Buying Corals & Anemones What Supplements Do I Really Need?

[reef.geek]

Hey everyone,
So I’m about to grab some new corals and maybe an anemone for my Waterbox Peninsula Mini 25 and I want to make sure I’m not missing anything important on the supplement side.
I have the basics (calcium, alkalinity, magnesium) the backbone for coral growth, but I keep seeing people talk about things like iodine, iron, strontium, trace elements, coral foods, etc.
My question:

• What are the absolute must-haves when adding corals and anemones?
• Which supplements are more of a “nice to have” for growth/color but not strictly required?
• Any brands you trust or swear by?

Right now my tank has 2 clownfish, a sexy shrimp, CUC, a yellow coral goby, a toadstool leather, clavularia, and caulastrea. Planning to add some Euphyllia, Zoas, and maybe a bubble-tip anemone.

 

[mcarroll]

If you're doing regular water changes a lot of that is redundant. Ca & alk is even covered by water changes in light-duty situations.

 

[Boehmtown]

When you're adding. You need nothing. These are largely problems of coral farmers and tanks that have more coral than water. I had a packed acro tank just dosing all for reef
And a packed mixed tank with just kalk and water changes.

 

[Biokabe]

For a 25g tank, the only supplement you need is a reef-spec salt.

On a smaller tank, you should be doing regular heavy water changes (15-20% weekly). That'll keep you topped off on all essential major and trace elements for most stocking situations.

Dosing isn't snake oil, but it's also not necessary for many tanks, especially smaller tanks. But you should only be dosing in concert with regular testing - don't dose for what you can't test. So if you actually need to dose, you'll know it thanks to your testing. And if your testing shows that regular water changes are enough (which it will for the foreseeable future, provided you're doing your water changes) then dosing isn't necessary.

 

[BryanM]

If doing water changes, likely nothing.

I spot feed most of my corals mysis 1-2x a week, although they do not need it, if it has a mouth it probably wants food, even if they get the majority from light.

I also feed benereef when I feed mysis.

 

[Lavey29]

Weekly water changes that's it