What additives and tests do you use?

[b-baby80]

O.K. i'm starting a reef tank.I'm curious to know what all you test for?What you test with?and what you add and why?what brand?
I'm trying to research things but then i see so many conflicting opinions etc...
Like some people don't add because their salt mixes have the stuff?So i'm trying to figure this out.What do i need to test for?Then if i need to add something.Whats the best to add?
I know these things may sound dumb but please help me out

 

[jmick]

There are a lot of differening opinions when it comes to what you need to test for and suppliment for your tank. In my tank there are only three things I test for to suppliment and they are Calcium, Alk and Magnesium. Even with regular water changes my calcium demand is very high and the bi-weekly 15% change can't keep up. I dose about 1 tablespoon of Kalk a day with my top off water and use Mrs. Wages Pickeling lime. I rarely have to add an alk buffer and once every couple of weeks I will need to dose Magnesium.
They key really is to only add what you test for. I am not a fan of adding iodine, Stontonium and some of the other suppliments because I feel that regular water changes will replenish this trace elements.

 

[tizzo]

ummm...ditto
test for calcium, and alk
add calcium and alk. (But I only had to start adding it after I had way to many corals for the water changes to keep up with)...just like jmick

 

[earlybird]

To continue what Jmick wrote.
Some systems have corals that use up calcium which it why he supplements. Doing so keeps his pH in check or prevents large swings. To further understand that you need to know the relationship cal, alk, and mag have on pH.
I have few corals and they don't deplete my calcium at all. The only thing I do is water changes to keep my trace elements up and to help reduce my nitrates and phosphates. I try to keep a natural tank and rarely even use carbon. Additives such as purple up and trace elements are just marketing ploys IMHO.

 

[tizzo]

Originally Posted by B-Baby80
I'm trying to research things but then i see so many conflicting opinions etc...
I think conflicting opinions occur when somebody says something like..."For good coral growth and coralline algae, you need to have lots of calcium in your tank cause corals and coralline need calcium"
"Shrimp needs iodine to molt properly, and algaes need iron"
All this is true, but what people fail to mention is that your salt mix contains calcium...lots of it.. and iodine and iron. So while its true that your tank needs this stuff, you are already adding it.
And as far as I know, calcium and alk are the only "supplements" that get depleted faster than "naturally" replenished. And it takes a LOT of hard corals for even that to happen.