Trace elements

[allof fish]

I normally do a water change about every 2 weeks. I use tropic Marion pro salt so replenishes a lot of trace elements. I haven’t dosed elements before but coming up at some times I won’t have the chance to do a water change every 2 weeks. If I started dosing trace elements will that be enough to replenish my tank and enhance it. Not something to the extent of reef moonshiners in anyway but either one of the brightwell or tropic Marion elements products. Is this sustainable? Any input on trace elements would be great!

 

[BryanM]

Dosing trace elements is usually combined with ICP test results so you can verify that you're in good ranges.

While not a requirement this is also usually based on ALK consumption of your tank.

In any case the answer is yes, you can do this, but do some more research, there's 1000 ways to dose trace.

 

[allof fish]

I haven’t done an icp test yet but probably will in next couple months to see. I know it’s much more difficult to dose individual elements reef moonshiners way but would another good way dose the mixed elements solutions by hand or dosing pump. What do you think is easiest and recommended most? Using about .8 dkh a day

 

[Red_Beard]

I haven’t done an icp test yet but probably will in next couple months to see. I know it’s much more difficult to dose individual elements reef moonshiners way but would another good way dose the mixed elements solutions by hand or dosing pump. What do you think is easiest and recommended most? Using about .8 dkh a day

Easiest is definitely All-For-Reef. Then you get everything at a fixed ratio that, for me at least, has been right on the money for what my tank needs

You can do any sort of tropic marin A/K or redsea trace though too, they have recommended doses based on ALK consumption

Either way, you don't need an ICP if you do a few larger water changes periodically ( quarterly or whatever ). That will bring you back to baseline if things do deviate over time.

 

[BryanM]

AFR is the easiest, tons of successful tanks using that, including mine, though I've stopped due to the calcium creeping up.

Almost 1 dKH a day, must be a well stocked system with lots of consumers!

 

[spsick]

If you don’t have a ton of hard corals or a refugium depleting trace elements there’s no need to supplement beyond water changes IME.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I dose AFR as well as extra of certain elements, since my demand for AFR is low.

These represent some of my thoughts on trace elements:

Randy's Elements to Dose

In a previous article I discussed my thoughts on trace elements https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/randys-thoughts-on-trace-elements.951/ This article expands on that discussion by providing specific guidance for all elements one might dose. First...

www.reef2reef.com

Randy's thoughts on trace elements

Randy's thoughts on trace elements in reef aquaria.

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If you don’t have a ton of hard corals or a refugium depleting trace elements there’s no need to supplement beyond water changes IME.

Why do you think hard corals use more trace elements than soft corals or macroalgae?

 

[exnisstech]

Just AFR on this tank. Total volume 60ish gal and I'm currently dosing 65ml a day. Been using AFR for close to 2 years I think. Coral do well so I've never done an ICP. I do small WCs of 4g every two weeks. Nitrates stay at or near zero and I dose ammonium. I could probably stretch my WCs out more with the low N and P levels but 4g every two weeks allows me to vacuum detritus and seems to be enough that I'm not seeing my calcium rise like some do when using AFR.

 

[spsick]

Why do you think hard corals use more trace elements than soft corals or macroalgae?

I don’t, just generalizing based on 2 situations known to deplete trace elements.

I would love to see an ICP on a tank full of soft corals that doesn’t dose. But it seems tanks full of soft corals do fine on just water changes, if even that. Macroalgae for sure, but I would be curious what softies suck up.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I don’t, just generalizing based on 2 situations known to deplete trace elements.

I would love to see an ICP on a tank full of soft corals that doesn’t dose. But it seems tanks full of soft corals do fine on just water changes, if even that. Macroalgae for sure, but I would be curious what softies suck up.

I think foods are adding the needed trace elements in many tanks, hard or soft. :)