No Water Changes, What Should I Dose And Test For?

[Teemingtank]

I’m currently dosing fusion 1&2, testing for both as well. I know from reading other threads I need to start dosing/testing magnesium. What’s the best route for dosing other trace elements?
Tank is roughly 50 gallons total water volume, no refugium, which brings me to my next question... Would I benefit from a skimmer?
stock is almost entirely coral, with the exception of one fish, maybe 5-10 hermits and 8-10 snails.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you really mean trace elements (e.g., iron, manganese, etc.), there's no good way to test them except by ICP at a mail out lab.

Once you do that, it makes little sense to test non-trace elements yourself (such as potassium) as they come with ICP testing as a package.

 

[Teemingtank]

If you really mean trace elements (e.g., iron, manganese, etc.), there's no good way to test them except by ICP at a mail out lab.

Once you do that, it makes little sense to test non-trace elements yourself (such as potassium) as they come with ICP testing as a package.

Iodine, strontium, things of that nature. I guess the better question is, what elements are depleted in a reef tank, and which ones can I dose for the best water quality in a system without water changes?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Iodine, strontium, things of that nature. I guess the better question is, what elements are depleted in a reef tank, and which ones can I dose for the best water quality in a system without water changes?

OK, those are not trace elements. Iodine will deplete rapidly and strontium may deplete slowly, depending on how you supplement calcium, but that doesn't necessarily mean either are useful (IMO).

There are many elements to keep track of. Not just a few important ones.

I think you will have to periodically get an ICP test to know how much of what to add to a non-water change system. But you can try to measure those specific two by test kit.

 

[blasterman]

Asking about trace elements here is like asking what's the best diet to lose weight A lot of us who don't do water changes like myself don't dose trace elements. Others do. More concensus on iodine because a lot of us have seen it benefit softies and some fleshier LPS directly, and like Randy said it's very unstable in healthy tank being depleted super fast. I'm convinced it does nothing for SPS and actually colors them down. Strontium has always been a big wild card. Wish we had more data on it. What I do know and will argue to the bloody death is that stable nutrient levels > debates on trace elements.

If your nitrate and phosphate levels are normally very low and you don't have visible water discoloration (a crude but good indicator of DOCs) then you are a good candidate for going skimmerless.

 

[Teemingtank]

Tha

Asking about trace elements here is like asking what's the best diet to lose weight A lot of us who don't do water changes like myself don't dose trace elements. Others do. More concensus on iodine because a lot of us have seen it benefit softies and some fleshier LPS directly, and like Randy said it's very unstable in healthy tank being depleted super fast. I'm convinced it does nothing for SPS and actually colors them down. Strontium has always been a big wild card. Wish we had more data on it. What I do know and will argue to the bloody death is that stable nutrient levels > debates on trace elements.

If your nitrate and phosphate levels are normally very low and you don't have visible water discoloration (a crude but good indicator of DOCs) then you are a good candidate for going skimmerless.

I like the analogy lol... Thank you! I’ll definitely give those a trial run. I haven’t really tested phosphate or nitrate. My feedings are controlled and I’m able to turkey baster detritus, daily, into a separate filter sock.