooms, colt. I use ESV?s b-ionic 20 ml of each part every morning, aqua marines selcon in the food, and dt?s phytoplankton. The esv keeps my calcium and kh in check pretty good, I have to use a lot though. And the other two I don?t know if they?re any good or not? I just bought them to keep my corals and fish healthy and happy LoL!

[naser]

i use esv b-ionic. dt's phyto. water changes weekly. coralife salt. sps's so i would like to get a calcium reactor.

[SPasse]

DYnO,

First of all welcome to REEFLAND!

I feed my system with Golden Pearls, and target feed my SPS corals with pieces of shrimp and silversides.

I use the Kent two part CA and alkalinity buffer.

5% water change monthly.

That’s it. (Many of the “supplements” on the market only “supplement” the makers income, and nuisance algae.) [img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img]

I used to add Iodine before I started using Golden Pearls, but they are loaded with Iodine, so I no longer need too.

Visit my WEB site for my critter inventory, and other system details.

Regards,

Scott

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The definition of an expert is a washed-up drip under pressure.
You can see my reeftank at http://www.homestead.com/spasse/

[asmith]

Welcome to Reefland dynO!

I use Instant Ocean Salt, and B Ionic two part for calcium.

I feed golden pearls, and the LPS corals get the occasional piece of shrimp or silversides. I used to dose a bunch of other additives, but my tanks are doing just as well, if not better without them.

I do the occasional water change, but not very often. The salt mix and other foods replace most of the trace elements in the tank so you really don't need anything else.

Andrew

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I'm living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart. e.e.cummings

[reefhead]

Hi,

my stock list is in my profile.

I use B-Ionic, DT's , and Ocean Nutritions 'Prime Reef' foods for fish and inverts.

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My Reef Tank
:fish:

[rededteck]

Greetings... I have a 220 gallon reef. I supplement with C-balance by Two Little Fishies Company every other day. I do a water change every 3 months and replinish evaporated water with RO fresh water.

good luck

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"I got a drink in my hand, got my toes in the sand, all I really need is a beautiful girl..."

[ravenmore]

nothing but Kalkwasser for me - it's the best for maintaining calcium and alk levels. I consider DT's phyto food and not an additive - I add that 2 or 3 times/week. Nada mas.

-Mike

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I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can't prove anything.

Website

[calypso]

I was using C-Balance, Kent's Iodine, Strontium, and Magnesium. I decided to try an experiment, and not use any additives, except Iodine. I have a 75 gal reef tank with 5 fish, two anemones, and LPS corals. I've been having trouble getting coralline to grow. I thought maybe I've had ionic imbalances from adding too many additives. Since I change 10% of my water weekly with Instant Ocean salt, I figure I'm getting my trace elements that way. Plus my aragonite sand should be dissolving to buffer and add calcium, magnesium and strontium to the water. Therefore I'm going to try adding only Iodine weekly, and see how it goes. If I need to add C-Balance, I will do so only as needed.

Has anyone else tried this?

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"The first rule of
intelligent tinkering is
to save all the pieces."

[Personifer]

I also consider DT's and Golden Pearls as food and not an additive. So I guess you could say I use 0 additives since I've added my calcium reactor. [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

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Jeff

Visit my website:
JeffsReef

[golfish]

Instant Ocean salt mix. I feed Prime Reef, home made food and ESV spray-dried Phytoplankton. No target feeding for my SPS, LPS and clams. I have a calcium reactor for alk and ca.

[ravenmore]

Strontium, I believe, is actually mildly toxic to corals(prevents them from using calcium - if I recall the conversation correctly with Dr. Shimek). Synthetic salt mixes are already high in all other elements. That's why I only add calcium.

-Mike

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I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can't prove anything.

Website

[Ironreef]

http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish/data/foods.asp if you feed good fors you are adding trace everyday you feed. Tis and water changes should be enough for trace. I would maintain alk,cal,and ph. =calcium and buffer when needed

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Who doses the least?

Not me. I dose limewater, fluoride, bromide, iodide silica, iron, and ocassionally a few other things. Feeding does not adequately supplement these things, and most salt mixes are deficient in at least the halogens.

FWIW, I think the idea that strontium is a toxin at NSW concentrations is an untested hypothesis of Ron's.

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Randy Holmes-Farley

[Sker]

I use Instant Ocean Salt, drip Kalkwasser, drip Seachem Reef Builder and do weekly water changes. I feed prime reef, reef plus, dt's phytoplankton, and ESV freeze dried phytoplankton. I keep all soft corals currently and a couple anemones. Oh yeah and I add Iodine once a week.

Good Luck,
Sker