Dosing two types of supplements, is it a good idea?

[CyberGuy]

I was thinking of adding a calcium reactor to my Aquaforest 123+ to add more trace elements to the tank. However, I prefer dosing.
Therefore, I planned to dose ESV B-Ionic 2 parts since I have another doser unit.

This way, I would be able to add more trace elements and would be able to cut the amount of dosage of both Aquaforest 123+ and ESV B-Ionic.

Is this a good idea? Anyone do this?

 

[Auquanut]

I've never used a calcium reactor. Like you, I like to dose and test. I auto-dose the big 3 and manually dose trace. It seems to me, the purpose of the CaRx is to eliminate dosing. I just think if you try to combine the two approaches it could become kind of a juggling act. I'm not saying that it isn't plausible, just sounds like a lot of moving parts. I would like to hear what others have to say though.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It is fine to use multiple methods, but I question the rationale in this case.

A calcium reactor is not a complete way to add trace elements. It adds only elements present in skeletons, and not the elements present in tissues. so it ignores p all the trace elements taken up into soft corals, algae, and the soft tissue of hard corals. Elements such as iron and manganese are rapidly depleted and skeletons will not help much.

 

[CyberGuy]

It is fine to use multiple methods, but I question the rationale in this case.

A calcium reactor is not a complete way to add trace elements. It adds only elements present in skeletons, and not the elements present

My rational is that by dosing both Aquaforest 123+ and also ESV B-Ionic, I would cut the dosing amount of both products but more importantly, I would add more types of trace elements to the tank since there are some differences in trace elements contained in both product.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

B-ionic is not intended or useful as a trace element supplement. It is like doing a 0.1% water change each day.

 

[CyberGuy]

B-ionic is not intended or useful as a trace element supplement. It is like doing a 0.1% water change each day.

Thanks for the input. If that is the case, then I think it is best to just stick to Aquaforest 123+ as the main dosing only and just add trace elements separately and accordingly.

Is this correct?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for the input. If that is the case, then I think it is best to just stick to Aquaforest 123+ as the main dosing only and just add trace elements separately and accordingly.

Is this correct?

if the goal is trace elements, yes.