Do you need to add trace elements or.............
- Thread starter ray28576
- Start date
drew2005
Active Member
Originally Posted by Ray28576
Do you need to add trace elements by hand or do water changes put them back in the water? Im talking about things like calcium, Iodine, etc. :notsure:
If you have a good brand of salt mix then simple weekly or bi-weekly water changes should be good enough. Some salts have higher calcium levels then others. Best thing to do is test for it. If its low then maybe you would to consider dosing for what is needed.
Do you need to add trace elements by hand or do water changes put them back in the water? Im talking about things like calcium, Iodine, etc. :notsure:
If you have a good brand of salt mix then simple weekly or bi-weekly water changes should be good enough. Some salts have higher calcium levels then others. Best thing to do is test for it. If its low then maybe you would to consider dosing for what is needed.
ctgretzky9
Member
Originally Posted by Ray28576
Do you need to add trace elements by hand or do water changes put them back in the water? Im talking about things like calcium, Iodine, etc. :notsure:
Testing for anything you want to dose is the only acceptable way to dose anything
Calcium usually people need to as it is part of your buffer system. Iodine, rarely to never, as salt mixes in general give youa ll you need, and iodine test keits (i have gone through 2) are inaccurate and should be used only as a guideline.
Water changes, properly mixed, will give you all the TRACES you need. You should be testing for alkalinity and calcium, pH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and if you can swing it, magnesium, and to a lesser degree iodine.
Do you need to add trace elements by hand or do water changes put them back in the water? Im talking about things like calcium, Iodine, etc. :notsure:
Testing for anything you want to dose is the only acceptable way to dose anything
Calcium usually people need to as it is part of your buffer system. Iodine, rarely to never, as salt mixes in general give youa ll you need, and iodine test keits (i have gone through 2) are inaccurate and should be used only as a guideline.
Water changes, properly mixed, will give you all the TRACES you need. You should be testing for alkalinity and calcium, pH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and if you can swing it, magnesium, and to a lesser degree iodine.
nm reef
Active Member
Routine water changes will normally maintain levels of elements close to that of natural saltwater........if there is a high demand on calcium then it may be appropiate to suppliment for calcium/alkalinity/magnesium...but only if those levels are closely monitored and only if there is a need to maintain elevated levels. Many marine systems can do just fine with levels established by most of the available salt mixs.
