You can only pick 3

[wnecbubba74]

Every time I go to a LFS they try to sell me about 40 different kinds of supplements (saying that I am stupid to even attempt to build a reef tank without all of them); and I’m not afraid to say that the stores in my area are not the cheapest.

I’m trying to build a nice reef tank on a somewhat budget. So my question is if you could only use 3 different kinds of supplements for your reef tanks what would you guys/girls recommend?

Thanks,
Jon

 

[WaterKeeper]

Either a two part calcium/alkalinity supplement or KW. Nothing else is needed if you do regular water changes. You can buy pickling lime in the grocery and save even more.

 

[CMcNeil]

oceans blend parts 1 and 2,and the oceans blend magnesium.

 

[WaterKeeper]

One other little note here. Only add for what you can test. Blind supplementation can cause more problems than they supposedly cure.

 

[REMF]

I buy NO store bought supplements for my reef, way 2 expensive.

Look HERE is some home made supplements from Randy Holmes-Farley.

And a great Reef Chemistry Calculator to know how much of each to add by JDieck
HERE

Then you can tell your LFS you got it covered.

 

[dc_909]

Nothing except your 3 part home-made formula.

Don't even waste your money on any other supps. Maybe some lugols for dips.

 

[jus10kase]

What supplements?

Saltwater for water changes.
Fresh for topoff(sometimes using kalk from pickling lime)

 

[REMF]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9561922#post9561922 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jus10kase
What supplements?

That is a good question, what supplements are they trying to get you to buy?

FWIW personally I just use the 3 in Randy's article listed above, Ca, Alk, Mag. All the other supplements come in the salt.

And fully agree with WaterKeeper, "Only add for what you can test". With a quality test kit.

 

[returnofsid]

I'm in the "Buy nothing from LFS" category. Well, nothing for supplements. I do use Randy's 3 part recipe for Ca, Alk and Mg. I also buy Pickling Lime in the Grocery store for making Kalk. I think you'll find that using the homemade recipe is just as effective, if not more so and WAY cheaper.

 

[wnecbubba74]

Pickling Lime? What does pickling lime do ?

 

[WaterKeeper]

Pickling lime is hydrated calcium oxide or Ca(OH)₂. It is what changes plain water into KW by adding just a couple of teaspoons into a gallon of water . It is also cheap and readily available in the canning section of the local grocery store. See Randy's What your Grandmother Never Told you about Lime for a full discussion.

 

[returnofsid]

It makes a very high Calcium based Kalk or Lime Water. You can mix it with all of your freshwater used for top of and replacement of evaporated water. Usually added by dripping over night.