What all would you dose in tank with corals?

[tmscott89]

So I personally like the Kent marine products and I have a green Goniopora, Acropora, Cespitularia, and a Pom Pom Xenia. I bought all of them as frags and all are starting to grow quite nicely I believe but I want to know what I should be using or what other people are using to help supplement and give them the best and longest life? I.e. iodine, iron, coral-vite, etc...

 

[chefjpaul]

Testing. Then evaluation. Only.

 

[tmscott89]

I currently dose purple tech 2x a week to keep my calcium and magnesium in check as well as Kent marine essential elements once a week. And feed them reef roids weekly. By testing I’m assuming you mean test one thing at a time and evaluate what it’s doing before doing anything else?

 

[Reefs and Geeks]

Most important parameters (in the order of what I think are important) are Alk, Ca, Nitrate, Phosphate, Magnesium, pH.

Dose what is needed to maintain those and go from there. I currently dose 2 part, potassium nitrate, magnesium chloride, and a CO2 scrubber for pH when needed. IMO, Alk is most important, and is what I measure most frequently by far. Calcium depletion is pretty much proportional to alk, so I only test calcium occasionally as a check.

 

[W1ngz]

Generally, the rule is if you're not testing for a specific element, don't dose it.

I dose a 3 part system (happens to be aquaforest) that includes trace elements in their predetermined ratios depending on alk and cal consumption. Aminos and other proteins mostly come from food. Occasionally I pour in a capful of seachem bottled zooplankton, phytoplankton, frozen rotifers or reef-roids.

Avoid snake-oil products that make fancy claims, but don't tell you exactly what's in it.

 

[PatW]

Dosing.

Hard corals consume ALK, Ca, and a little Mg as they grow. I add two part to maintain Ca and ALK. My dosing is based off of testing Ca and ALK. I do not dose Mg because water changes keep that stable.

I also measure nitrates and phosphates. I have robust export so I measure nitrates and phosphates and dose them to keep the nutrients high enough to keep the corals happy.

As for trace elements, some can be tested. It is possible to dose mixes of trace elements based on calcium consumption and hope that it works. Many people who aquaculture corals commercially just rely on a robust water change schedule to maintain trace elements.

As of right now, the state of the art on trace elements is still a bit crude. We are stuck with largely flying blind.

 

[chefjpaul]

Saltwater changes replenish most elements in question. Depending upon the consumption, all can be. But must be tested with a rate consumption to dose properly.

The minor elements, I personally just rely on W/C or an ICP test every couple months.
I only really test KH and dose my two part based on. The rest I don't stress on, unless something is off.

 

[Jon Fishman]

the best and longest life?

A coral’s lifespan is indefinite....... If a coral dies in this hobby, it is 100% the hobbyists’ fault

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

So I personally like the Kent marine products and I have a green Goniopora, Acropora, Cespitularia, and a Pom Pom Xenia. I bought all of them as frags and all are starting to grow quite nicely I believe but I want to know what I should be using or what other people are using to help supplement and give them the best and longest life? I.e. iodine, iron, coral-vite, etc...

I dose Kent strontium 1x every 4 days

 

[chefjpaul]

I dose Kent strontium 1x every 4 days

Why?
Just curious