This is a common subject, that doesnt hurt to always bring up to discussion as we today have analyses that give us a lot of information. With information it comes a responsibility to deal with it in a proper way.
Just because there exists an element in water, or just because a coral absorb it, or incorporate into its skeletons, doesn't mean they need it. Its like the air, it contains a lot of stuff we dont need. The minerals exists because of stones, limes, sediments in water that release its traces. You can actually say the opposite "Despite that this traces exists, the coral is healthy"!, because coral has adapted to its environment. With this said, ofcourse not all traces are unnecessary. We know they are needed for enyme systems, but we also know to support that its enormous small amounts to be needed, and as long as its not 0.0000 its very likely its sufficient. Another aspect of this is: Its more or less impossible to in a scientific way proof that "this" traces "do that". We have too many confounders in such a complex system and its not possible like in other research fileds, isolate and make the comparing groups equal.
So, how do we narrow this subjet then? One way, is to just mimic nature. Its still not sure that the coral need all traces you dose, it could still be that "despite the traces the coral is healthy", but there is at least no harm doing that. But also then remember, if you really shall reach a natural sea water in all aspects, its a lot of efforts, time and money, where probably most of them are wasted.
So, for me personaly , I have choosen an easy and pragmatic way, first of all based on experience that I have achieved keeping a lot of "difficult" species without chasing NSW levels on everything, but also the knowledge of lack of evidence. SO I use ICP to in first place assure I have no toxic levels (because THAT we know is harmfull), and thus like "0" values on many traces, and second: check those few (and if needed spot dose) I think is unquestionably important for the coral (I, Sr, Si maybe, F maybe).
I practical terms I change water quite often with a salt I know is close to sea water (I prefer red Sea), and by that in an easy and reasonable cheap way "go to" normality. Also as a bonus export bad things. And besides that ofcourse dose and have close attention to the major building elements, as those are ofcourse unquestionably important (Ca, Mg, KH).
So, with information there comes responsibility, and for me a "0" value on a traces I know can be toxic, and do not know its beneficiary, is a good value for me, and for me never leads to a dosage.
Jonas
Just because there exists an element in water, or just because a coral absorb it, or incorporate into its skeletons, doesn't mean they need it. Its like the air, it contains a lot of stuff we dont need. The minerals exists because of stones, limes, sediments in water that release its traces. You can actually say the opposite "Despite that this traces exists, the coral is healthy"!, because coral has adapted to its environment. With this said, ofcourse not all traces are unnecessary. We know they are needed for enyme systems, but we also know to support that its enormous small amounts to be needed, and as long as its not 0.0000 its very likely its sufficient. Another aspect of this is: Its more or less impossible to in a scientific way proof that "this" traces "do that". We have too many confounders in such a complex system and its not possible like in other research fileds, isolate and make the comparing groups equal.
So, how do we narrow this subjet then? One way, is to just mimic nature. Its still not sure that the coral need all traces you dose, it could still be that "despite the traces the coral is healthy", but there is at least no harm doing that. But also then remember, if you really shall reach a natural sea water in all aspects, its a lot of efforts, time and money, where probably most of them are wasted.
So, for me personaly , I have choosen an easy and pragmatic way, first of all based on experience that I have achieved keeping a lot of "difficult" species without chasing NSW levels on everything, but also the knowledge of lack of evidence. SO I use ICP to in first place assure I have no toxic levels (because THAT we know is harmfull), and thus like "0" values on many traces, and second: check those few (and if needed spot dose) I think is unquestionably important for the coral (I, Sr, Si maybe, F maybe).
I practical terms I change water quite often with a salt I know is close to sea water (I prefer red Sea), and by that in an easy and reasonable cheap way "go to" normality. Also as a bonus export bad things. And besides that ofcourse dose and have close attention to the major building elements, as those are ofcourse unquestionably important (Ca, Mg, KH).
So, with information there comes responsibility, and for me a "0" value on a traces I know can be toxic, and do not know its beneficiary, is a good value for me, and for me never leads to a dosage.
Jonas
