Supplements?

Nando7 · 03-02-2007, 08:07 PM

I wanted to get everyone's opinion on this before I proceed. I went to my LFS today and got to talking with the gentleman that works there and he began telling me that I should start adding supplements to my tank. First of all Im 2 and a half weeks into a 29 gal biocube with factory everything, 20lbs live rock, about 20lbs live sand, 2 clowns, 2 turbo snails, 1 hermit, cany cane coral, hammerhead coral, and a few button polyps on some of the LR. So he suggested that I add in some Nano-Reef by Kent Marine it is an Ion and Buffer system as well as Lugol's Solution by Kent Marine in my tank once a week and once a month respectively. He also said that it would be good to use some Phytoplex as an extra food supplement for my corals. I understand what these things are supposed to do I just wanted to see if it was a good idea to start these supplements so soon. Any and all feed back would be great as well as suggestions and opinions as to how I should proceed. Thanks

coral reefer · 03-02-2007, 09:42 PM

How long has your tank been done cycling?
Supplementation is good especially if you dose with carbon and use a protein skimmer. They will remove the trace elements and food from your pelagic are of your tank.
Water changes once a week will help with this emensely! Iodine, calcium, strontium and alkalinity booster is essential!

Nando7 · 03-02-2007, 11:04 PM

Well my cycle was only about a week long. The live rock came right out of a running system and the water came from the same store as the LR, so I was told because of this I pretty much wouldn't have much of a cycle at all. I say a week long cause that is when all water parameters were checked and meet, and that is when the livestock was added. My system doesn't have a skimmer and I haven't dosed anything (sorry if that is a silly statement) I have done a 20% water change after the first week and a 10% after the second week and plan on doing 10% weekly. I believe the Ion system has those elements that you mentioned. So what do you think?

RAVEN · 03-03-2007, 02:00 PM

With just 2.5 weeks into your tank I would not add any supplements. I would consider finding another LFS. I'm not a big believer in supplements except when absolutely needed. If your doing regular water changes and all your water chemistry's are good then you will need to add very little. JMO for what thats worth.

mattgeezer · 03-03-2007, 02:04 PM

yes i agree with raven

rayjay · 03-04-2007, 06:33 PM

Yes, get a new LFS.
Suppliments do not need to be added to most tanks although they make a lot of money for the LFS in sales that are not needed.
Never add anything that you haven't tested for and found to be needed.
Normal water changes replenish anything that is low, but in fact, I do water changes to LOWER trace elements. These elements build up from adding food to the tanks. When the food is eaten and processed through the fish, and the fish waste is further processed by the micro life of the tank, it releases elements into the water thus building up the trace elements, not depleting them. Unfortunately, they may be added in excess for some elements, and, bad things come into the water this way as well as almost all foods have phosphates in them naturally and many use phosphates for preserving the food.
I haven't added trace elements or any form of iodine in my 13 years of reefkeeping. (contrary to what you may be told, my shrimp have no problem molting and my xenia make me a lot of money in spite of no supplimentation)
What is normally tested for an added is calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity. It is important to understand the relationship between those three items.

A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH
Search the archives of the two online magazines for further excellent information.
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ADVANCED AQUARISTS ONLINE
The best thing you can learn before all else in this hobby is that haste makes waste. Patience is the most important virtue you can have.
You are progressing faster than it is normally safe to do and it can catch up and cost you in the long run.

coral reefer · 03-04-2007, 08:29 PM

What ever you dose to your tank, it is adviseable that you buy a test kit for that so that you don't have any problems with over dosing or causing other problems with water parameters!

inwall75 · 03-04-2007, 09:38 PM

Kent Marine Nano-Reef is basically a two part Calcium and Alkalinity supplement in smaller quantities. It's important to determine your usage of Calcium and Alkalinity prior to regular dosing of these products.

Tom, Ray, and Raven are giving you good advice here.

Nando7 · 03-04-2007, 10:23 PM

Thank you all for the advice and responses, I did test the calcium and alkalinity levels first before proceeding with the nano reef supplement and both levels were low so I went ahead and added it. I am going to take back the Lugols solution and not even bother with that one after doing more research and getting feedback. I think I will wait a week and then test again to see how the dosing took to the water parameters.