Are trace elements really that important?

[tırıvırıı]

Are trace elements really that important for an SPS-dominant system?
I'm thinking of using BRS, CA, KH, and MG. With weekly water changes in a full SPS tank, will I experience losses in acros without adding trace elements?

 

[Subsea]

YES, TRACE ELEMENTS ARE IMPORTANT. And trace elements are added with water change schedule.

No one can answer that question about your system untill you include MORE data:

How much water change in how much system volume?
Density of SPS & specific species?

Keep it simple:
If dosing trace elements and testing equipment are not desirable than increase water change volumes.

I have large systems with no alkalinity demanding corals, so I don’t fret trace minerals. I also use passive alkalinity management in agroggonite sand beds by allowing nighttime pH drop.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Tagging @Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

There are two issues here. (A) is the question you asked, and (B) is an important one you did not ask.

(A)
Trace elements from some source are critically important.

The benefit of dosing any or many will depend entirely on what the other sources of them are in any given tank. IMO, the main source is foods of various types, including fish foods and coral foods.

Water changes can also supply some. Tap water supplies some.

The only way to know more in any given tank is by:

1. Getting an ICP-MS test (such as by Oceamo) and then seeing if any important elements are too low.
2. Trying dosing a trace element mix, such as Tropic Marin A and K and seeing if the tank seems any different after a week or so. One can also just add the mix indefinitely.

The combination of 1 and then experimental testing of things that seem low on paper is probably the best way to know with confidence, but 2 alone is a big step forward.

(B)
If you dose just the solutions you mention, a very large number of major, minor and trace elements will get pushed down, and it is desirable to use an additional material that maintains them. Tropic Marin Balling Part C and Aquaforest mineral salt serve this purpose. This is NOT a replacement for trace element supplementation and should not be used for that purpose.

This set of recipes shows what to use:

DIY Balling Method Recipe

The Balling DIY supplement recipe utilize a 1:1:1 dosing ratio to maintain proper alkalinity. For instance, if you require 50 mL of the alkalinity solution, you should also add 50 mL of Calcium and Balling. Alkalinity (Choose One) : Option 1: Soda Ash Add 375 g soda ash to enough RO/DI to...

www.reef2reef.com

and this article details why this additional part is needed:

How a Two Part Alkalinity and Calcium System Works, and Why it Matters

How a Two Part Alkalinity and Calcium System Works, and Why it Matters By Randy Holmes-Farley This article is intended to help aquarists understand some of the important differences between the great variety of two and three part alkalinity and...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Kooma]

Yes.

Now go take your multi-vitamin you’ve been ignoring.

 

[Reginald Reefer III]

100% for acro/SPS dominate tank. Long term success/coloration will only happen if you supplement and know regularly which ones are absent/low/too high.

 

[X-37B]

In my 15g I dose no trace elements. In my acro dominant 150 I dose trace elements.
In my 15 I do 20% WC 2× a month.
30+ mixed reef corals, 3 fish.
I feed all systems heavy including the 15.
Floss, carbon, and WC for nutrient export.
20lbs Live rock and sand is the key to nutrient control in this small system.