Trace-Colors

[cody2cannon]

So i got this red sea trace color for free from a friend unopened. Now i do not dose anything as of right now. Everything except for a wall hammer is growing! My question is should i start dosing this? Or is this going to screw up my system? Here are some pics!

 

[emvanburen]

It is legit stuff fwiw.

 

[Robink]

unless your going to test the elements you'll be dosing, I wouldn't do it. You have no way to know how much to dose as you aren't dosing calcium. Good stuff though. So keep it and when you do start dosing you can add it. BRS has a video on dosing calculated on the calcium dose.
You WILL eventually have to dose as you add more corals.

 

[cody2cannon]

Thanks guys! How will I know when to dose calc though?

 

[Robink]

You should be checking your parameters at the least weekly. I keep my calcium at 420, alk between 8 and 9. The more corals you add the more consumption. When your w/c's no longer can keep up with the demand you will have to dose. If you are going to get into sps corals you need stable parameters, especially alk. I have lots of sps so I check my alk daily.
I use the BRS 2 part, for about 6 or 7 years now.

 

[cody2cannon]

You should be checking your parameters at the least weekly. I keep my calcium at 420, alk between 8 and 9. The more corals you add the more consumption. When your w/c's no longer can keep up with the demand you will have to dose. If you are going to get into sps corals you need stable parameters, especially alk. I have lots of sps so I check my alk daily.
I use the BRS 2 part, for about 6 or 7 years now.

Staying away from sps for a while tank is 10 months old and I still do not have an ATO so for now im sticking to LPS and softies. Next adventure will be a BTA probably around Xmas. Thanks for the info bud i will start testing weekly i have salifert for calc alk and mag

 

[Robink]

Then w/c's will probably suffice for awhile. Just save the trace colors. I use it, seems to work on the sps well.
My latest tank is 8 mos. Moved so had to break everything down and restart.

 

[cody2cannon]

Then w/c's will probably suffice for awhile. Just save the trace colors. I use it, seems to work on the sps well.
My latest tank is 8 mos. Moved so had to break everything down and restart.

Beautiful tank! Great im glad i grabbed that from him then! So when i test ive only really tested a few times and only when i see something that doesn't look right, should i be testing right before and right after my WC? I do a 4 gallon change on my 20 gallon once a week.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

If you can. Test alk only once a week.
Also test alk before and after a wc.
The alk amount you lose is the consumption of your tank.
Cal alk and mag fall evenly so that's why many only test Alk. Imbalances appear to only be problematic if the numbers are too low. Particularly alk.

If you're using Red Sea those Elements are already being replenished, but at what rate becomes the mystery, save rigorous testing.
None of those in high levels are belived to be detrimental save in high doses.
So imo, you could add them at the minimum dose on the box and see what happens.

 

[Zagreus]

unless your going to test the elements you'll be dosing, I wouldn't do it. You have no way to know how much to dose as you aren't dosing calcium. Good stuff though. So keep it and when you do start dosing you can add it. BRS has a video on dosing calculated on the calcium dose.
You WILL eventually have to dose as you add more corals.

Good advice as i was dosing off calcium. I just did a triton test myself and the results have almost talked me completely out of using this program going forward.

 

[GoVols]

Been dosing them to my calcium intake, (for over an year) but I do dose on the safe (lower) side.
Should be dosing 1.5ml's per day to my cal's intake but I just dose 1ml per day.

Their colors (trace element) program is good stuff

Lol!!!
I'm a water testing junking ;Wacky

 

[cody2cannon]

Ok so I did a 4 gallon WC yesterday my ALK,CALC, and MAG are,

ALK - 7.7 DKH
CALC - 390
MAG - 1320

When should i test again right before i do a WC?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Ok so I did a 4 gallon WC yesterday my ALK,CALC, and MAG are,

ALK - 7.7 DKH
CALC - 390
MAG - 1320

When should i test again right before i do a WC?

IMO yes, that's fine If you want to, just for fun, test the alk tomorrow. Then test next weekend even if you don't do a wc.

 

[Adam G]

Yes, the amount your levels drop will be the amount your tank is using in the time between water changes. If calcium is much lower than 390 when you test you may want to consider dosing to keep levels up in the 420 range. ALK at 7.7 after a water change is good, but my guess is it will drop down several tenths of a point as your corals consume ALK between water changes.

So see what your results are right before water change. Looks to me like you are ready to start adding these elements in between changes to keep ALK in the 7 to 8 range and calcium around 420 constantly day to day.

 

[Steven Garland]

Take what I say with a grain of salt,but I use this in my nano and I love it. I mainly have zoa's and paly's,but I have had good luck with it. After the start of dosing ( a few weeks in ) I noticed my zoa's to be more vivid,sharp and brighter. BUT BE CAREFUL,especially with dosing Iodine !!! PLEASE TEST !!!! I have seen bad things when Iodine is overdosed. All 3 are very good for you corals,but when used in the correct amount.

 

[cody2cannon]

Thanks guys! I'm going to keep testing and I'll update you with my levels tomorrow, what's the best test kit for iodine?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thanks guys! I'm going to keep testing and I'll update you with my levels tomorrow, what's the best test kit for iodine?

Don't keep buying tests man. It's not needed.
Can if ya want.

In three years you'll test just alk right after you stick your finger in the tank to test salinity. And guess it correctly.

 

[cody2cannon]

Don't keep buying tests man. It's not needed.
Can if ya want.

In three years you'll test just alk right after you stick your finger in the tank to test salinity. And guess it correctly.

Lol

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Lol

True story man.

And hung with Dr Joshi, he held back the eye roll on a Chem question and said "....ah yea, Alks important...."

 

[cody2cannon]

So I tested again,

ALK - 7.7
CALC - 390
MAG - 1300

Ill test again before my WC on Wednesday