dosing trace elements.......comments?

[AKsaltlife]

So I have been in the hobby for just over a year now and have gone through 4 different tanks starting at 4 gallons, up to 30 gallons, then a 14 gallon frag tank and now my 75 gallon. I dose calcium and alkalinity but would like some input on dosing trace elements.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

I 2-part as well. For trace elements I do water changes once a month to get those in my tank;) Love the banner btw! You should add a Coast Guard Cutter to float on your water ;)

 

[AKsaltlife]

Thank you. Can't say I have thought about that yet but is a pretty good idea hahaha. I guess by doing my every 2 weeks water changes I should be good then.

 

[AKsaltlife]

I'm going to have to start looking for a little cutter to put in there

 

[ReefMadScientist]

Thank you. Can't say I have thought about that yet but is a pretty good idea hahaha. I guess by doing my every 2 weeks water changes I should be good then.

Yes you will be good. I have a pretty dense SPS tanks and LPS tank.

 

[spspirate]

If your not doing regular waterchanges then dosing trace could be beneficial.

 

[NanaReefer]

I dose once between bi-weekly water changes just for general purposes-lol.

 

[reefwiser]

I do DSR following GlennF After testing you learn how much of which elements your corals are currently using. Then dose to reach Natural Saltwater levels.
http://reefbuilders.com/2014/03/06/dsr-successful-method/
DSR website.
http://dsrreefing.nl/
Makes a big difference.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Unfortunately, there's no suitable way for reefers to test for natural levels of many important trace elements.

That leaves trial and error the only way to know if you might benefit from elements like iron, copper, chromium, cobalt, etc.

FWIW, in addition to water changes, I dose only iron, and silicate, as well as calcium and alkalinity via limewater.

I'll also move this to a more appropriate forum. :)

 

[AKsaltlife]

I do DSR following GlennF After testing you learn how much of which elements your corals are currently using. Then dose to reach Natural Saltwater levels.
http://reefbuilders.com/2014/03/06/dsr-successful-method/
DSR website.
http://dsrreefing.nl/
Makes a big difference.

Good info sir I do appreciate the help. I just need to get some tests to make sure I'm at the right levels.

 

[AKsaltlife]

Currently I'm just using the 4 part red sea trace elements kit and just adding what I think needs to be there according to the instructions.

 

[Damon]

I recently(about a month to two ago) began dosing the kz trace elements(single bottle). I am finding a ton of vigor and increased growth in my stones. I don't use a ton of the kz stuff, but some things have worked well. And then, some things have surprised me. Their trace elements has been one. I only, at max, dose half strength, but it's been very, very good so far..

 

[AKsaltlife]

I will certainly take that into concideration. Thank you. Guess I will be trying a few new things. I'm about to make up 20 gallons of water today and get my frag tank hooked up. Should buffer things out a bit adding an extra 20 gallons of volume to my system.