Trace elements mixed with saturated kalk

[jent]

I am looking to maintain my trace elements in relation to my calcium usage. I know it's not a proven concept but something I think can make sense with my mixed reef.

I am unsure what the best way to do this is though. Ideally it would be something that I can mix in with my saturated kalk + vinegar mixture.

Red Sea colors would be ideal since they describe their expected usage related to Ca uptake. But I am unsure if they can be mixed together with the saturated kalk + vinegar? They would be in dilution obviously, but I am not sure if that's good enough to allow them to be mixed, or if there is concern mixing with the kalk?

I also saw aquaforest reef mineral salts, which says to be dilluted with ro. So no mixing concerns, but still unsure if it can be dosed with kalk?

Anyone ever try to mix trace elements with kalk? What products should I look at, or should I just manually dose elements once every couple weeks?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am looking to maintain my trace elements in relation to my calcium usage. I know it's not a proven concept but something I think can make sense with my mixed reef.

I am unsure what the best way to do this is though. Ideally it would be something that I can mix in with my saturated kalk + vinegar mixture.

Red Sea colors would be ideal since they describe their expected usage related to Ca uptake. But I am unsure if they can be mixed together with the saturated kalk + vinegar? They would be in dilution obviously, but I am not sure if that's good enough to allow them to be mixed, or if there is concern mixing with the kalk?

I also saw aquaforest reef mineral salts, which says to be dilluted with ro. So no mixing concerns, but still unsure if it can be dosed with kalk?

Anyone ever try to mix trace elements with kalk? What products should I look at, or should I just manually dose elements once every couple weeks?

Thanks everyone!

Well, many trace metals cannot be combined into kalkwasser because they may be insoluble at high pH. Strongly chelated ones might be OK.

I don't think it makes sense to tie dosed amounts to calcification (as much of the demand comes from organisms that are not calcifying), but a dose determined by trial and error dosed daily is certainly fine.

 

[jent]

Thanks @Randy Holmes-Farley that's exactly the guidance I needed. I agree tying off calcification is not perfect, but currently I am not doing any minor element replinishing outside of water changes. So I thought a little upkeep of them is better than none.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks @Randy Holmes-Farley that's exactly the guidance I needed. I agree tying off calcification is not perfect, but currently I am not doing any minor element replinishing outside of water changes. So I thought a little upkeep of them is better than none.

It's certainly a fine plan to investigate dosing, and the method you dose it can also be done by trial and error.