Reef additives

mike007 · Jun 1, 2014

How many of you are confused on what additives are best for your reef tank? There are so many companies out there selling their products. How do we really know which ones are the best. Should we spending money for the high end products or do we buy the others? Does it really matter which products you choose as long as you are getting good results?

Tahoe61 · Jun 1, 2014

Over the years I think I probably bought just about every product until I came to the realization that most made no noticeable positive impact on my tanks, and some with the potential to do harm. It's marketing, amazing how you can make a bottle of supplemental calcium look so hipster and cool. I buy what is affordable or reasonably priced.

I stick to the basics Ca/Alk/Mag. I can see the use of Iron and Iodine in certain tank types.

I would be willing to try Zovite products.

The poor new hobbyist that is bombarded with the advertising and advised by some that they do in fact need Strontium supplements or else their tank will never look worthy.

CastAway · Jun 1, 2014

My tank is brand new. Planning for an sps tank primarily. I'd like to fall into the best additive right off the bat, and avoid a long costly learning curve. Thus, following along....

TrialandError · Jun 1, 2014

I am royally confused. I was told one was good been using it but my alk and everything is still super low :/

mike007 · Jun 1, 2014

Tahoe61 said:
Over the years I think I probably bought just about every product until I came to the realization that most made no noticeable positive impact on my tanks, and some with the potential to do harm. It's marketing, amazing how you can make a bottle of supplemental calcium look so hipster and cool. I buy what is affordable or reasonably priced.

I stick to the basics Ca/Alk/Mag. I can see the use of Iron and Iodine in certain tank types.

I would be willing to try Zovite products.

The poor new hobbyist that is bombarded with the advertising and advised by some that they do in fact need Strontium supplements or else their tank will never look worthy.

Amen bro it is very confusing for many reefers getting into the hobby. I am going to try the zeo myself.

mike007 · Jun 1, 2014

In order to maintain a healthy reef you have to test and test all your parameters. This gets very intense if you are maintaining sps. I do think the German scientist have a leg up on additives. There are so many variables in maintaining a reef tank it does get confusing.

Tahoe61 · Jun 1, 2014

TrialandError said:
I am royally confused. I was told one was good been using it but my alk and everything is still super low :/

Unless your Magnesium is in line you will have issues stabilizing your Alkalinity and Calcium values, they all play off each other. When Alkalinity increases the value of Calcium falls slightly, when magnesium is low roughly below 1200 ppm, you'll likely see low Ca and Alk values

Reef chemistry takes practice, read Randy-Holmes Farley and re-read it.

TrialandError · Jun 1, 2014

My mag is low to. Been dosing that as well.

Pete polyp · Jun 2, 2014

I use kalk to help maintain stability with CA and alk. I also have to dose alk and mag about twice a week to maintain the parameters (which I should probably start doing smaller amounts daily). About once a week I check my potassium and dose as needed, which it normally needs a small bump (10ppm). As far as everything else I just do regular water changes to replenish what has been used.

revhtree · Jun 2, 2014

DOSING RULES: Dosing 101 for your Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION

mike007 · Jun 2, 2014

revhtree said:
DOSING RULES: Dosing 101 for your Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION

I like that Rev.

ReefPiracy · Jun 3, 2014

Of course the BIG 3 need to be tested for and maintained. The others will come with water changes or can be added but seems not much is known about them.

CastAway · Jun 3, 2014

Hmmm. Perhaps my ignorance, just being a newb, but I did not think of Ca, dKH or Mg when I thought of "additives". I was thinking brands of amino acids, vitamin supplements, etc. - perhaps those things not tested for...

reeffirstaid · Jun 3, 2014

The best practice, IMHO, is to only add what you are testing for. Personally, I think Red Sea has done a good job with their Reef Care Program, pairing test kits to additives and offering a chart that cuts through a lot of confusion. When you get into the world of zeovit, additives become more pronounced, but have a fine tuned set of parameters they effect. Though, if your not testing for it, you don't really know what you are getting. In the case of amino acids, I think the best approach is to watch your corals, to decide what works best, and how much to use.

beaslbob · Jun 3, 2014

IMHO IME the very fist thing to do is the diy 2 part.

my.02

pscott99 · Jun 3, 2014

Yes it is very confusing when you just start out. The more you read the better. The bottom line is some people get by just fine with water changes. Buying a reef is easy if you have the money to spend. Stick to the basics until you know what and why you are dosing. If your tank is doing well you are doing lots right already. There is plenty of ways to spend ( and waste ) money in this hobby.