[REEFMASTER]

I wanted to start this Thread for the simple fact that I add a lot of additives to my tankthanks RB! But as the temperature soar out here. I shut my lights off during the Height of it and I observe my corals, I also stick in a carbon and a phosphate pad to remove any abnormalities I do this for 2 days. When the lights come back on, The water is much clearer, the corals seems to be more vibrant. Is this a coincidence? I am not sure. The water is much clearer, no impurities from the additives. I am not sure all the additives are needed. not saying that I am going to stop, but will try to do it in more moderation.

[e_baer]

I used to add stuff to the water without testing. Someone asked me a simple question.

Why would you add those additives if you dont even know if your tank needs them? I couldnt answer that question and soon after I started reading more and more threads about how its not good to add things you dont test for. Most of the salt you buy will have the appropriate amounts of trace elements as long as you do water chanes properly. For example: Iodine.....do you add it? If you add too much do you know what can happen? Do you even know the function of iodine in coral without looking it up? I am not directing these questions directly at you Anthony, I am just using these as an example. For all I know you may need everything you dose for.

[spanko]

It really all depends on your system inhabitants, and the things they use and the quantities they use on your need to make additions via dosing. The only true way to know is by testing. For the most part in a tank with fish and LPS and soft coral if you do consistent weekly water changes you probably don't need to dose anything.

[CyberJester]

I just use additives to put items back into the water that need to be replaced.

Mainly the only thing I use is Magnisium and Calcium.

I stay away from things like purple-up and those sort of additives. The problem with these type of additives is they contain a variety of things. So using two or more of them it is easy to overdose your tank on things like Iodine.

[unclejed]

"I stay away from things like purple-up and those sort of additives. The problem with these type of additives is they contain a variety of things. So using two or more of them it is easy to overdose your tank on things like Iodine".[/quote]

Not if you test.

[CyberJester]

Originally Posted by unclejed

"I stay away from things like purple-up and those sort of additives. The problem with these type of additives is they contain a variety of things. So using two or more of them it is easy to overdose your tank on things like Iodine".

Not if you test.[/quote]

Not true, they can contain items that they do not even produce a test kit for!

[LReefer]

I dose trace elements. Never used to but when I started testing with Lab Aquatics I realized what elements I was short on. Trace element dosing made a difference to colour, growth and polyp extension.

I'm building a new, larger system now, probably dedicated to SPS and will be continuing where I left off using the service to get and keep my element levels where they should be.

You should check it out REEFMASTER, you want to know what is really in your system have a look. Salt Water Test Results - Certificate of Analysis

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by REEFMASTER

I wanted to start this Thread for the simple fact that I add a lot of additives to my tankthanks RB! But as the temperature soar out here. I shut my lights off during the Height of it and I observe my corals, I also stick in a carbon and a phosphate pad to remove any abnormalities I do this for 2 days. When the lights come back on, The water is much clearer, the corals seems to be more vibrant. Is this a coincidence? I am not sure. The water is much clearer, no impurities from the additives. I am not sure all the additives are needed. not saying that I am going to stop, but will try to do it in more moderation.

I have a few questions:

What additives do you add and why?
Do you shut your lights off...then observe corals?
Carbon and phosphate to remove what abnormalities?
Are you saying the additives are causing the problem or your light is causing the problem?
Are you asking for an opinion or just telling us what you are going to start doing differently with the additives?

[unclejed]

Originally Posted by CyberJester

Not if you test.

Not true, they can contain items that they do not even produce a test kit for![/quote]

Never heard of that! What are they?