REEF SUPPLEMENTS???

[Ximat]

My [acronym:1ef2df30b1="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:1ef2df30b1] recomends Calcium +3 (Red Sea), and Iodine as suppliments, especially if you use a protein skimmer.

As for water changes I do a 10g out of my 75 once a month, and 3g out of my 15 once a month, and 4g out of my 29QT 2 times per week.

[KMyers18]

Yeah everything i read says water changes but i just went with what they sayed? I do have to say the tank looks real good but it is exspensive to maintain! I want easy and cheap I wish i had the money to turn my 125 in to a reef I love the reef thing but it can be costly! I will slowly upgrade reef tanks as one out grows it's self. I want to seel the 125 but my wife wont let me get rid of the spiny puffer So im stuck with it till he dies From what i hear that could be years and years?

[revhtree]

Water Changes!!

[SquishyFish]

Originally Posted by electrikat

If you do regular water changes(10 to 20% a week) with a good salt mix, you do not need to add additives.

This is not true. [acronym:2c0fd8e940="Calcium"]Ca[/acronym:2c0fd8e940] MUST be supplimented if your keeping any kind of [acronym:2c0fd8e940="Large polyped Scleractinian (stoney) coral"]LPS[/acronym:2c0fd8e940] or [acronym:2c0fd8e940="Small Polyped Stoney"]SPS[/acronym:2c0fd8e940] corals. The water change will not keep the DKH and the [acronym:2c0fd8e940="Calcium"]CA[/acronym:2c0fd8e940] high enough for the corals to use it. [acronym:2c0fd8e940="Calcium"]Ca[/acronym:2c0fd8e940] needs to be up around 440 and DKH should be in the 10-12 range. If the DKH is not in line, the corals cannot use the [acronym:2c0fd8e940="Calcium"]Ca[/acronym:2c0fd8e940] no matter how high the level. Water changes will not properly buffer the water.

[DeNero1331]

Doesn't that depend on the water you use in your water change?

I'm with you Myers, easy and cheap is the way to go... I try not to do water changes so I don't have to keep buying the salt but without them I need to use the additives.

So far, my tap water seems to keep most of the levels in line but I worry about the stuff I can't test for. You might want to do the math on less frequent water changes and supplements vs. more frequent changes and less suplements.

I'm sure someone w/ more experience will correct me as to which of the two is more advisable despite the cost.

[SquishyFish]

Originally Posted by DeNero1331

Doesn't that depend on the water you use in your water change?

I'm with you Myers, easy and cheap is the way to go... I try not to do water changes so I don't have to keep buying the salt but without them I need to use the additives.

So far, my tap water seems to keep most of the levels in line but I worry about the stuff I can't test for. You might want to do the math on less frequent water changes and supplements vs. more frequent changes and less suplements.

I'm sure someone w/ more experience will correct me as to which of the two is more advisable despite the cost.

Better water will most definately help, but its not a long term solution to keeping [acronym:82a056f2ca="Calcium"]Ca[/acronym:82a056f2ca] in line. Other supps, such as trace elements are more easily kept in check with simple water changes.

More frequent water changes have a greater effect on water quality than it will on supp levels. It will go along way in removing DOCs and heavy metals that have no other way out of the system.

[lando]

This is not true. [acronym:bcc2fc39e8="Calcium"]Ca[/acronym:bcc2fc39e8] MUST be supplimented if your keeping any kind of [acronym:bcc2fc39e8="Large polyped Scleractinian (stoney) coral"]LPS[/acronym:bcc2fc39e8] or [acronym:bcc2fc39e8="Small Polyped Stoney"]SPS[/acronym:bcc2fc39e8] corals. The water change will not keep the DKH and the [acronym:bcc2fc39e8="Calcium"]CA[/acronym:bcc2fc39e8] high enough for the corals to use it. [acronym:bcc2fc39e8="Calcium"]Ca[/acronym:bcc2fc39e8] needs to be up around 440 and DKH should be in the 10-12 range. If the DKH is not in line, the corals cannot use the [acronym:bcc2fc39e8="Calcium"]Ca[/acronym:bcc2fc39e8] no matter how high the level. Water changes will not properly buffer the water.

I do not dose ANY reef additives. I only rely on water changes. [acronym:bcc2fc39e8="Alkalinity"]Alk[/acronym:bcc2fc39e8] is 4.8 and Calcium is 460.

[SquishyFish]

alkalinity referrs to [acronym:0f8ff0f8cc="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:0f8ff0f8cc]. DKH must be between 10-12 for [acronym:0f8ff0f8cc="Calcium"]Ca[/acronym:0f8ff0f8cc] to be usable.


and if you are able to maintain a 460ppm level of [acronym:0f8ff0f8cc="Calcium"]Ca[/acronym:0f8ff0f8cc] with simple water changes, I would have to ask how many [acronym:0f8ff0f8cc="Large polyped Scleractinian (stoney) coral"]LPS[/acronym:0f8ff0f8cc] and [acronym:0f8ff0f8cc="Small Polyped Stoney"]SPS[/acronym:0f8ff0f8cc] you have in your system. Doesnt sound like there is much drawing the [acronym:0f8ff0f8cc="Calcium"]Ca[/acronym:0f8ff0f8cc] out of the water.