Supplements vs Water Changes?

[coraljunkie]

I know this question has probably been asked a million times but I would like to know who uses additional supplements such as Kents Iodine, CoralVite, Strontium & Molybednium, etc or who just does frequent water changes. Those that use additional supplements what do you use?

 

[coraljunkie]

I do a 20% water change every 2 weeks and use the following on a weekly dosage. Kents: Iodine, Strontium & Molybednium, CoralVite, CoralAccel,

 

[spanko]

I do 20% per week with NutriSeawater. I dose Calcium and Alk with ESV B-Ionic. That is it.

 

[xdfireguy]

No dosing here, although I see it in my future

Doing a 15% WC every week or two. ASW is cheap and easy to mix.

 

[saltn00b]

do you test for those supplements?

 

[spanko]

If you are asking me if I test, yes once per week for calcium and alkalinity along with magnesium and Ph and salinity.

 

[tizzo]

I test for and add alk and calcium.
But those "supplements" listed in post #1, I added when I was brand new to the hobby. My skimmer just sucked it all back out.
Haven't used the stuff in years.

 

[saltn00b]

spanko, a general good rule of thumb for this hobby i have heard for years and adhere to myself is, "Never put something into your tank that you don't test for." this also includes things you obviously CANT test for. the supplements you are speaking of , Iodine, Strontium & Molybednium, are essential for corals and can be tested for (usually expensive test though). However, these elements are tertiarry at best for coral health and are required in very small amounts, that are usually replaced with a good reef salt. the other stuff like coral vite / accell you can't really test for so you dont know if it is doing anything at all, or perhaps worse.
you have some SPS, so the main things you should be testing for and dosing (after making sure the params are nice and clean) are calc, alk, and then occasionally magnesium, which is on average, the most depleted element in our tanks when compared to ocean levels.

 

[spanko]

Originally Posted by saltn00b
http:///forum/post/2670353
spanko, a general good rule of thumb for this hobby i have heard for years and adhere to myself is, "Never put something into your tank that you don't test for." this also includes things you obviously CANT test for. the supplements you are speaking of , Iodine, Strontium & Molybednium, are essential for corals and can be tested for (usually expensive test though). However, these elements are tertiarry at best for coral health and are required in very small amounts, that are usually replaced with a good reef salt. the other stuff like coral vite / accell you can't really test for so you dont know if it is doing anything at all, or perhaps worse.
you have some SPS, so the main things you should be testing for and dosing (after making sure the params are nice and clean) are calc, alk, and then occasionally magnesium, which is on average, the most depleted element in our tanks when compared to ocean levels.

Saltnoob, I may have given the wrong impression or you took my statement wrong, or you are addressing the wrong person but I do not dose Iodine, Strontium & Molybednium, these are only replenished in my tank by water changes. I only test and or dose for calcium and alkalinity along with magnesium when tested for and needed. Sorry if I was not clear on this.

 

[saltn00b]

yeap, i totally misconstrued what you said! LOL
post #2 is confusing , threw me for a loop. i do the same as you.

 

[spanko]

Phew!

 

[reefkprz]

so far I have rarely ever had to dose anything. I do insane amounts of waterchanges. 25% once a week and 50% once a month. I keep a few supplements on hand just incase but have yet to need anything, I have had the same bottle of reefbuilder for almost three years now. only used it 3-4 times in that time.

 

[dallassvt]

Originally Posted by reefkprZ
http:///forum/post/2671563
so far I have rarely ever had to dose anything. I do insane amounts of waterchanges. 25% once a week and 50% once a month. I keep a few supplements on hand just incase but have yet to need anything, I have had the same bottle of reefbuilder for almost three years now. only used it 3-4 times in that time.
Those are pretty "insane" water changes!!

What kind of salt are you using?

 

[al mc]

Originally Posted by DallasSVT
http:///forum/post/2671671
Those are pretty "insane" water changes!!

What kind of salt are you using?
They may seem excessive but are fine as long as the pH, SG and temp of the change water closely mirrors the tank water. 'Reef' keeps lots of corals and
he is replacing lots of trace elements needed to keep his corals healthy I believe.
CJ.....I change about 25% weekly and only test/supplement for Calcium and alkalinity, if needed. I use to add lots of supplements and did few water changes. My unscientific 'obervation' is that all my corals 'look' happier.

 

[coraljunkie]

That is what I am learning. In the begining I used to add all sorts of supplements as that is what I thought was required to keep the water and nutrients where it needed to be to maintain healthy corals. I am now a firm believer in just doing the water changes after reading what everyone has had to say here. I have actually backed way off on the supplements from where I used to be. Used to add every other day. Now down to weekly but now I am going to eliminate it all together.
thanks for the input

 

[kirkland]

spanko, a general good rule of thumb for this hobby i have heard for years and adhere to myself is, "Never put something into your tank that you don't test for." this also includes things you obviously CANT test for. the supplements you are speaking of , Iodine, Strontium & Molybednium, are essential for corals and can be tested for (usually expensive test though). However, these elements are tertiarry at best for coral health and are required in very small amounts, that are usually replaced with a good reef salt. the other stuff like coral vite / accell you can't really test for so you dont know if it is doing anything at all, or perhaps worse.
QUOTE]

I agree with not dosing what you can't test & also prefer to do water changes versus dosing. I remind myself constantly that what goes into the tank might not come back out. I do does for calc & alk when needed, and add iodine 1-2x/month for our shrimps.

 

[bang guy]

I dose Limewater 24/7 to maintain Alkalinity and Calcium levels.
I grow and harvest a LOT of algae in the refugium to remove Iodine to make it easier on all of the Crustaceans as well as to remove excess nutrients.