Coral Additives...good or bad idea?

[eamike261]

My friend and I are starting up a 10 gallon nano reef and have 15 lbs of live rock, and a T5 light fixture (48 watts). If we're planning on keeping 3-5 basic soft corals (mushrooms, zoos, etc..) would it be a good idea to add iodide, magnesium, calcium, alkinlinity, buffers, or any other supplements? For salt we're using Oceanic Sea Salt Mix (which is supposed to already have a buffer in it from what I understand).
We've heard a few different opinions and would like to get some more input.

 

[GhostCon1]

I have been told that just doing weekly WC's should be sufficient (for nanos) plus you are keeping softies and they are less demanding of needs than sps/lps. Your lighting would probably be more than enough for them in addition to the weekly WC's.

 

[eamike261]

That seems to be what more people are saying, but I wanted confirmation. Have you had any personal success doing that or is it just what you've heard?

 

[GhostCon1]

I have sps in my tank. So I kinda have to add things since I have a lot of them and a t. maxima clam. I do WC and add some trace elements from Kent Marine in about every week or 2 weeks.

 

[ms123]

With the selection of corals you are thinking about keeping, I would just keep up with weekly or biweekly water changes to replenish the tank. I personally do smaller, weekly water changes. I don't personally add any additives.

 

[pluschinatown]

The supplements that are already in your salt will be sufficient for those few corals. So +1 on the weekly water changes. It will just replenish the tank.

 

[PiXieCath]

+1 too...when I've a softies dominated tank, I only do water change, never put some additives and all my corals have always doing fine.

 

[alancolinet]

Just be sure to watch the coloration of your coral in that tank. 48 watts may end up being too much light for them, especially mushrooms.

Also, I do not dose anything in my tank whatsoever. I do a water change every week, test once a week, and parameters are fine. My tank is nothing but softies and anemones.

 

[ONEmorBEER]

+1 on weekly water changes

 

[eamike261]

Cool thanks for the info everyone, sorry it took so long to respond, my internet was out for a few days. Sounds like we should be good with just WC and our salt. We bought 2x 5$ small frags of zoas, a pulsing xenia, candy cane, and an open brain (turns out the open brain was dead when we bought it so we're going to try to return it).

I guess I accidentally lied about keeping it strictly to soft corals, but the brain will be gone and the candy cane is really small so I'm guessing it shouldn't make a difference?

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1867742&page=3
you can see pics here

Just be sure to watch the coloration of your coral in that tank. 48 watts may end up being too much light for them, especially mushrooms.

Also, I do not dose anything in my tank whatsoever. I do a water change every week, test once a week, and parameters are fine. My tank is nothing but softies and anemones.

I have read that mushrooms dont like a ton of light so we would probably it in a shady spot if we get one. What do you mean "watch the coloration"? Will they decolorize if there is too much light?