How often on adding Trace Elements?

[wwfstyle]

At this point I have a few zoos, speggetti finger (sp?), leather, and polups. I was only adding trace elements to my 75 gal with a 55 sump 1 a week about a table spoon. My speggetti finger isn't looking to good so I was thinking that I might not have enough food in the tank. Should I be adding more or any other foods with these kind of corals? At this point I am only planning on have soft corals and in about a year or so I'll go to sps as well. Thanks for any info you may have.

 

[shogun323]

IMO you should not have to add any trace elements. As a rule don't add anything you can't test for. You should be getting all of the trace elements you need from your salt mix. They then get replenished through regular water changes. You may need to supplement calcium, but thats really it. Most likely your calcuim is fine since you just have a few softies.
Also, by adding these trace elements you could be throwing off your water parameters, specifically your Ph.

 

[a&a2]

Won't protein skimming remove trace elements???

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by A&A2
Won't protein skimming remove trace elements???
Not a significant amount. Typically, Calcium Carbonate and Magnesium are all that's needed.
Your Alkalinity (carbonate) may be low and this can prevent corals from growing. Corals that can't grow typically start to die.
I suggest testing Alkalinity and Calcium if you have corals.

 

[oceana]

Originally Posted by shogun323
IMO you should not have to add any trace elements. As a rule don't add anything you can't test for. You should be getting all of the trace elements you need from your salt mix. They then get replenished through regular water changes. You may need to supplement calcium, but thats really it. Most likely your calcuim is fine since you just have a few softies.
Also, by adding these trace elements you could be throwing off your water parameters, specifically your Ph.

i am with you. I have NEVER added anything to any of my tanks. when i first got my tank i used purple up but thats it. proper equipment proper water changes a good salt mix and a ballanced system IMO is all you need

 

[mandarin w]

You should never just throw trace elements in your tank. Before you add anything, you should test to see if in fact you need it. If you just add things because it is Wednsday, You could throw your whole balance off. If you test you freshly made up saltwater, it should test out just right for calcuim, alk, Ph, So just do your weekly water change, and you should be fine. Worry about supplmenting if and when you have about 50 SPS in your tank.

 

[oceana]

Originally Posted by mandarin w
Worry about supplmenting if and when you have about 50 SPS in your tank.

??? how can you put a number out like that??? the rest of the info is good but that part of statment has no solid ground. sps size, sps type. tank size all would change this number greatly. there is no way to place a number.

 

[wwfstyle]

I was doing water changes about every 6 weeks. About 25 gallons per change. Now you say do weekly water changes could I just get away with only doing 5 gallons or so? 75 gal show tank with a 55 sump.

 

[oceana]

Originally Posted by wwfstyle
I was doing water changes about every 6 weeks. About 25 gallons per change. Now you say do weekly water changes could I just get away with only doing 5 gallons or so? 75 gal show tank with a 55 sump.

sounds like a fair number to me. i change approx 70 gallon every 3-4 weeks. done so for quite some time problem free. total system is approx 450 gallons.
for salt mix i use a combo of tropic marine pro and IO. i find that it makes a very ballance mix and so far i have had great results