What's your favorite additive?
- Thread starter ZoeReef
- Start date
Fliger
New member
Not a zeo system, but a Pohl stand-alone, Coral Vitalizer (CV). SPS love it, send out feeders as soon as it hits the water. I also like their AAHC (Amino Acids).
For overall tank feeding I like the Prodibio Reef Booster. Once every couple weeks and everything in the tank goes a little crazy. ;-)
For overall tank feeding I like the Prodibio Reef Booster. Once every couple weeks and everything in the tank goes a little crazy. ;-)
DjScibbity
BooYaah!!
we talking additives or coral "food"? I use Kent nano A&B for an "additive" and seachem reef buffer in my NC24...all is well. Ive never heard of the other things you and Fliger are talking about...what do they do?
-JP
-JP
ZoeReef
New member
Jay.. I add kalk to my topoff water, not sure i'm doing it right, but because everything's still alive, i guess I'm not doing anything horribly wrong either.
I haven't added buffer for some time. Hmm haven't measure pH in my nano for some time. Hmm. Haven't actually measured anything exept salinity for some time. I have been dosing 9 drops of vodka in my 24g nano for the past two months with good success. Algae is almost non existent. I clean the glass maybe once a week.
I also feed with Dainichi-red-baby size pellets. GREAT dry food. My clarkii clown went from being a pale yellow and black when I got it, to deep vibrant colors. Truly a spectacular change.
I only add mysis to feed my anemone's (I have three small ones) and sun polyp.
I want to be very careful with any other additives. I think there is danger with mixing and matching systems unless you somehow know exactly what things are doing. I was no genius in chemistry, but when you start mixing unknown liquids in your live tank I would think there is tremendous potential for disaster. (wasn't there an old death recipe of bleach and ammonia?)
In the FWIW dept, I ordered some prodibo products for the 120. I have been lightly dosing introductory "liquid carbon" into the childcare tank. But I am backing off that now because the prodibo products I ordered are designed to reduce nutrients and these two items would be competing to do the same thing.
Because I have primarily, a softee tank, I can't run at zero nutrients. With the bio load I have, I don't think that could ever happen. So we'll see. My primary question was in looking for vitamin supplements/amino acids etc for the corals to help enhance colors/growth.
I haven't added buffer for some time. Hmm haven't measure pH in my nano for some time. Hmm. Haven't actually measured anything exept salinity for some time. I have been dosing 9 drops of vodka in my 24g nano for the past two months with good success. Algae is almost non existent. I clean the glass maybe once a week.
I also feed with Dainichi-red-baby size pellets. GREAT dry food. My clarkii clown went from being a pale yellow and black when I got it, to deep vibrant colors. Truly a spectacular change.
I only add mysis to feed my anemone's (I have three small ones) and sun polyp.
I want to be very careful with any other additives. I think there is danger with mixing and matching systems unless you somehow know exactly what things are doing. I was no genius in chemistry, but when you start mixing unknown liquids in your live tank I would think there is tremendous potential for disaster. (wasn't there an old death recipe of bleach and ammonia?)
In the FWIW dept, I ordered some prodibo products for the 120. I have been lightly dosing introductory "liquid carbon" into the childcare tank. But I am backing off that now because the prodibo products I ordered are designed to reduce nutrients and these two items would be competing to do the same thing.
Because I have primarily, a softee tank, I can't run at zero nutrients. With the bio load I have, I don't think that could ever happen. So we'll see. My primary question was in looking for vitamin supplements/amino acids etc for the corals to help enhance colors/growth.
Fliger
New member
Hey Nick - the best place to read about CV and AAHC is on www.zeovit.com - prodibio, probably here on RC. I'm going to discontinue my Prodibio usage (except Reef Booster). Elos is the company, they are an RC sponsor, check their forum. The 120XL is the name of the tank, its just a 48x32 tank. "System" means that everything is included from the tank to the stand/sump/skimmer/top-off/return pump ... all the way down to the fasteners.
Elos has a bunch of additives also, similar to Prodibio and Zeovit, I might try them. It seems like everything they do is top notch so I figure what the heck.
On my website you can go to Elos chapter and there are lots of pix.
Elos has a bunch of additives also, similar to Prodibio and Zeovit, I might try them. It seems like everything they do is top notch so I figure what the heck.
On my website you can go to Elos chapter and there are lots of pix.
Fliger
New member
Its hard for me to know if it was doing anything or not since my tank is so new. Obviously there are some incredible tanks that it is working for. I can say though that my tank is ZERO po4 and nitrates. My SPS are colored very well with very little light. Some of my blue SPS are awesome just barely getting any T5 lighting. So I do think it probably works. But my motto is, if it ain't broken, fix it. ;-) JK. But its also hard to know if it is Prodibio, or just the fact that I cooked my rocks for several months, I'm barebottom with a lot of flow and a large skimmer. I've also siphoned out detritus regularly.
