[rlcline76]

New day, New thread.
First off, thanks for all of you that chimed in with your favorite hardy coral and the useful websites.
My question of the day is: Are any of you using strontium or any other additive in the tank for your corals' diet? Our LFS sold my husband phytoplankton and calcium, but that was it for his mushrooms, polyp and torch coral. drfostersmith.com recommends strontium and iodine for just about every coral. I've read posts where Ryan G said not to mess with iodine in the tank, and my lfs concurs. I just want to getthis right the first time around.

becky

[jvharding]

Well they are all good items. I dose Iodine and you have to be careful not to over dose the tank! I have found a product that seems to be very good and so far no problems Lugol's Solution 3 drops in 75G once a week. I have been using this for years. I use Strontium & Molybdenum, Magnesium, Iron, Idione, DKH Buffer, Kalkwasser and or Calcium buffer because my calcium reacter is broken. This is a great thread Becky I was going to start a dosing thread, but you beat me to it!

[Krazy]

I say that by doing your regular water changes weekly you shouldnt need to dose anything, especially those with tanks under 50gallons....

Dont dose what you dont test for..

Very easy way to get your tank all screwed up, What works for one doesnt always work for another...

Phytoplankton is a good coral food though, Just dont overfeed

[rlcline76]

Thanks Keith for the advice...and thanks for keeping in mind that I have small tanks. I do weekly water changes, my husband should, but I noticed he is a little relaxed in that discipline! Since I have a 20 gallon, Lugol Solution would not be good for me (although maybe good for the thread since jvharding wanted to get one of these started). Would either of you (or anyone else) reccommend Kents dKH buffer, strontium and molybdenum or essential elements for the small tank? I do not want to overdo anything, which is why I am asking this coral feeding question in the first place.

P.S.: Keith, I think you would make an outstanding moderator!

[Krazy]

I feel strongly that you need to dose nothing, esp on a 20 gallon tank...

Even if you did bi-weekly change of 5 gallon, I feel thats enough to replace what is lost...



With soft corals, your ca/alk dont get depleated as easily as if you had SPS corals...

[rlcline76]

Keith,
Cool, you may be saving me a little bit of money here!

Becky

[Krazy]

Becky,

I change 10-15 gallons a week on my 90 gallon...

I dose nothing in my tanks for the most part...

Mostly phtyo is my main dose

I have dosed things before when needed but for the most part you shouldnt have to.
I've used kent superbuffer, but i didnt need to use it long... I have all the things if I need to dose though (like a mini fish store in my apartment)

The main thing is to test before and 24 hrs after, if your going to dose certain things...

[jvharding]

Originally Posted by Krazy K

I feel strongly that you need to dose nothing, esp on a 20 gallon tank...

Even if you did bi-weekly change of 5 gallon, I feel thats enough to replace what is lost...



With soft corals, your ca/alk dont get depleated as easily as if you had SPS corals...

I respectfully disagree small tanks are harder to maintain water stability, but I do agree that water testing needs to be done, Fish Inverts and corals all need the trace elements. It is easier in a lager tank to maintain with weekly water changes.

Test Kits:
Salifert Test Kits - AquaCave

[Krazy]

Originally Posted by jvharding

I respectfully disagree small tanks are harder to maintain water stability, but I do agree that water testing needs to be done, Fish Inverts and corals all need the trace elements. It is easier in a lager tank to maintain with weekly water changes.

Test Kits:
Salifert Test Kits - AquaCave

Lets use my 10 gallon frag tank for example..

3 damsel fish...

Loads of coral, (Xenia, Anthellia, Yellow Gorgonains, Kenya Trees, Halmedia, Cheato, Montipora, Acropora, Sinulara, Nepetha, GSP, Finger Leather, Toadstools, and Various Zooanthids)

I dose nothing, I change 4 gallons of water a week, Feed nothing but artic pods/mysis and lots of Phyto...

I see no need for dosing...

You go dosing in a small tank, I really think it leaves to much room for error...

Now if you had a 20 gallon SPS only tank, I'd say you best be dosing CA/ALK products...

Everything else from what I've gathered gets replace with water changes alone....

[rlcline76]

Two heavyweight contenders...
While this is playing out, I am getting my order ready for Marine Depot. Thus far, I have ordered a dKH test kit and dKH buffer to have on hand. My son has been looking at SPS corals.

[jvharding]

I have to admit Keith your prop tank is doing well and I am impressed! I never considered doing a prop tank that small. Untill I saw yours. I have to wonder if they might do alittle better if you were supplementing just my opinion. One thing we need to remember is we are not all chemist in this hobby, but we do need to be educated in the field to even consider taken on this hobby. In my opinion I feel that plain salt mixes do not replenish enough or even have enough to support a reef. It does create more room for error I can not argue that point at all.


That is why we Research before we Buy or use any product!

[Krazy]

Originally Posted by jvharding

That is why we Research before we Buy or use any product!

I couldnt agree more with that statement

[jvharding]

Originally Posted by rlcline76

Two heavyweight contenders...
While this is playing out, I am getting my order ready for Marine Depot. Thus far, I have ordered a dKH test kit and dKH buffer to have on hand. My son has been looking at SPS corals.

We both understand what this forum is for it is a quest for information. Everyone wants to learn thats why we are here. I would like to invite everyone to vist this company's website: I like what these products do for my tank.

[COLOR=#1c62c6]Marine and Freshwater Aquarium Products - Marc Weiss Companies - Marine and Freshwater Aquarium Products[/COLOR]

Hopefully we all learn something even when there is a discrepancy in opinion! Just because there is a disagreement does not mean that anyone is wrong.

[rlcline76]

I know, I know.

[Krazy]

I said it before and I say it again...

I really enjoy how we can disagree, but still respect each others view.

What works for JV might not work for me and like wise for me to him...

Its nice to know we can respectfully disagree and carry on. Other websites would literally chew each other to death or a ban in some cases. LOL

Here's the food's I use (The fridge half anyways, the freezer is another story)
I love reef nutrition

[darkwolf29a]

Keith???? You feed your reef Bicardi??? I see it back there. LOL

That's a lot of stuff...My gf is going to love that...more room taken up in the fridge. hehe > Yes, I am evil...thanks for noticing.

[Krazy]

LOL,

Everyone notices the bacardi

I'm evil too, dont worry bout it

[jvharding]

Yeah! All great food Items: What do you get to eat Keith? No room for your food in that fridge! These fish and corals get better nutrition than I do! Theres a good answer for you becky. This is far to much work but worth it.

[Kevin W]

I dose my tank all the time i give the tank 1 capfull of KENT marine iodine and 1 capfull of KENT strontium and molybdenum every week with 1 trace elemient block or calcium block when needed my calc. level fluxes between 460 and 560 I also give alittle more than recomended dose of DTs phytoplankton in my 90 gal I do 15-20 gal of saltwater every 30 days..
i do treat my 3 gal with a couple dropes of iodine and strontium and molybdenum every week to other week also feed DTs 2-3 times a week just alittle tho