Additives for SPS

[Sindjin]

Ok. Im addicted. I got 2 Acro frags for 20.00 each. Im addicted.
Im running a BB with 46x turnover and good lighting. Have I mentioned that im addicted? The colors I am beginning to see in these frags are amazing.

I have been researching the care of SPS and just wondering what you all do as far as additives. Aminos? Iodine? Strontium? I even heard dosing IRon will color them up.
Any hints or suggestions?

 

[KevinM]

Some of the most impressive tanks here don't dose anything but Calcium and Alkalinity, and they speak for themselves.

Kev

 

[MiddletonMark]

Kevin puts it well. Lots of ways to `get there', but some seem to need none beyond Ca/Alk. Others find use with suppliments.

I've dosed a few, and presently don't dose any [beyond Ca/Alk] and am quite happy with things. Others don't have that luck, feel that they get better color when they dose ___. Lots of interesting opinions, lots to sort out for yourself

I would be a bit wary with Iron, which caused a few corals of mine to get quite pale when I dosed it a long time ago - I would be sure to go very slow in starting any dosing regimen, and to test as much as possible.

IMO, the best way is to get your tank thriving, stable, and have corals grown out a bit ... a baseline.
Then start adding suppliments once things are stable for months ... and see what happens. Given many corals grow and color much better the longer they're acclimatized to that spot [light, flow, water conditions] ... I felt dosing while anything is less than 6 months in-tank is impossible really to judge much. [unless you overdose something]

Just my take, I tend to lean away from suppliments - yet some of the tanks I look up to most dose suppliments; heck, they might even have a sandbed
Lots of ways people find success with Acropora, I can't tell you how you'll find yours.

 

[Wiskey]

I dose CA, ALK (limewater) and MG, IO is a little low in MG and I like to keep it around 1300 so I add a little to my new water before a waterchange.

Whiskey

 

[PITSTOP]

MiddletonMark said it all.

Like you, I have also been looking into finding and adding supplement/s (ex. amino acids, trace elements, etc.).

Today, I only dose calc and alk via a GEO612 reactor, Pinpoint pH controller, and kalwasser (2L/week). Because the coloration and growth of my SPS has been excellent for the past year since switching to barebottom, I am reluctant to add any supplements. Like many have said, regular watcher changes take care of these needs.

Yet, there are mind blowing systems that dose 4-6 supplements with computer controls...

I owe my success on a regular regimen of water changes, wet skimming, cleaning of sump, skimmer, pumps, vacuuming detritus from display, cleaning of LR. Basically anything I do to keep the display and equipement clean helps water quality.

 

[JOSHUAB]

I add CA, ALK, & MG, and that's it my stuff grows like a weed!!

 

[drake66]

ZEOvit :smokin:

 

[PITSTOP]

I'm scared by ZEOvit.

While the results look jaw dropping amazing, seems very time consuming/expensive.

True?

 

[Sindjin]

Thanks for all the input. Right now I've really only been focused on water quality and Mg, Ca/ALK. I'll keep it that way.
I use reef crystals which supposedly replenishes trace elements.