Trace elements with calcium reactor

[illumnae]

I used to use the Fauna Marin Balling Light system to supplement my sps reef and now use a calcium reactor. With the Balling system I used to have to add trace elements into my major elements mixes. With a calcium reactor, most media manufacturers claim traces are already part of the media, but I have also read that there is insufficient trace for coral growth. Is there any recommended trace supplements for a high energy sps tank, or does calcium reactor media contain everything that is required? I do about 8% weekly wc with FM salt and use ARM extra coarse media with Grotech magnesium.

On a separate but related note, I also run the FM Zeolight system which includes dosing their Colour Elements products. This is another trace elements product that would be dosed concurrently with Balling trace - so what's the difference? Similarly with Aquaforest brand they have Component ABC which is balling trace, and another series of microelements like iodine, fluorine, strontium and trace metals that's dosed separately. What's the deal with the 2 different sets of trace elements in both systems?

 

[bertoni]

There isn't any evidence that dosing trace elements will help with coral health or growth. Tanks get trace elements from a variety of sources, including food and supplements. As long as the tank gets regular water changes, I wouldn't worry about trace elements as far as growth.

The various trace element products added for color claim to stimulate the corals to produce more pigments, basically, and they might do that, although that's not clear. There's no evidence that they work. I would avoid dosing both types of supplement, at the very least.

 

[illumnae]

Thanks bertoni! Just to clarify your last statement, you caution against dosing both together, but I can try ding just one of the sets right?

 

[bertoni]

Using just one should be safe enough.

 

[hkgar]

When you wonder whether to dose something or not, just ask - can I test for it? If the answer is no, than do not dose. Other than my Ca reactor the only thing I consider dosing is Potassium and Iodine, but I can test for those.

Wait, I do dose carbon, vinegar/vodka, and do not test for it but can monitor that its controlling NO3 and PO4

 

[TheReeferer]

The 2 trace that I think are as important as calcium is magnesium and strontium. Others I don't know, I just dose a general seachem trace to cover it. Probably throwing money away there but it's. A check the box

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[bertoni]

I agree that magnesium is important, but it's generally not considered a trace element, since it's present at 1275 ppm or so in ocean waters. I don't think that strontium is important:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2003/chem.htm

I dosed it for a while, but stopped.

 

[jason2459]

Agree Mg is a major element in seawater

"These are the following major constituents of seawater (Pilson, 1998): Na+, Mg++, Ca++, K+, Sr++, Cl-, SO4--, Br-, F-, B(OH)3, and the various ions that make up ""Alkalinity"", OH-, HCO3-, CO3--, and CO."

 

[tmz]

I've tried various trace and minor elements( iron,iodide, stronium, maganese,ammino acids et al.) over the years without noting any discernible difference in color or growth. Small frequent water changes and feeding result in good coral vibrancy IME; they appear to be adequate based on the coral health. I'm always tempted to toy around but really haven't seen results when I do.

As for major elements I dose them via kalk and rare tweaks to magnesium Keeping alk steady is key with sufficient calcium and magnesium . Potassium holds around 400ppm for me without dosing.;so, water changes 1% per day and feeding seems to handle it as well as the trace and minor elements.

 

[emma jacob]

There isn't any evidence that dosing trace elements will help with coral health or growth. Tanks get trace elements from a variety of sources, including food and supplements. As long as the tank gets regular water changes, I wouldn't worry about trace elements as far as growth.

The various trace element products added for color claim to stimulate the corals to produce more pigments, basically, and they might do that, although that's not clear. There's no evidence that they work. I would avoid dosing both types of supplement, at the very least.

If you are planning of dose, you should be having a test kit. do 20% water changes twice a week and forget about dosing at all. Remember you have no idea how fast your tank will absorb and use the fog poop or the fly barf

 

[emma jacob]

Thanks bertoni! Just to clarify your last statement, you caution against dosing both together, but I can try ding just one of the sets right?

Always remember Magnesium and Strontium aren't really trace elements . Magnesium is worth testing often. Supplementation is needed for some tanks. Strontium is not effective

 

[illumnae]

Thank you everyone for your input! I guess when buying into a system (e.g. Zeovit, FM, AF, Red Sea etc.) you tend to have a certain level of "trust" in the company in that you don't really test for what you're dosing from their product line (except for Balling i guess)

 

[BlackTip]

I am following this thread:

13% water change every 2 weeks using Seachem Reef Salt
CaRx and Kalk in ATO
8.5 dkh, 480 CA, 320 Mag, .003 phosphate, 0 nitrate (It has been always 0)
Maxspect light at 80% blue and 70% white for 9 hours, 2 hours ramps up and 2 hours ramps down.
8.2-8.3 PH

Some corals are grown at good pace, and some very slow. What bothers me, however, is the color. Most are pinkish in color, couple are vibrant green, but no blue nor purple.

I dose Aquavitro Fuel twice a week. I don't feed corals. I feed wide varaiaties of frozen and dried food.

Any tips on how to improve color?

P.S. I know the nitrate is too low at 0. When I feed more, I get green film algae.

 

[bertoni]

Coral coloration seems to be a difficult issue. Lighting could be part of the problem. If the corals are a bit pale, more food might help.

 

[BlackTip]

Coral coloration seems to be a difficult issue. Lighting could be part of the problem. If the corals are a bit pale, more food might help.

Fish food or coral food?

 

[bertoni]

Either should be fine, actually. Fish output is reasonable coral food.

What types of corals are you feeding?

 

[BlackTip]

Either should be fine, actually. Fish output is reasonable coral food.

What types of corals are you feeding?

Mostly SPS and LPS. Couple large green stars and recordia mushroom. I feed twice a day - first meal frozen food and the second dry food, in addition to 4X4 sheet of nori. I have large varieties of frozen (LRS, mysis, brine, plankton, clams). Once in a while, I hatch baby brine as a treat. All-in-all fishes are very healthy and plump.

When I feed more, I get film green algae that covers the sand and the rocks.

 

[bertoni]

I suspect that fish food or coral food would be fine. Phytoplankton can help raise small animals that provide live food if your LPS take live prey like that. I think many SPS can take small organic items, too.

 

[tmz]

SPS corals and zoanthids seem to respond well to targetted feeding of small micron foods like golden pearls and or/ coral frenzy,as examples.
As for lighting I get the color I prefer with radium 20k MH bulbs coupled with VHO actininc(old school) but leds do ok with many corals<IME.