Options for minor trace element dosing?
- Thread starter ps2cho
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ps2cho
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BRS 2-part is incredibly inexpensive so is there a separate trace element dosing option?
Unless it’s cheaper to go that route as opposed to dosing separate products?
amps
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Red Sea Coral Colors ABCD
They're dosed based on calcium uptake. So figure out how much calcium in PPM you're dosing and then dose the proper amount of each Red Sea product. Each is dosed at the same rate so it's easy to do regularly. For instance, I was dosing 7ml of each every Friday until just recently.
They're dosed based on calcium uptake. So figure out how much calcium in PPM you're dosing and then dose the proper amount of each Red Sea product. Each is dosed at the same rate so it's easy to do regularly. For instance, I was dosing 7ml of each every Friday until just recently.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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Normal Balling (as described by Tropic Marin) is not a trace element supplement system. It is a calcium and alkalinity system that, like ESV B-ionic two part, does not itself cause depletion of trace elements when the salinity is adjusted downward. But it does not claim to add enough to offset demand in the tank for those trace elements.
Some companies might modify Balling systems, or even two part systems, to do that, but as claimed by Tropic Marin, Balling will not offset demand.
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There are many trace elements methods, from add everything once in a while and hope it is appropriate, to measure and add everything individually (e.g., Triton).
All trace element methods have pros and cons, but in general, it may well be worth pursuing for your system.
jsker
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You can beg, but you'd be wrong.
I think you've been misled. 
We have discussed this extensively with Lou Ekus of Tropic Marin, as well as Hans Werner. It does not act as a supplement to trace elements. It supplies calcium and alkalinity and magnesium, and then does the equivalent of a tiny water change by adding all the elements in seawater in a natural ratio. No extra trace elements.
Putting trace elements in a calcium and magnesium and alkalinity additive DOES NOT mean it maintains anything.
How can that be, you might ask?
I can explain it for balling (and will if needed), but here's how that works out in the context of a two part containing copper NOT acting to boost copper at all:
One issue that has confused some reef keepers, however, is the presence of trace elements. Assuming that these products are actually formulated with every ion such that a true natural seawater residue remained (let’s call this the “ideal” product), then it will necessarily contain such ions as copper. Since copper is elevated in some reef tanks, and is toxic to many invertebrates, reef keepers have wrongly criticized this method as adding more copper. That’s actually not what would happen. Since these products leave a natural seawater residue, and since copper may be elevated in concentration in many reef tanks relative to seawater, then using these “ideal” products will actually LOWER copper levels because when the increase in salinity is corrected, the copper will drop.
For example:
You have copper in your aquarium at 4 ppb and salinity of S=35.
You add a two part additive that over the course of a month raises salinity to S=36, and raises copper to 4.02 ppb.
Then you correct the salinity back to S=35 by diluting everything in the tank with fresh water, and you get a final copper concentration of 3.9 ppb.
Does this happen in real products and not “ideal” products? I have no idea. But the statement by manufacturers that it contains all ions in natural ratios, including copper, should not be viewed as a concern that it is exacerbating a heavy metal problem.
Here's Hans Werner's and Lou Ekus's exact comments:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/a...rin-balling-system.318541/page-2#post-3981248
"Our Tropic Marin Balling System is really completely balanced and results in calcium, bicarbonate (calcium carbonate + CO2 for coral growth) and complete Pro-Reef sea salt."
and
"The Balling Method published in 1994 just as the Tropic Marin Balling Method only adds calcium, carbonate and bicarbonate and in final outcome a little complete sea salt consisting of all the 79 elements mentioned. It does not contain additional magnesium or trace elements for growth of corals or coralline algae. Magnesium and trace elements consumption by different organisms is different, depending also from the calcium carbonate modification (high magnesium calcite or aragonite) formed by the organisms. A trace element recipe adding some of the essential trace elements in a certain ratio to calcium was first published in the following two years. Magnesium can be tested for and additional magnesium can be added separately."
and
"On the homepage you can find more details:
Concentration of solution:
Calcium chloride dihydrate (part A): 20.000 mg/l (ppm) Ca
Sodium carbonate/sodium bicarbonate (part B): 2800° dKH/l
Sodium chloride free sea salt (part C): 3350 mg/l Mg; 980 mg/l K"
That first statement is EXACTLY what I was demonstrating for a two part, and he clearly says Balling is not, by itself, a trace element supplement. It is the listed ingredients, plus a little bit of balanced salt missing the sodium and chloride.
