Question about additives for a FOWLR tank

S

speedjk

AC Members
Jan 14, 2005
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I was wondering if I need to add things like iodine, buffers, supplements, calcium, etc. to my fish only tank. I do have a standard clean up crew (snails and hermit crabs), but no corals or other inverts. Do I need to add these things? Will they make the fish happier (only 2 clowns right now)? Will the crabs and snails like the calcium?

My tank is 55 gallons and I'm not really adding anything to it right now other than fresh mixed saltwater. Any advice is appreciated.

jeff
 
You will need to buy test kits before you add any type of supplement especially iodine. Your fist and snails don't need anything but waterchanges. Actually even in a reef trace elements will be added in during each waterchange. That is why water changes should be consistent.
You do use only fresh ro water for topoffs, right?
 
An RO unit is going to be my next purchase. In the meantime, I've been using treated tap water.
 
i'll be a hypocrit and say that you should probably be using distilled water at least. you can buy it at almost any grocery store/walmart etc.

as long as your PH is okay, dont need to add buffer. Definitely don't need to add anything else that doesnt come in on the water changes.

As for the H2O changes, you said fresh mixed, but generally its better if you can mix it around 24hrs before hand in a tub or something and add a heater & powerhead so its oxygenated and roughly the same temp of the tank. Also lets ALL of the salt dissolve
 
I actually used aged saltwater. I don't know what I was thinking when I typed that. My process consists of filling up a bucket (about 10 gallons) with tap water. I then treat it with some AquaSafe stuff (it's in a yellow bottle). Then after that's had time to settle for about 30 minutes to an hour, I mix in just a little bit of salt. I stir the salt up for about 10-15 minutes, then turn the jet pump and heater back on. That's my water process at the moment.

jeff
 
not sure how you would age the water but just becarful you don't overshoot on the salt.
starting checking alk and calcium levels.
your alk will help you stablize you ph which is good for all inhabitants.
the calcium will be needed for shell growth and algae growth...coraline.
for know that should do it...but the sooner you start the better.
i use kent buffer a & b.
it's a 2 bottle buffer.
 
I just do regular water changes on my girlfriends 25 with Instant Ocean and ro/di water and her tank is great, lots of corraline and crystal clear.They pay the chemists big bucks to come up with a good salt mix.The people at IO know better than I.I test the water every few days and all readings are good...Ca alk ph iodine moly and stronium.Guess the salt has everything you need with regular water changes. I do 15% every 7-10 days.
 
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