Seachem Reef Trace And Reef Plus Dosage

[AquaRaider44]

Hello,

I am a big fan of using trace elements and amino acids in reef tanks and can clearly see many improvements in coloration and polyp extension when using these products in my main display tank vs my other tanks. I know this is because I do not do any water changes to replace trace elements and skim hard to remove a lot of the nutrients.

I have a very packed 66-gallon tank and use about 1.7 DKH of alkalinity and 11.9 ppm of calcium daily which is more than most people. I currently dose 30 ML of each total spread out over the week to my tank as per Seachem directions "Use 1 capful (5 mL) for every 80 L (20 US gallons) twice a week" but I called and they said this was not based on any standard usage.

My question here is that how do I know what the optimal dosage would be for these products? Based on the ingrediants would there be a ratio that should be used based on my consumption?

Does anyone have any other suggestions for Trace elements or Aminos that are based on actual consumption of alkalinity or calcium?

I am not looking to do the expensive ICP/triton water test method to add each individually and play mad scientist, just looking for a ballpark approximation based on my usage.

 

[JCOLE]

I have been using reef trace and reef plus for the last 3 months with good results. My colors pop better while using them. I dose about 35ml of each in my 150 gallon every three days. I do reef trace first day, reef plus second day, strontium the third day then repeat.

 

[Zero1091]

I have a reefer 60g tank with a 30g sump.

I do 15 ml of trace and plus.
I alternate the doses and skip a day in between.
I did notice a little bit of cyano forming most likely from the plus, not enough to be a big deal though.
I use 1.0dkh of alkalinity and 8-10ppm of calcium a day. On a plus side all corals are doing well and full of color.
Really inexpensive bottles too for the results you get.
I tried Triton ICP dosing individual elements and the tank looked stunning but, it got expensive sending water out every month.

Might switch to doing 10ml a day to see if the small bit of cyano I do have disappears.

 

[AquaRaider44]

I have been using reef trace and reef plus for the last 3 months with good results. My colors pop better while using them. I dose about 35ml of each in my 150 gallon every three days. I do reef trace first day, reef plus second day, strontium the third day then repeat.

How much calcium and alk do you use though?

 

[AquaRaider44]

I have a reefer 60g tank with a 30g sump.

I do 15 ml of trace and plus.
I alternate the doses and skip a day in between.
I did notice a little bit of cyano forming most likely from the plus, not enough to be a big deal though.
I use 1.0dkh of alkalinity and 8-10ppm of calcium a day. On a plus side all corals are doing well and full of color.
Really inexpensive bottles too for the results you get.
I tried Triton ICP dosing individual elements and the tank looked stunning but, it got expensive sending water out every month.

Might switch to doing 10ml a day to see if the small bit of cyano I do have disappears.

Thank you! I may have to bump up my dosage as I do 30 per week of each which it sounds like you pretty much do and I use much much more alk and cal per day.

 

[JCOLE]

How much calcium and alk do you use though?

My tank consumes around1.5 of alk and 15ppm of calcium a day. I do not dose Alk and Calcium individually. I use Kalkwasser in my ATO and have a calcium reactor. With both of those, my tank is running stable around 9dkh and 480 calcium.

 

[AquaRaider44]

My tank consumes around1.5 of alk and 15ppm of calcium a day. I do not dose Alk and Calcium individually. I use Kalkwasser in my ATO and have a calcium reactor. With both of those, my tank is running stable around 9dkh and 480 calcium.

Interesting. I wonder what the average usage is that the instructions were based on. Because if it was based on 1dkh of consumption it seems like you could also bump up your dosage.

 

[JCOLE]

Interesting. I wonder what the average usage is that the instructions were based on. Because if it was based on 1dkh of consumption it seems like you could also bump up your dosage.

Probably. I am just dosing reef trace and plus from the directions. It says to add 5ml per 20 gallons. I dose 35ml of each for my 150.

Reef Trace Dosage -
Use 1 capful (5 mL) for every 80 L (20 US gallons) twice a week. When using in conjunction with Reef Plus™, dose on alternate days.

Reef Plus Dosage -
Use 1 capful (5 mL) for each 80 L (20 US gallons) twice a week or as required to maintain coral growth. May also be used in food by mixing 1 mL in about 15 mL (1 tablespoon) of food. Refrigerate after opening.

