dosing for soft corals??

[kimowen04]

i am new to corals all together but have had my 10 gal nano w/NO probs for like the past yr. and yes that was my first salt tank:rollface:
so i was wondering what sal mixes softy keepers/coral keepers use? i use instant ocean but i herd it doesnt that much cal and TE??
i just have my besic test kit,amm,nitrate,nitrite,ph! with my water changes my tank should be ok?? should i add ne thing to the tank?
whats the best salt to use for softy reef tank?

 

[gh0st]

Instant Ocean is fine for a softie tank.

If you keep up on frequent water changes, you probably won't have to dose much.

If yoiu want to dose anything, look into some type of Calcium/Alkalinity dosing regime. Kalkwasser, or two part, etc. It probably won't take much of them to keep things stable.

Some people dose Iodide for softies for better growth and color, but it isn't neccesary.

 

[sweet d]

i dose iodide and a produvt called koral color by brightwell aquatics

 

[kimowen04]

instant ocean in fine but would it benifit my tank to do half of a better salt and half instant ocean or sum? but not till my tank has alot of corals?

 

[wis_fishing_guy]

It wont hurt at all to use some thing better.I use the Red Sea and my tank has done great for the pass year.

 

[gh0st]

I also use and like Red Sea Salt.

Another option is to get some buffers/supplements and adjust your mixed salt water before doing a water change. I typically add a bit of Alkalinity Buffer and a touch of magnesium to my salt vat to get the levels where I want them. Kinda like getting the pricier "Reef" type salts with out the higher price tag.

 

[kimowen04]

can i have TOO much elements and encourage unwanted growth of like algae?
also, if i only have just a couple of corals would i need to add elements or a better salt or only with a well stocked tank? or does that matter? i only have a basic test kit, ph,ammonia,nitrite,nitrate. should i invest in a ''reef'' type or diff element type test kit? if so for soft corals that ill be keeping what would u suggest i get(which elements cal/iodine,mag)? or is there much need for a SOFTY tank?

 

[kimowen04]

i had seen some additives that is like an ALL IN ONE TYPE DEAL. . adding alot of diff things should i just add a small ammount to my tank during water changes if i did that? and i would have to test to see what ammount i need first right? by addign these elements to ur tank and everything else is doing well is y would there still be a need for water changes if u can just add TE to the water with suppliments?????

 

[oldreefer76]

You are fine with just water changes and no need to switch salts, with a softy tank the Instant Ocean will work just fine

 

[kimowen04]

i wanted to do wc evry 3 m?? i kno pl that dnt do them as often. will that b ok

 

[oldreefer76]

I would suggest 10 to 15% weekly

 

[Grandreef 2]

I use Red Sea Coral Pro Salt, and some kent iodine and some aragamight will do wonderes.

 

[fishaholic911]

i wanted to do wc evry 3 m?? i kno pl that dnt do them as often. will that b ok

I hope you are not talking about every 3 months as that would be way to long. I do a 10-15% change weekly on a 125 gallon. I would say due 20 % monthly at a min.

 

[Sig45]

Some will do target feeding of specific soft corals such as leather, toadstools etc..
With normal bioload you should be fine.

I agree with the frequent water changes esp in a small system.

 

[garzaci]

Instant ocean is fine. I recommend doing water changes every week consistently to export wastes and nutrients in your water. Before you decide to get any corals you need to research exactly what you want and what it requires. Then adjust your water until its where u need it. After a while you'll see how much of what your tank uses daily and it'll be easier from then on.

 

[kingfisher62]

I have had a lot of luck with reef crystals made by IO. Just keep up with the water changes on a consistant basis as mentioned.

 

[kimowen04]

sounds good!

 

[kingfisher62]

kimowen04, what do you have for corals in your tank? Any pics?

 

[scuba guy ron]

weekly to bi weekly water changes re all you need to do IMO. I havent dosed my tank in almost 2yrs with great results.

 

[kimowen04]

imo? i have very small frags toadstool,kenya tree, green bubbly mushroom, zoos