Anyway, I have decided to try Elos' additives, here is a thread from Elos that he just started. I will LYK how I like them as I start. I will be adding sand, and putting my ca rx online soon so I expect to be dealing with more hurdles. BTW I really came close to using Zeovit but will hold off for a little bit. The Elos line is "similar" but it doesn't quite push you to the tipping point like Zeovit - at least the way they explain it. I do not know if I will be using the Elos Zeolites though (called Filtra M). One thing that I have read good things about is "C1" daily integrator coral food.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=875712
Anyway, I have decided to try Elos' additives, here is a thread from Elos that he just started. I will LYK how I like them as I start. I will be adding sand, and putting my ca rx online soon so I expect to be dealing with more hurdles. BTW I really came close to using Zeovit but will hold off for a little bit. The Elos line is "similar" but it doesn't quite push you to the tipping point like Zeovit - at least the way they explain it. I do not know if I will be using the Elos Zeolites though (called Filtra M). One thing that I have read good things about is "C1" daily integrator coral food.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=875712
cerreta
Premium Member
Andy, as you may recall I was running the 80 gallon softy tank before switching over to the sps. I had excellent results with Salifert All-in-One. It is designed for softy tanks and includes all nutrients except iodine. If you racall the pics of that thank, I had monster GFL and a GBA that divided over 15 times. I was not using it the whole time I had the softy tank, but I did in the last 10 months.
It is a single weekly additive that is simple to dose and inexpensive. I would occasionally add Salifert KH/dKH buffer and their Coral Calcium. I did not use kalk or a ca reactor in this system.
It replaces the need for A / B supplements and has more to offer than just the Coral Grower.
You can read this site for additional info.
http://www.salifert.com/
ZoeReef
New member
Fliger & Scott,
Thanks. Since I have it, I am giving my big tank a few days to recover after stopping my carbon dosing. I only have BioDigest and Bioptin.
I am going to under-dose them. I have some algae that is really proving tough to remove. I'm going to be taking pix to do a before and after. Once it seems it's a clean running tank I will add some Salifert All-in-one.
I don't know how softies would fare in a nutrient-stripped tank. Some folks who sell outlandish zoos have a very nutrient rich tank. I guess that's why this hobby will continue to keep you on your toes. Thanks to all.
Andy
Thanks. Since I have it, I am giving my big tank a few days to recover after stopping my carbon dosing. I only have BioDigest and Bioptin.
I am going to under-dose them. I have some algae that is really proving tough to remove. I'm going to be taking pix to do a before and after. Once it seems it's a clean running tank I will add some Salifert All-in-one.
I don't know how softies would fare in a nutrient-stripped tank. Some folks who sell outlandish zoos have a very nutrient rich tank. I guess that's why this hobby will continue to keep you on your toes. Thanks to all.
Andy
Fliger
New member
Andy, I don't think you have to underdose those two - I would follow the directions. They are just bacteria and trace elements. IMO they should not fuel algae.
The Salifert additives sound really interesting. I am also thinking of adding Zeovit's K-Balance (about 99% sure) and maybe B-Balance as well (50/50). Those dosing K-Balance have noticed blues intensify in color.
So my list will be -
Zeovit - Coral Vitalizer, High Concentrate Amino Acids, K-Balance
Prodibio - Reefbooster
Elos - RB10, RB20, RB30, RB40, RB50, C1 integrator
Still in consideration - Zeovit B-Balance, Elos Filtra M (zeolites), Salifert
I decided I'm going to stay barebottom while I'm adding these. I'm also going to discontinue ROWAphos to see if I can keep my po4 at zero with the above regimen. I will have a lot of fish, and feed frequently.
The Salifert additives sound really interesting. I am also thinking of adding Zeovit's K-Balance (about 99% sure) and maybe B-Balance as well (50/50). Those dosing K-Balance have noticed blues intensify in color.
So my list will be -
Zeovit - Coral Vitalizer, High Concentrate Amino Acids, K-Balance
Prodibio - Reefbooster
Elos - RB10, RB20, RB30, RB40, RB50, C1 integrator
Still in consideration - Zeovit B-Balance, Elos Filtra M (zeolites), Salifert
I decided I'm going to stay barebottom while I'm adding these. I'm also going to discontinue ROWAphos to see if I can keep my po4 at zero with the above regimen. I will have a lot of fish, and feed frequently.
You may want to check the recommendations on mixing this many additives. I know we do not recommend this and I would imagine the other brands do not, as well. That being said, I have mixed alcohol with just about every prescription med. given to me, with mostly positive results:strooper: THAT WAS A JOKE!
Fliger
New member
Hey Jesse - I'm gonna buy them all and decide. ;-)
Reefbooster and CV are just "foods" I believe. I would drop Reefbooster first. I don't think Aminos will affect anything - can you check to see if any of my Elos additives contain Aminos? The K-Balance is primarily Potassium and is used sparingly.
I know C1 is a big secret ;-) but can you see if it contains Potassium and/or Aminos?
I highly doubt I will use B-Balance or Salifert. I don't doubt their effectiveness but I think they might be redundant.
I wash down my meds with beer or Red Bull/Vodka.
Reefbooster and CV are just "foods" I believe. I would drop Reefbooster first. I don't think Aminos will affect anything - can you check to see if any of my Elos additives contain Aminos? The K-Balance is primarily Potassium and is used sparingly.
I know C1 is a big secret ;-) but can you see if it contains Potassium and/or Aminos?
I highly doubt I will use B-Balance or Salifert. I don't doubt their effectiveness but I think they might be redundant.
I wash down my meds with beer or Red Bull/Vodka.
