My tank is now established and seems to be doing well so far. I was wondering when I need to start adding supplements like Iodine and Calcium. Also does anybody have any brands that are particularly good.
Thanks,
Doug
Thanks,
Doug
When to start adding supplements
- Thread starter airbrnebkr
- Start date
If you aren't measuring, don't dose. Since your tank is just getting underway, there's probably not a lot of demand for anything.
In some circumstances, like large macroalgae populations and a lot of xenia, you may have to dose iodine, but there's usually plenty going in with the food.
Calcium and alkalinity have to be balanced. To know how much to dose, you first have to know what your levels are. Some tanks have low populations, and only soft corals , and water changes can be enough. With more demand, lots of softies or stony corals for example, then a supplement like kalkwasser or ESV B-Ionic will be needed.
Here's the way I look at Ca/alkalinity supplementation. I want to develop a dosing schedule that keeps them at target values (425-450 Ca and 3.5-4.5 alk) consistently, rather than large, occasional doses. One of the best ways to start is to use a two-part addiitive, like B-Ionic, and add small amounts at first. Measure every few days, and adjust the dose of each to get the levels where you want them.
You can also try simply adding kalkwasser in all the water you add to make up for evaporation. Things should balance out on their own.
This article really helped me understand how to dose for Ca and alkalinity.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
In some circumstances, like large macroalgae populations and a lot of xenia, you may have to dose iodine, but there's usually plenty going in with the food.
Calcium and alkalinity have to be balanced. To know how much to dose, you first have to know what your levels are. Some tanks have low populations, and only soft corals , and water changes can be enough. With more demand, lots of softies or stony corals for example, then a supplement like kalkwasser or ESV B-Ionic will be needed.
Here's the way I look at Ca/alkalinity supplementation. I want to develop a dosing schedule that keeps them at target values (425-450 Ca and 3.5-4.5 alk) consistently, rather than large, occasional doses. One of the best ways to start is to use a two-part addiitive, like B-Ionic, and add small amounts at first. Measure every few days, and adjust the dose of each to get the levels where you want them.
You can also try simply adding kalkwasser in all the water you add to make up for evaporation. Things should balance out on their own.
This article really helped me understand how to dose for Ca and alkalinity.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
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Dave,
Can I ask two quick questions to piggy-back?
1) My tank is new and I just have a little bit of coralline algae on some live rock I put in the tank. (the rest is nice base rock) <-- I'm on a tight budget. The tank has been up and running about 3 weeks, but I don't see any evidence of coraline algae spreading. Is there anything else I need to do? Alk = 3, Calcium = 380
2) I'm using Kent A/B for calcium/alkalinity, but I'd like a cheaper way. I add water every day (manually) for top off/evaporation. Could I just add kalkwaser once or twice a day with my top-off water? I don't have room in my cabinet for a float valve and all that auto stuff.
Are there any other solutions? Thanks a lot.
Eric
Can I ask two quick questions to piggy-back?
1) My tank is new and I just have a little bit of coralline algae on some live rock I put in the tank. (the rest is nice base rock) <-- I'm on a tight budget. The tank has been up and running about 3 weeks, but I don't see any evidence of coraline algae spreading. Is there anything else I need to do? Alk = 3, Calcium = 380
2) I'm using Kent A/B for calcium/alkalinity, but I'd like a cheaper way. I add water every day (manually) for top off/evaporation. Could I just add kalkwaser once or twice a day with my top-off water? I don't have room in my cabinet for a float valve and all that auto stuff.
Are there any other solutions? Thanks a lot.
Eric
When the 20 was running, I used kalkwasser for all the makeup water. The only limitation is that it drives the pH up if you add it too fast. I dosed it on a timer in 4 small increments during the night.
Adding 2-3 tablespoons white vinegar per gallon helps dissolve the kalk, and will keep alkalinity up.
If you are doing it twice a day, try to do it when the lights are out, so the pH is at its lowest.
Depending on the demand, you may still need to add a little of the two-part additive to keep up.
Adding 2-3 tablespoons white vinegar per gallon helps dissolve the kalk, and will keep alkalinity up.
If you are doing it twice a day, try to do it when the lights are out, so the pH is at its lowest.
Depending on the demand, you may still need to add a little of the two-part additive to keep up.