 

[AquaRaider44]

Probably. I am just dosing reef trace and plus from the directions. It says to add 5ml per 20 gallons. I dose 35ml of each for my 150.

Reef Trace Dosage -
Use 1 capful (5 mL) for every 80 L (20 US gallons) twice a week. When using in conjunction with Reef Plus™, dose on alternate days.

Reef Plus Dosage -
Use 1 capful (5 mL) for each 80 L (20 US gallons) twice a week or as required to maintain coral growth. May also be used in food by mixing 1 mL in about 15 mL (1 tablespoon) of food. Refrigerate after opening.

It just seems odd that they give a standard dosage when some people have literally no coral in their tank and others have it jammed packed.

 

[JCOLE]

It just seems odd that they give a standard dosage when some people have literally no coral in their tank and others have it jammed packed.

I agree. I am just playing it safe until they tell me otherwise. Going strong for 3 months now.

 

[AquaRaider44]

I agree. I am just playing it safe until they tell me otherwise. Going strong for 3 months now.

I'm on 6-8 months and have been amazed but I push the limits of higher calcium and magnesium and alkalinity and would like to do the same with these.

 

[JCOLE]

I'm on 6-8 months and have been amazed but I push the limits of higher calcium and magnesium and alkalinity and would like to do the same with these.

I am a little worried about pushing trace elements when I don't test for them. I need to send in an ICP test to see where I am at.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hello,

I am a big fan of using trace elements and amino acids in reef tanks and can clearly see many improvements in coloration and polyp extension when using these products in my main display tank vs my other tanks. I know this is because I do not do any water changes to replace trace elements and skim hard to remove a lot of the nutrients.

I have a very packed 66-gallon tank and use about 1.7 DKH of alkalinity and 11.9 ppm of calcium daily which is more than most people. I currently dose 30 ML of each total spread out over the week to my tank as per Seachem directions "Use 1 capful (5 mL) for every 80 L (20 US gallons) twice a week" but I called and they said this was not based on any standard usage.

My question here is that how do I know what the optimal dosage would be for these products? Based on the ingrediants would there be a ratio that should be used based on my consumption?

Does anyone have any other suggestions for Trace elements or Aminos that are based on actual consumption of alkalinity or calcium?

I am not looking to do the expensive ICP/triton water test method to add each individually and play mad scientist, just looking for a ballpark approximation based on my usage.

The two ways to get to an optimal dose are by trial and error observing the tank, or more expensive and perhaps less clearly, measure the trace elements. The obvious problem with measurement is that one dose is unlikely to be optimal for every different trace element, di which do you focus on and what levels are best anyway?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It just seems odd that they give a standard dosage when some people have literally no coral in their tank and others have it jammed packed.

The whole idea of a particular mixture, not to mention the exact dose, being optimal for every tank is not plausible. That’s why companies line Triton sell individual supplements.

 

[AquaRaider44]

The two ways to get to an optimal dose are by trial and error observing the tank, or more expensive and perhaps less clearly, measure the trace elements. The obvious problem with measurement is that one dose is unlikely to be optimal for every different trace element, di which do you focus on and what levels are best anyway?

The whole idea of a particular mixture, not to mention the exact dose, being optimal for every tank is not plausible. That’s why companies line Triton sell individual supplements.

Hello Randy,

Thank you for your valuable input. I guess I will just have to experiment a bit with this as I can not afford to send in tests monthly or every other month and buy individual supplements. I agree this would be best for optimal levels.

What would you consider to be the average use of alkalinity and calcium as Seachem said these recommendations were based on average usage but could never specify what those were.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m not sure tying general supplements to calcium and alk use even makes sense since hard corals are not the main sink for many elements in many tanks.

That said, I’d say typical use in a mixed Reef is 1-2 dKH alk per day and maybe 6-15 ppm calcium per day.

 

[Mowen44]

I have been using reef trace and reef plus for the last 3 months with good results. My colors pop better while using them. I dose about 35ml of each in my 150 gallon every three days. I do reef trace first day, reef plus second day, strontium the third day then repeat.

Are they both meant to use together?

 

[JCOLE]

Are they both meant to use together?

Yes. Dose on alternate days.