Additives

[kitsapdan]

So I was at a LFS today and it hit me, how many Additives there are out there for people to put if there tanks. So I was thinking that I would like to know what other people are using and way.

 

[Krish]

I used the 2 part B-Ionic (calcium and alk). They have always worked well for me. I think I use to run through the bottle of calcium quicker than the alk. When using any of the additives where you dose the tank yourself, you'll have to keep up with testing your water. I use to do it weekly just to make sure I wasn't over/under dosing. If you add more corals, you may need to compensate for the increased load etc. so these are some of the things you will have to keep in mind.

 

[Sasquatch]

I only dose saltwater, low demand so no requirement, and your right, there is a crap load of stuff and a lot of crap.

 

[kitsapdan]

yes there is, does anyone grow phytoplankton.

 

[akunochi]

I don't grow phyto but thanks to Seachem at Seamax I have phyto that I'll dose into my fuge about 1 time a month. I don't run any additives except for my kalk reactor.

 

[crazyfish253]

Most of it is a wayst IMO. Calk Cal and mg ph Is all I need. If something looks crappy water change Works for me.

 

[NC2WA]

IMO, keep it simple.

if you do regular water changes, clean filters when needed, and use carbon there is no need for additives...the only thing I add to my tank is marine reef calcium as my IO salt is low in calcium, plus I have more fish than corals.

 

[jnarowe]

adding phyto to your tank is not a very good idea. take one dropper full in 2 oz. of purified water and test for phosphate and nitrate.

 

[akunochi]

Yes I am aware of the phosphate nitrate issues associated with phyto, but I believe it helps the life in my refugium some so I dose it once a month. I usually dose about a capful. Then again I also run a nice skimmer and an algae turf scrubber so nutrients aren't a large concern of mine.

 

[jnarowe]

so why add it if your filtration system is so good it removes it?

 

[akunochi]

I shut down the skimmer, let phyto act as a food source for a couple hours and then fire everything back up. Not an overly complicated theory really.

 

[kitsapdan]

So I saw on-line people that make there own phyto add 1/2 cups per 55gallons every day. Sounds like a over kill to me. I will post the site when I get home.

 

[NC2WA]

jnarowe,

good to see you back on the boards.
been a while..

 

[capdippe]

I used to dose all sorts of stuff: cal, alk, mag, K+, Koral Color, MicroBacter, Iodine (very small amounts), Omega acids, Trace Elements, Coral VM, hell I'm probably forgetting some too. Any way, I recently got married Aug5th; and with all of the family in town and what not, I couldn't manage the tank like I used to for about a week and a half. What did I find? my cyano problem went away, the corals were looking better than they ever did, and my green hair algae began to dissapate. I was also doing 22% water changes per week. The only thing I do now is add weekly K+, and a little Alk.

 

[NC2WA]

I used to dose all sorts of stuff: cal, alk, mag, K+, Koral Color, MicroBacter, Iodine (very small amounts), Omega acids, Trace Elements, Coral VM, hell I'm probably forgetting some too. Any way, I recently got married Aug5th; and with all of the family in town and what not, I couldn't manage the tank like I used to for about a week and a half. What did I find? my cyano problem went away, the corals were looking better than they ever did, and my green hair algae began to dissapate. I was also doing 22% water changes per week. The only thing I do now is add weekly K+, and a little Alk.

which goes back to my keep it simple method.

 

[Sasquatch]

So I saw on-line people that make there own phyto add 1/2 cups per 55gallons every day. Sounds like a over kill to me. I will post the site when I get home.

Sure! and its totally fine.... IF you have a tank full of filter feeders, a little taste now and then is good but to just add for the sake of adding? just bad