additive help

[jwhitlow1031]

right now i am simply adding calcium and strontium/molybdenum. allong with phytoplankton. i have some star polyps, zoas, a mushroom, and a ricordia...what else should i buy to add to insure their health and do i need to be testing for other additives besides calcium, now about 450 ppm. thanks....

 

[ovenbird]

I don't think you need to add much additives with your current list of corals. Decent lighting and regular water changes shoud do.

 

[Paintbug]

you need to be testing anything you are adding!! and with what you have listed the only thing you need keep a check on is Calc. regular water changes will do wonders for a tank. Strontium doesnt really need to be worried about. heres a good article on water chemistry:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

 

[Fast Fred]

Weekly water changes of 10% with a good quality salt should be all you need with your current livestock list.

 

[jwhitlow1031]

i have been considering buying water from a creditable lfs to do my water changes as this would be much easier for me....also, when doing water changes what is the best method as far as adding and removing water from the tank? what is the best product to be used to controll the alkalinity of the water?

 

[TekCat]

I second regular WC, they should replenish all needed calcium, strontium, and molybdenum. If the coral load is light, then just check Ca/Alk. And supplement them as needed. I'd better reffer you to chemistry forum, they will give you better help in using Ca/Alk additives.

Just a note on getting salt water from LFS,... they tend to have lower salinity than SG 1.025.

 

[bertoni]

You might need a calcium and alkalinity supplement for the tank. Coralline algae can consume them. I would suggest getting test kits for both of them, and working from there. I would guess you're testing Ca yourself already?

B-Ionic is a good way to get started with Ca and alkalinity supplementation, IMO.

 

[PatMayo]

What bertoni said is exaclty what I do except that I now use Randys #1 2 part recipe. I started off using the B-Ionic to get Alk and Calk to the desired levels.

Regards,

Pat

 

[jwhitlow1031]

yea, i have a kent calcium additive and i am testing for that. what product should i use for the alk?

 

[bertoni]

Well, if you're going to go the separate additives route, baking soda will work. You could also look at SeaChem's Reef Builder.

All in all, I'd suggest moving to B-Ionic, its DIY equivalent, or perhaps limewater when you're out of the Kent. Along with B-Ionic, Kent makes a similar product, and I think there's a couple others, as well.

 

[jwhitlow1031]

hmm

 

[bertoni]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

That article is pretty useful, IMO.