Adding Trace Elements

[usinkit]

I would like to know if anyone adds trace elements to their tank. Iam thinking of doing this instead of doing water changes of 5 gallons every two weeks on my 40 gl w/30 sump/refugium and just start doing 5-7gallons once a month. My nitrates and phosphates stay right at 0, so I figure adding trace elements and cutting back a bit of water changes wont hurt. Any info on this will be much appreciated.

 

[smarls]

Hoenstly, if your water is staying at zero's, I would personally keep doing exactly what you are doing!
The water changes help with a lot more than just the replacement of trace elements, although that is indeed an important benefit. Readings should be taken with a slight grain of salt...zero phosphates could just mean that there are indeed phopshates in your tank, but that they are being used up by organisms prior to the phosphates registering on a
I see no real hamr in trying, except that your perfect water could get messed up...which is a risk you need to ebaluate yourself. Let me put it this way...if I could have perfect water conditions with a 5 gallon change every two weeks, I would be all over it!
HTH
Stewart

 

[ctgretzky9]

The water changes are replacing your trace elements, and in addition it is diluting any contaminants. If it is working, changing things can quickly screw it all up. The water changes themseleves are probably WHY you are having good readings

 

[usinkit]

I hear what your saying. I just wanted to know if it was possible to do. Just an ideal thrown out to see if anyone has been doing that. Thanks for the info.

 

[bang guy]

IMO it's certainly possible but not practical.
In order to know how much to dose you would be wise to test your water levels. I would think that the time and cost of performing all those tests would be excessive when compared to just mixing up 5 gallons of saltwater.

 

[usinkit]

ctgretzky9 the reason I wanted to try this is before I never ran a refugium and could never keep my nitrates down below 20 no matter what I did for water changes. Now that I have a refugium I have seen how important of a role the refugium plays. To me running the refugium is almost like cheating in this hobby. What a differents the refugium has made for my water quality. I do agree though if aint broke dont fix it. I just wanted to get a little bit of info on cutting down on water changes and adding trace elements instead. Thanks for the info.

 

[ctgretzky9]

IT is certainbly possible I would imagine, but I would reccomend against it. What scares me most, is adding things like iodine and magnesium and elements like these. An overdose of these types of elements could cause death very quickly. Most salt mixes have these elements already "measured" out for the most part and are safer to use.
Water changes, to me, seem to cure a lot of ills if done properly, and helps to keep things in balance.
Not to say if you are a very experienced reefkeeper, and really understand the chemistry of it all and have proper test kits etc, that you could keep things in balance longer between water changes. For me, Ill stick to weekly changes.

 

[usinkit]

BANG GUY, Well i guess that answers my ?. If I were going to do this this would add more work then its worth. It wasnt a money issue more of getting out of some work issue. Thanks for your input.

 

[ctgretzky9]

us...I see what you mean since you have a fuge. I guess I may have spoken also of my own set up where I am using a canister filter and wet/dry, so for me water changes are an absolute must. I sometimes even do 2 a week if i see my trates get up to above 20.
I would still, however, think that water changes would be beneficial as far as the point i made about dosing trace elements. This is just a fear of mine, and feel it can lead to major problems if not done correctly. Hope i helped a little

 

[usinkit]

ctgretzky9, I agree now having heard some great advice I will stiick with 5 gallon water changes once aweek. Thanks.

 

[ctgretzky9]

no prob! glad to help out a fellow ct taxpayer

 

[usinkit]

I hear the taxes!!!!!!!!!!!!!