BRS/TM hybrid balling with minimum WCs, when to start trace?

rennjidk · Jul 22, 2023

I'm starting with 50% new water. ICP shows decent parameters on the tank (which is now void of corals) but I'm still going to change out half for a clean start. I'll be adding around 10 frags of Monti and Acros.

TM recommends no trace other than balling "C" for the first year, but that's with regular heavy WCs making up the difference. I'm only doing around 12% every 3-4 months. I'm going to send in ICP tests every 4 months as well and dose accordingly if any issues arise.

What would be a good starting point for the "K" and "A" trace supplements? Should I start with a full dose when I mix my 2 part or cut it back for frags? 21g water volume.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 22, 2023

If you are growing macroalgae, that will suck up a lot of trace elements. If you have fish, feeding them adds trace elements (likely more than water changes).

Otherwise, I'd wait until the frags seem to start growing.

bushdoc · Jul 22, 2023

As Randy stated trace elements need to be added when consumption exceeds addition by either water changes or feeding., so it depends on your bio load and growth rate of corals ( should you have them).
You can either arbitrarily start adding trace elements without any testing or follow ICP results, either way, it is not very likely that , even with your decreased water changes schedule, your coral growth is fast enough in first 8-10 months or so for trace element to be substantially deficient.

rennjidk · Jul 22, 2023

Thanks for the response

Reefahholic · Jul 27, 2023

You can send the ICP after the cycle and then correct all the elements. After that, send another in 2-4 weeks to check the corrections and also look for any new corrections. This will get you off to a excellent start. Typically, there’s not much consumption for the first 2-4 months, but certain elements are still being consumed. Some elements will need to hit a saturation point to become stable. If there is alkalinity consumption, elements will become low or depleted if not supplemented back, but every tank is different. The rate of consumption will vary depending on many variables (A lot already mentioned above). ICP is the best way to measure and understand what your tank is doing so that nothing is over/under dosed. Best of luck.