Trace Elements

merrick · Jun 14, 2021

Would anyone please take the time to answer what trace elements do you dose and why?

Uncle99 · Jun 14, 2021

May depend largely on the system.
For me, I need to dose phosphate or my corals lose PE and colour.
All else comes from my water changes.

BrianReefer · Jun 14, 2021

I messed with Red Sea A-D for a bit 2 years back in my SPS tank trying to solve a problem that didn’t really exist (some low trace elements per ICP). Couldn’t test trace frequently enough to dial them in though and overdosed iron and created more issues than I solved. Now I just rely on my AWC and CaRx to do the job, occasionally dose phosphate or nitrate when needed but rarely.

Auquanut · Jun 14, 2021

I'll give you my experience. Of course, every tank is different.

I keep a mixed reef. Softies, LPS and SPS. When my tank's demand for Alk and Cal became pretty darned significant, I started to wonder about trace. Sure I could replenish with water changes, but if my Alk/Cal demand was dramatically outpacing what was replaced with water changes alone(autodosing), what about trace elements?

Then I started to get some die off. Most effected were my zoas, birds nest, and oddly enough, my Hollywood stunner chalice and green slimer (supposedly bulletproof).

I decided to start dosing Red Sea Trace A/B/C/D. I went with a daily dose at 2/3 the recommended dose for Cal consumption. The effect was immediate and dramatic. All of my corals colored up. Polyp extension was amazing. These guys were hungry. Coral growth was visibly increased. And the corals that were struggling recovered and thrived.

Since then, I've kept the same dosing schedule. I don't worry if I miss a day or two, and the corals don't seem to mind.

I'm sure you will get other viewpoints, but in my experience dosing trace when you have a significant Alk/Cal demand can have a very possitive affect.

merrick · Jun 15, 2021

Auquanut said:
I'll give you my experience. Of course, every tank is different.

I keep a mixed reef. Softies, LPS and SPS. When my tank's demand for Alk and Cal became pretty darned significant, I started to wonder about trace. Sure I could replenish with water changes, but if my Alk/Cal demand was dramatically outpacing what was replaced with water changes alone(autodosing), what about trace elements?

Then I started to get some die off. Most effected were my zoas, birds nest, and oddly enough, my Hollywood stunner chalice and green slimer (supposedly bulletproof).

I decided to start dosing Red Sea Trace A/B/C/D. I went with a daily dose at 2/3 the recommended dose for Cal consumption. The effect was immediate and dramatic. All of my corals colored up. Polyp extension was amazing. These guys were hungry. Coral growth was visibly increased. And the corals that were struggling recovered and thrived.

Since then, I've kept the same dosing schedule. I don't worry if I miss a day or two, and the corals don't seem to mind.

I'm sure you will get other viewpoints, but in my experience dosing trace when you have a significant Alk/Cal demand can have a very possitive affect.

Thank you for your time and your experience is helpful