Trace Elements Recommendations

[Noobreefer84]

Hello All.

I have a question about trace elements and supplementing. I was looking at Brightwell Replenish, which looks to claim itself as an all in one for trace and minor elements. Which in theory sounds great.

My question is, how do they achieve this without precipitation. Other brands, such as Tropic Main have A and K, which separates the traces due to ionic differences that would cause precipitation.

I am no chemistry expert. But if specific elements need to be separated, then does the Brightwell product do as claimed?

I did an ICP Test and a number of my trace elements are low. I do not want to go down the road of moonshiners. So I am considering doing light dosing of trace to supplements what I add back from weekly water changes.

Currently I have dialed in stability on my tank for the big 6.
Alk - 8
CAL - 440
Po4 - 0.03 - 0.10
No3 - 6 - 10
Mag - 1320
Salinity - 1.025
PH - 7.9 low at night, 8.2 high during the day

I'm not looking to pick a part each element and obtain a masters in chemistry at the same time. Now that the tank is stable I want to look at adding the cherry on top with trace elements to have over all healthier corals and if I get some extra growth or coloration, that's a bonus.

Would it be better to do TM A and K and supplement Potassium/Iodine as I believe its missing those. Or use something like Brightwell and call it a day. Alternatively, Redsea has the ABCD which doses off calcium consumption.

 

[BryanM]

I think the Tropic Marin A and K is a much better product. The brightwell product has to have eliminated some elements to be able to be on one solution.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I'll second that AFR is my favorite product to dose in my tank

 

[BriDroid]

I recently moved from NAF 2-part to Randy's DIY sodium hydroxide 2-part. I needed to start dosing a trace element mix since the DIY doesn't have any traces in it where the NAF did. I settled on Microbial Marine Easy Trace. It has everything needed in it, and I only need one dosing pump! Everything seems to be fine since I made the switch a while back. Nothing has skipped a beat. And it's reasonably priced for a 500ml bottle. I'll see how everything is when I run my next ICP in mid December.

 

[ReefGeezer]

I use a calcium reactor that supplies some trace elements - I think. I also add TM A&K Elements. BUT... my tank is full of corals and other trace element sucking organisms. It is hard to recommend what you need to use without knowing the demand. Someone with low demand could just use water changes. Moderate demand tanks are perfect for AFR. Once demand makes using AFR too expensive, two-part dosing or a calcium reactor plus some sort of supplement, like TM A&K Elements, are a pretty reasonable way to go.

 

[Arkayology]

I use a calcium reactor that supplies some trace elements - I think. I also add TM A&K Elements. BUT... my tank is full of corals and other trace element sucking organisms. It is hard to recommend what you need to use without knowing the demand. Someone with low demand could just use water changes. Moderate demand tanks are perfect for AFR. Once demand makes using AFR too expensive, two-part dosing or a calcium reactor plus some sort of supplement, like TM A&K Elements, are a pretty reasonable way to go.

I think it has been determined that there are not enough trace elements supplied from a CaRx to really make a difference. I could be wrong though, but I remember reading that somewhere.

 

[Noobreefer84]

Thank you for the insights. I think I am going to try TM A&K vs Brightwell for now and see if I notice color differences over the next several months.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I think it has been determined that there are not enough trace elements supplied from a CaRx to really make a difference. I could be wrong though, but I remember reading that somewhere.

Likely true, as it only supplements what gets into skeletons, not what is needed for tissue in all sorts of organisms, from algae to anemones to corals.