[Batfish]

I am still a begginer. I've had a tank for about 6 months and have never added any supplements. I'm liking this thing called sealab 28. It is a kind of dissoving tablet that you put in the tank to replace all trace elements. I was just wondering what you guys think of it and other supplements.

[adam jenkins]

I have never used the sealab 28.For supplements I use Seachem reef calcium,reef complete,and reef plus.I have had good results so far.I test my water for calcium to make sure I need it.I think you sould always test your water before adding anything.You wouldn't add top off water without checking salinity would you?

[patrick1234]

i use the 28 and my shuromes love it and so dose my star polups in my 12 i do a little more then hafe a corner every 3 weeks after a water change

[adam jenkins]

What is it?What size tank do you have?What other sup. do you use?

[e_baer]

to replenish trace elements all that is needed is a small water change. As long as you do a weekly or biweekly water change all the trace elements your tank needs to thrive will be in the salt mix.

The general rule for dosing is only dose for what you test for. So, unless you are testing every trace element, which there are many, I would not suggest dosing. The only time I EVER dose is right before I go out of town for more than 4 or 5 days.

[pogodzib]

I basically only use kalk and the Randy Holmes-Farley two part solution. Once in a great while, I will add a little a few other chemicals like Mg, when my test kits indicate that they are needed. For a beginner, I'd only dose chemicals to adjust your alk, calcium, and magnesium. Virtually, all other trace elements can be maintained by doing water changes. For advanced aquarists, there are other elements that can be dosed (if tested for) that may be beneficial to their tank, but they aren't necessary to keep any coral alive if minimal water changes are done. I personally don't feel that the risk is worth it though in my tanks.

I have used the Sealab 28 tablets in the past (and I think I have about 3/4 of a box left), but I didn't notice any changes in my tank when they are in use. One thing to think about before using them is that they say that they only dissolve and add trace elements when needed. If, for example, say 15 of the elements in the tablet have high levels in your tank and the other elements are low in your tank, do you think only the elements that are short in the tank will be released from the tablet and the other will remain in the tablet? Most reef "experts" recommend to not use and say that the companies claims aren't true and their value is over rated. Water changes is all that is needed to keep most trace elements up.

[Batfish]

Thanks for the help everybody. I decided not to use the 28 to replace all the elements. Now I just add 4 elements and I test for all of them. Also I do a weekly water change anyway so that should help keep them in check.