What supplements are people using?

[jack4rogers]

Hi all. My first reef is starting to really get into the swing of things (5 months old yesterday, obligatory photo attached) and I'm finally having success in my mixed with more lps and sps and starting to see decent growth and extension on most of my corals. I was just curious what are people supplementing their tanks with? I am currently using Fusion 1 and 2 for Ca and Alk, Phytofeast mixed with Benepets, and AB+ (Phyto+Benepets one day, AB+ the next, and so on). I just ordered some AF Life Source Mud and am excited to start using that. 10% weekly water change with Fritz RPM (Blue box) to supplement trace elements, which I am not testing for currently (first ICP soon). Am I missing any secret additives that others are using?
Parameters as follows:
JBJ 45g AIO w/ 2 AI primes (slightly modified Saxby)
Alk: 9.0
Ca: 450-500
NO3: 10 (just bought Hanna Nitrate HR to get more accurate results, was previously using Sera)
PO4: 0.1-0.2 (changes pretty often)
Mg: 1350 (don't test this but once a month, should I be testing more often? Currently using Salifert)
Fish stocking:
2x Skunk Clown
Radiant Wrasse
Neon Cleaner Goby
Helfrichi Firefish
Swissguard Basslet
Clown Goby sp. (hitchhiked on a wild birds nest colony that came into the store I work at)
Tuxedo Urchin and other CUC (snails, hermits, 2x Acropora crap sp.)
Planning on adding Dragonet soon
Thanks for reading, looking forward to hearing what everyone is dosing (please include pictures if you have one! Always looking for inspiration!)

 

[Jekyl]

5 years in and have never heard of the things you're using lol

 

[jack4rogers]

5 years in and have never heard of the things you're using lol

PhytoFeast+Benepets are two coral foods, AB+ is Red Sea's Amino Acid supplement (someone can correct me if I'm wrong). Fusion 1 and Fusion 2 are Aquavitro's (owned by Seachem) 2 part alkalinity and calcium dosing. AquaForest Life Source is literally just mud from reefs (Fiji, I think) that you add to your tank every so often, supposed to contain trace elements and microbes that are not present if you start with dry rock like I did.

 

[Jekyl]

PhytoFeast+Benepets are two coral foods, AB+ is Red Sea's Amino Acid supplement (someone can correct me if I'm wrong). Fusion 1 and Fusion 2 are Aquavitro's (owned by Seachem) 2 part alkalinity and calcium dosing. AquaForest Life Source is literally just mud from reefs (Fiji, I think) that you add to your tank every so often, supposed to contain trace elements and microbes that are not present if you start with dry rock like I did.

I started with dry rock also. Just saying that my tank is thriving despite never using any of them.

 

[jack4rogers]

I started with dry rock also. Just saying that my tank is thriving despite never using any of them.

Oh awesome, post a picture! Would love to see what you have. One of my favorite parts of working in the industry is seeing what other people have in their tanks

 

[Waters]

I also started with dry rock.....I do nothing but water changes and add ALK/Ca in a SPS dominant system. Only picture I currently have with me which unfortunately right before the lights go off.

......

 

[jack4rogers]

I also started with dry rock.....I do nothing but water changes and add ALK/Ca in a SPS dominant system. Only picture I currently have with me which unfortunately right before the lights go off.

......

Looks awesome! Surprised that your Flame Hawk doesn't wack that Cleaner Shrimp sitting next to it. You must have a good one. Always liked them but I also like having inverts

 

[jft]

No supplements just water changes every 2 weeks. Everything is good.LOL

 

[Lavey29]

I really need to just trust my tank more like some of you guys and stop supplements all together. My wallet would thank me I'm sure.

 

[jack4rogers]

I really need to just trust my tank more like some of you guys and stop supplements all together. My wallet would thank me I'm sure.

I'm probably in the same boat, but I want my tank to be the best it possibly can. Plus, if something does go wrong or die, I at least want to know that I tried my best

 

[Lavey29]

I'm probably in the same boat, but I want my tank to be the best it possibly can. Plus, if something does go wrong or die, I at least want to know that I tried my best

I honestly think you have to much supplement going on if you are adding stuff daily. I only dose phytoplankton daily but stuff like AB plus or benepets or oyster feast is 1 or 2 times a week and I'm considering cutting that all together and just rely on fish fertilizer. If you have consistent good nitrates and phosphate numbers then supplements like aminos become irrelevant. I need to keep telling myself this and get into a completely natural tank care frame of mind.

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

I feel the live ocean rock does most of the heavy lifting for me although I do dose certain supplements from time to time but not religiously and I don't think much would change if I stopped supplementing tbh

 

[jack4rogers]

I honestly think you have to much supplement going on if you are adding stuff daily. I only dose phytoplankton daily but stuff like AB plus or benepets or oyster feast is 1 or 2 times a week and I'm considering cutting that all together and just rely on fish fertilizer. If you have consistent good nitrates and phosphate numbers then supplements like aminos become irrelevant. I need to keep telling myself this and get into a completely natural tank care frame of mind.

That's fair. I am currently dosing Phyto+Benepets every other day and AB on the days I don't dose P+B. I do only dose the AB at half of the recommended dose, and I waaay underfeed Benepets when I do it. Instead of following the directions for Benepets, I use 2-4 Kanaplex scoops (0.25 mL according to their website) of Benepets. Phyto is totally random when I do it, I'm way too lazy to count the drops so I just kinda eyeball it lol

 

[jsker]

I am dosing Aquafoest 1+2+3+ for my Ca, Alk, Mg and minerals. I carbon does vodka and Probio S. I feed my own recipe for reef food.

 

[Rams]

Nothing other than water changes every week 10%

 

[jsker]

In my reef food I use Reef Nutrition oyster feast, Mysis feast, R.O.E., and photo-feast

 

[Waters]

I'm probably in the same boat, but I want my tank to be the best it possibly can. Plus, if something does go wrong or die, I at least want to know that I tried my best

Just remember, sometimes you can do too much....I have caused more problems with past reef tanks by trying too hard....thinking that I was missing that one thing to make the tank better. It usually ended up negatively for me lol.

 

[Waters]

Looks awesome! Surprised that your Flame Hawk doesn't wack that Cleaner Shrimp sitting next to it. You must have a good one. Always liked them but I also like having inverts

I shockingly have had a flame hawk and cleaner shrimp in every tank I have ever set up and never had a single problem. Maybe when they get bigger lol. Those two have been in there together for over a year.

 

[spsick]

BRS 2part + TM part C and 10% weekly water changes

 

[Lavey29]

I am dosing Aquafoest 1+2+3+ for my Ca, Alk, Mg and minerals. I carbon does vodka and Probio S. I feed my own recipe for reef food.

Have you tried AF build? I have been using that at night a few times a week and do see noticeable SPS growth and LPS as well. I cant say for certain it's the AF product but it is formulated to enhance your calcium carbonate and skeletal structure growth of stony corals. Another one I forgot about that perhaps my tank may not require in the big scheme.