Trace elements.

[Nmaran72]

How do I know if I need to use trace elements.

 

[lapin]

How often do you do water changes?
How much compared to tank size?
What is in your tank?

 

[Nmaran72]

How often do you do water changes?
How much compared to tank size?
What is in your tank?

Sorry about that. It’s a 60 gal aio. I do wc every other week. My parameters are 421 cal. 11 alk. 1400 mag. I dose only calc and alk. Corals are mainly lps with monti cap. 2 hammers 1 torch 2 acans. 3 zoa frags 1 frogspawn 1 lobo and 1 gt anemone

 

[lapin]

My ipinion:
If you are using a good quality salt and a 10% water change per week, (20% every 2 weeks) I dont not see a need for more trace elements.

 

[Hemmdog]

How do I know if I need to use trace elements.

Get an ICP test done a week after you do a water change to see if all your levels are still sufficient.

 

[Nmaran72]

My ipinion:
If you are using a good quality salt and a 10% water change per week, (20% every 2 weeks) I dont not see a need for more trace elements.

I currently use reef crystals I was conserving going to Red Sea pro. But the debates on salt are staggering.

 

[Nmaran72]

Get an ICP test done a week after you do a water change to see if all your levels are still sufficient.

That’s an option. I sea that Red Sea makes a trace element test kit is it worth it because I don’t know where to do the icp test. I have been out the game for a long time and recently got back into it

 

[Hemmdog]

That’s an option. I sea that Red Sea makes a trace element test kit is it worth it because I don’t know where to do the icp test. I have been out the game for a long time and recently got back into it

You order the test vial on marinedepot or bulkreefsupply. You fill it with tank water, put it in the mail, check results online in a few days. Get the triton ICP test, it is the most accurate option. I find the Red Sea trace tests tedious so to check to make sure my traces are on track I mail out a ICP test quarterly. It also checks for potential contaminants like heavy metals, all that stuff.

 

[road_runner]

I would not play with trace elements unless I know the coral demands it and your water change is not enough to replenishing it. It depend on the type if coral you carry.
I depend on icp test to dose trace elements.

 

[lapin]

I currently use reef crystals I was conserving going to Red Sea pro. But the debates on salt are staggering.

RC is high in elements.
I have mostly LPS and softies. I mix Red Sea Coral Pro with the Red Sea regular 50 /50. 10% water change every week. Keep my alk at 9. After 18 months I ordered the 2 ICP tests. Ouch. They cost a bundle in my opinion. The only element they said was low was iodine. I think because I have a bunch of red macro algae, it sucks it up. Even with low iodine my shrimp molt quite often.

 

[rhastareefer]

I currently use reef crystals I was conserving going to Red Sea pro. But the debates on salt are staggering.

After some of the recent testing from BRS, it's pretty *clear* (pun intended) that there is a 'purest/fastest mixing' salt head and shoulders above the rest. Far from the cheapest though and a bit less 'user friendly' than the rest as well.

 

[road_runner]

I currently use reef crystals I was conserving going to Red Sea pro. But the debates on salt are staggering.

When it come to salt it's all about the parameters level you want. Most salt mixes (at least the reportable) are the same except with parameters level..
Do not get confused with all the brands and claims. Juts choose one that meets your parameters level to minimize dosing(to an extent)
Example: if you run elevated levels go with RC or red sea the high level ones.
If you run low parameters like I do, you can use redsea blue bucket I believe or any other. I use tropic marine cause their alk come at 6.7~7 or so.

They all the same except how fast they mix and cloudness...etc which all end up being the same if you wait 3 hours ;)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

In terms of trace elements, one way is to dose a mixture intended for reefs and watch carefully to see if it looks useful. An icp test can be useful, but is not always definitive as some like iron are fine below detectable levels.