additives for two part

[SamsReef]

One of the benefits of using a calcium reactor is that it adds all major and minor elements not just CA, Carbonate and Mag...the downside is that it adds phosphates and nitrate as well.

Question for all the experts (3+ yrs of thriving reef) who use dosers, what additional additives do you use and you are convinced that it is a must have. I personally add strontium and iodide.

Sam.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It is a mistake to think that the two part additives do not add lots of other elements. They do. Perhaps more of many than a reactor does.

So IMO, the question is what other elements are usefully added, regardless of the addition method.

I personally don't think there's any evidence that strontium is useful except for certain organisms that most people do not keep.

I also believe the evidence in iodine is very weak, and after dosing it for years, I stopped and saw no difference. That experience has been repeated by many reefers.

I do dose iron and silicate, and I think that testing by Triton may open our eyes a bit to some other elements that are depleted in many aquaria.

 

[SamsReef]

Hello Randy, appreciate your response. I use BRS two part, which I believe is pure calcium chloride, sodium carbonate, mag chloride and mag sulphate. I do not think it has any other trace elements...I might be wrong.

On other dosing, I have sent sample for triton testing, will get to know soon. Unfortunately, they are closed for a looonnnggg time.

Sam

 

[mikellini]

One of the benefits of using a calcium reactor is that it adds all major and minor elements not just CA, Carbonate and Mag...the downside is that it adds phosphates and nitrate as well.

Question for all the experts (3+ yrs of thriving reef) who use dosers, what additional additives do you use and you are convinced that it is a must have. I personally add strontium and iodide.

Sam.

Also, I don't think that calcium reactors add ALL major and minor elements; they would only add the ones that were used in forming the skeleton/substance you are dissolving in the reactor. I imagine many of the elements found and used in the flesh of the coral would be missing, no?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hello Randy, appreciate your response. I use BRS two part, which I believe is pure calcium chloride, sodium carbonate, mag chloride and mag sulphate. I do not think it has any other trace elements...I might be wrong.

On other dosing, I have sent sample for triton testing, will get to know soon. Unfortunately, they are closed for a looonnnggg time.

Sam

It actually has lots of other elements that are present as impurities. How much of what depends on the source if the chemicals. For example, some sources of calcium chloride (such as the Dowflake I used in my original recipe for a DIY two part that BRS duplicated) contain large amounts of potassium and bromide, along with many other ions. Likely more of these in relation to calcium than most reactor media does.

So this is a complicated question.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Also, I don't think that calcium reactors add ALL major and minor elements; they would only add the ones that were used in forming the skeleton/substance you are dissolving in the reactor. I imagine many of the elements found and used in the flesh of the coral would be missing, no?

Yes. It likely wouldn't add as much of two things I supplement: iron and silicate.