Questions Galore on Additives, Corals, and Inverts

[davehead86]

My question revolves around the addition of trace element additives in my aquarium. At this point I do not want to discuss the addition of them, I want to know the answers to these questions assuming Im adding them to the tank.

Most of them have Copper in them. Is there a difference between Copper and Copper EDTA? What are safe levels of copper in the tank for invertebrates? Specifically shrimps that I seem to be losing after I introduce the additives to the tank. My fish and other inverts and corals do fine, just my shrimps are dying off.

Would adding these things in the sump instead of the display tank make a difference?

Does a skimmer remove heavy metals? Does a carbon reactor remove heavy metals?

If I use a poly filter to remove the copper will it also remove the other things in the additives making it a futile effort and a complete waste of time and money?

The reason I added these additives to the tank in the first place was to color-up my corals (long story). They have colored up successfully, will they now loose color if I stop using the additives or do corals not work that way?


Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Cliving1]

I dont think copper and inverts mix at all and I dont believe a skimmer will do much to remove...but il wait for others who have more experience.

 

[davehead86]

I dont think copper and inverts mix at all and I dont believe a skimmer will do much to remove...but il wait for others who have more experience.

Yeah that's my about where my knowledge base is at also. But then why would these companies release the additives and not have a warning about certain kinds of animals it doesn't work well with. And as I stated, my snails and starfish dont have any problems, just my shrimps that die. So I'm not seeing as much of a correlation as I thought i would if there was too much copper. Hence the polyfilter and addition in sump instead of display etc.

 

[Sk8r]

Don't use additives. Do water changes. THe salt mix provides all the traces you need, in the proportions you need. The additives are sold for people with particular needs and large systems. You should only dose alk buffer (when needed), calcium (when needed) and magnesium (when needed.) There is no 'truth in advertising' requirement on anything to do with fish foods and coral supplements or meds.

 

[davehead86]

Don't use additives. Do water changes. THe salt mix provides all the traces you need, in the proportions you need. The additives are sold for people with particular needs and large systems. You should only dose alk buffer (when needed), calcium (when needed) and magnesium (when needed.) There is no 'truth in advertising' requirement on anything to do with fish foods and coral supplements or meds.

Sk8r, in no way is this to come across as an argument, I just have a few more questions now ...


If there is no truth in advertising then how are we sure that the trace elements in the salt mix is actually what we need in the right amounts? There is so much variation in the salt mixes and what they turn the water to level wise when mixed which one is the best for having all those elements. I assume a more expensive salt instead of the cheaper salts would be better balanced?

 

[Ron Reefman]

You can't be sure, but reefers have been doing this for years and not having issues with trace elements. BTW, trace elements really aren't that important. And IMHO most of the additives sold for your aquarium are at best, right next to useless and at worst, snake oil.