Best products for dosing elements for beginner sps

[zachtyd]

Just want to keep things stable and want to know the tools to dose (working on getting a foster eventually but want to do it manually first I love working with my tank and would like to understand the chemistry of things to really dial in a foster for a more permanent solution eventually), element products to dose, how to get dialed in on how much to dose, how to keep nitrates in check through filtration, how to react to unhappy corals, etc. all help is appreciated!
Tank is a 30 gallon all in one by jbj
Other tank is a 15 gallon column I am using a hang in back filter for

 

[Katrina71]

Look at Red Sea coral foundation. Premixed, specific instructions for small tanks.

 

[Nano10]

Imo...None other than 2 part when needed to keep alk and cal stable.

 

[zachtyd]

Look at Red Sea coral foundation. Premixed, specific instructions for small tanks.

Thank you!

 

[zachtyd]

Imo...None other than 2 part when needed to keep alk and cal stable.

I heard that also! Thanks! Any specific products for this you like?

 

[LARedstickreefer]

I’d go for Tropic Marin All for Reef.

It’s probably the perfect one until you get into large water volumes for a tank full of sps colonies.

 

[PatW]

I have done well with Bulk Reef Supply. Their calcium is calcium chloride and the alkalinity is soda ash. They are easy to mix up. Two and a half cups into a gallon of RODI. If your salt mix has a relatively high magnesium level, water changes should maintain magnesium.

 

[zachtyd]

I have done well with Bulk Reef Supply. Their calcium is calcium chloride and the alkalinity is soda ash. They are easy to mix up. Two and a half cups into a gallon of RODI. If your salt mix has a relatively high magnesium level, water changes should maintain magnesium.

Yeah I use reef crystals by Red Sea so mag is high! Nice man thanks

 

[zachtyd]

I’d go for Tropic Marin All for Reef.

It’s probably the perfect one until you get into large water volumes for a tank full of sps colonies.

Sounds good! So for a 30 gallon it’s be good? 30 not including the back sump and not including the rock work

 

[AdamB]

I still use b ionic 2 part which has worked great . Just add water in the gallon concentrate if water changes can’t keep up . I also dose use acro power supplements as well

 

[Zach W]

I use Aquaforest 1+2+3+ to dose and maintain both the big three and trace elements. Its easy to use too, all you do its dial in the dose for your Alk component (2+) and then dose the exact same amounts of the others and it will maintain all of your levels. This is a modified version of the balling method. I personally use these components for my 20 gal AIO tank that is SPS dominant and would highly recommend it!

 

[Zach W]

You can also get it in premade solutions or make it yourself

 

[zachtyd]

I still use b ionic 2 part which has worked great . Just add water in the gallon concentrate if water changes can’t keep up . I also dose use acro power supplements as well

Which ones do you use?

 

[Nano10]

I tried all for reef but had trouble dialing it in so switched to b ionic.

 

[zachtyd]

I tried all for reef but had trouble dialing it in so switched to b ionic.

What size tank you have?

 

[S.Pepper]

Just want to keep things stable and want to know the tools to dose (working on getting a foster eventually but want to do it manually first I love working with my tank and would like to understand the chemistry of things to really dial in a foster for a more permanent solution eventually), element products to dose, how to get dialed in on how much to dose, how to keep nitrates in check through filtration, how to react to unhappy corals, etc. all help is appreciated!
Tank is a 30 gallon all in one by jbj
Other tank is a 15 gallon column I am using a hang in back filter for

You might want to look at Tropic Marin's All-for-reef. It's a simple, single dosing method and the reviews have been great. It's what i intend on using, at least at the beginning of my SW travels. GL

p.s. Just saw this was commented on earlier. Still going to give it a try and the reviews have been almost unianimous of how well it works... especially when dealing with smaller tanks.

 

[zachtyd]

You might want to look at Tropic Marin's All-for-reef. It's a simple, single dosing method and the reviews have been great. It's what i intend on using, at least at the beginning of my SW travels. GL

p.s. Just saw this was commented on earlier. Still going to give it a try and the reviews have been almost unianimous of how well it works... especially when dealing with smaller tanks.

Awesome! Thanks hope it goes well man!

 

[beaslbob]

improved diy two part.

Calcium chloride ~$30 50 pound bags available at redimix concrete places.

Baking soda and Epsom salts from grocery/drug stores.

Magnesiium chloride is harder to find but I found an industrial chemical supplier locals. ~ $40 for a 50 pound bag.

 

[zachtyd]

improved diy two part.

Calcium chloride ~$30 50 pound bags available at redimix concrete places.

Baking soda and Epsom salts from grocery/drug stores.

Magnesiium chloride is harder to find but I found an industrial chemical supplier locals. ~ $40 for a 50 pound bag.

Wow! That’s some good scouting right there!

 

[AdamB]

Which ones do you use?

Calcium and alkalinity. I never had to dose magnesium. I use Live Aquaria professional reef salt