Additives???

**Chadillac** · 03-24-2002, 06:50 PM

I am just gettibg in to the reef end of things. I am just wondering who uses additives and if you do what brands and how often?(do you go by what the manf. reccomend or have you found a differnt method?) Additives being elements, vitamins, just anything extra you use in your tanks?

**asmith** · 03-24-2002, 07:31 PM

I drip Kalk for top-off water. That is it. The rest of the trace elements are replenished with water changes.

Andrew

**CaptainK** · 03-25-2002, 07:06 AM

Hi Chadillac,
Welcome to REEFLAND!!!!!

When I first started out I bought a lot of additives, they are all sitting in a cabinet and more that half full. The only additives I now use are Seachen Reef Advantage Calcium and Reef Builder, one for Calcium, the other for Alk.
Those are the only things I use as far as keeping the water for my tank in good condition. All that other stuff I am hoping is getting replenished by regular water changes.

HTH,
CaptK

**eses** · 03-25-2002, 09:49 AM

The only things I add on a constant basis are Kalkwasser for calcium maintenance, and Kent Superbuffer Dkh for keeping the alkalinity up.

I also do some occassional additions of Coralife Marine Plant Food for the Caulerpa, and Potassium Iodine for the soft corals. Despite what people say, it helps in my system. The plant food does a good job of bulking up a plant really quick if I need to give some away, or if I've over-pruned; but I've had the same 16 oz bottle for more than a year now and I don't plan on buying more.

The only real way to know if you need to add anything is buy a test kit for anything you think you might want to add. If it isn't present after doing a few water changes, or you just can't keep it up, then you will need to add that element. But I wouldn't buy/add anything without buying a test kit to go with it. There is no reason to throw money into your tank in areas you don't need to.

**Chadillac** · 03-25-2002, 05:26 PM

thanks everyone, I have a hegen master test kit, to do all my water testing. I guess I'm going to start soon and just keep a close eye on everything going on in my system. Thanks again for all the input its nice to know that everyone here is so willing to help out. thanks C.

**bongobrian** · 03-26-2002, 08:38 AM

If you're going to have corals, hard or soft, I would highly recommend adding iodine. There was a law passed for salt manufacturers to start putting more iodine in their salt mixes in order to help decrease the amount of coral fatalities in home reef tanks. A lot of people overlook iodine even though it is critical to the health of your corals.

The other critical areas, as others mentioned, are PH, alkalinity, and calcium. I personally use SeaChem brand PH Buffer, Reef Builder for alkalinity, and Reef Advantage for calcium. There are a lot of different products out there and there are ways to eliminate the need for additives all together. You'll probably try some different things before you find the best routine for your tank. You might want to pick up a book that covers a lot of the basics.

**bongobrian** · 03-26-2002, 08:39 AM

PS welcome to Reefland!

**Venaman** · 03-26-2002, 09:01 AM

hello there
IME i think you should consider getting a higher end test kit. I find i cant trust the hagen kits. I've never really gotten a accurate result from them..
i remember they used to always read my pH as off the scale and i useed another test kit and read 8.2

just a suggestion and welcome
hope all goes well

**JasonL** · 03-26-2002, 06:21 PM

If you want a good idea on which additives and are new to the Reef keeping hobby check out garf.org and the bullet proof reef. I have been using the additives they are using for about 5+ years and been very happy with the results.

Jason

**Chadillac** · 03-26-2002, 08:51 PM

V. what is a higher end test kit? I thought Hagen was higher end then some of the ones I have seen? (at least around here) Jason Yeah I have checked out G.A.R.F they do have some pretty cool stuff and good info to.

**reefhead** · 03-29-2002, 10:42 AM

what city are you in chadillac?

Salifert is the best

**reefhead** · 03-29-2002, 10:44 AM

one other thing

seahorses,black longnose tang,hybrid choclate tang,orangeshoulder tang,powder blue tang,purple tang,yellow tang,singapore angel,majestic angel,french angel,clown fish,hawkfish,starfish,mandarin gobies,queen conch,cichlids,even goldfish

which tank do you have these tangs and angels in?

**reefdope** · 03-29-2002, 10:47 AM

Reefhead -

How do you know Salifert is the best? What tests have you run against it to be able to state that?

**thezookeeper** · 03-29-2002, 12:03 PM

Hi all. Our marine society did a comparison of test kits and Salifert did come out ahead of the others. The Hagen kits, believe me, aren't worth a nickel. I bought them all and found them to be so inaccurate I discontinued using them. I also like the SeaTest and FasTest kits. I have good luck with them. Also, if you do frequent water changes, iodine additions shouldn't be needed. If you use a good salt like IO, that is. In fact, I read an article from Ron Shimek that outlined the negative effects of using iodine, especially in excess. It was in an issue of FAMA, I'm sorry I can't remember the date of the issue. His site may have a listing. At any rate, I've never added iodine in over 2 years and things could not flourish any more than they do. Everyone claims different experiences though. But do invest in a little more reliable test kits to aide in your reefkeeping. Good luck!!

Joanne

**mrok12** · 03-30-2002, 12:20 AM

Welcome......
I have an auto top of system to replace evaporated water with Kalk( 5 gallons a day) And I add Seachem Reef buildr and reef advantage calcium. I do an eight percent water change religously on Sundays...... I use reef crystals for that and add Kent Iodine weekly. Salifert test kits are the better one's

MROK12

**mrok12** · 03-30-2002, 12:22 AM

Also read..... Aquarium Corals by Eric Boreman.

MROK12

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