replenishing trace elements

[milkshake]

To my understanding, trace elements such as magnesium will need to be added to the water once they are depleted. Once I
get a refugium going, along with an auto top off, what are the "essential" elements that need to be added? Some of you know that I drive an 18 wheeler and I am gone 2 to 3 weeks at a time. So what I am trying to do is, apply a multi channel doser. Will be used for the calcium reactor and lime water and whatever else that needs to added.

 

[Codeman00]

Milkshake, I'm not sure what you are asking here. I know you want to set everything up to be automatic while you're gone...but will someone be doing water changes for you??

Trace elements can be replaced easily and effectively by water changes..and when I say "trace elements", I mean things like Iodine, Strontium, Boron, etc..but not Magnesium. I wouldn't call Magnesium just another trace element because it can be depleted within 2-4 weeks to lower than desired levels. And when it does lower to less than recommended levels, your calcium will drop and you won't be able to raise it....thus causing more problems. Corals can mistakenly use magnesium in place of calcium for their skeletons (making magnesium carbonate instead of calcium carbonate) and thats why magnesium is important to keep up in the reef aquaria. Sometimes my magnesium is depleted quickly and other times it goes on for many weeks without needing to be replaced...and I'm not sure why?!?

I would advise you to test your "water change" water and add magnesium to that at the correct level...that way, every time you do a water change, you replenish the magnesium too along with the other important trace elements.

 

[milkshake]

If I'm using an auto top off that is coming from the R/O unit, there
won't be any water changes, far as I know. Correct me if I'm wrong Codeman. I will just be replacing the evaporated water with the auto top off. The salt will remain, but not the trace elements. right or wrong here?

 

[Codeman00]

These are two different things here....Top off and Water Changes.

Top-Off is just like you said, topping off the evaporated tank water with your R/O unit water.

Water Changes are a must with a reef aquarium. It his highly recommended if not necessary to change out 20-30% of your saltwater every month to replace trace elements, etc for your corals and other reef inhabitants. Most people find it easier to replace 5% to 7% a week for the overall health of their livestock. It sounds like you didn't know about this..but it's something that needs to be done.

 

[Codeman00]

About water changes:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

 

[milkshake]

See...I'm in that 20-30% water change category. I am looking for a way to add those elements back without having to wait a whole month. Again, I'm gone 3 weeks at a time.
What I'm hearing is, it would be a waste of time buying all the trace elements to put back in the water when all of them are in the salt (made by manufacturer). I was just going to have my wife test the water and add the neccessary elements. This way I would not have to buy new salt all the time.
By the way....do you know if there is a yellow book out there "Aquarium for Dummies"?

 

[milkshake]

Thanks for the link.

 

[Codeman00]

I honestly don't know whether that would work or not. That is based upon my best judgement coming from what I have read and learned from others. I'm not saying it won't work...I'm saying I just don't think it's the best practice.

The reason for this is your salt water will have those trace elements intact that the corals use and water changes are used to replenish them. Most of these trace elements cannot be tested for and there's really no set amount that the livestock will use during a certain timespan. ...so exactly how much will you add? You don't want to add too much because that could be as or more lethal than not adding enough.

I honestly think you need to teach the wife how to do water changes..its not that hard and you aquarium would benefit from it greatly. I think salt is just as cheap as buying bottles of trace elements and much more simple then you trying to decide how much of what chemical to add. Some others can chime in and you can see if they agree with me or not.

Yes, there is an aquarium for dummies book..but there are several books out there that are very good. This hobby requires a ton of research and its tough to get around that aspect of it.

 

[milkshake]

teach? hahaha...only if you knew the wife. 54 year old valley girl from California

 

[eyebedam]

Milkshake. I got the book saltwater aquariums for dummies. You are more than welcome to borrow it if you like. I drive a truck myself.:strooper:

 

[milkshake]

I was really joking about the book. But i appreciate it.

 

[milkshake]

I wasn't joking about the wife:fun5: