Essential Additives

[xjiahua]

Guys,

need some advice and help on what are the necessary additives required for my tank (skimmerless, water change every 2-3wks.

Water parameters have been all along at acceptable range tested every wk

I began stocking up corals slowly 1 wk after it has been cycled for 1 month plus.

Corals include torch coral, hammer coral, brain coral, some zoas and plate coral (Feeding them with liquid plankton and light (pls correct me if i'm wrong))

LS includes 2 blue legged hermit crabs, 2 peppermint shrimps & 3 turbo snails.

Until the day before, the torch coral started to decompose with plate corals developing white streaks and meanwhile the torch coral, zoas (not all is opened yet) and brain coral are doing fine.

My only dose is Seachem Reef Trace and Reef Plus.

What else do i need ? or could the dying corals be due to other factors ?

Many thanks in advance!

[SamuelTan]

Do you have any test kits? To test the water parameters ? What's the current salinity?

[xjiahua]

hey Ukiya

As of today,

Ph 8.3

Salinity 1.024

Ammonia 0 mg/l

Nitrite NO2- <0.3mg/l

Nitrate NO3- 25mg/l

KH - 13ºdgH/kH 232.7ppm gH/kH

Calcium 460ppm

[dreamlover]

NO3 and KH is high, try do some water change and you need to test your magnesium too.

[SamuelTan]

Yup, agree with dreamlover , try to minimize your Additives dosage.

[xjiahua]

Yup, agree with dreamlover , try to minimize your Additives

oh yes thanks guys ! did a readup & found out its due to the ph buffer i'm using.

however i would like to knw what can be done to achieve the recommended ph ?

and after stabilizing my water parameters what kind of additives/supplement would you guys recommend ?

[limsc]

oh yes thanks guys ! did a readup & found out its due to the ph buffer i'm using.

however i would like to knw what can be done to achieve the recommended ph ?

and after stabilizing my water parameters what kind of additives/supplement would you guys recommend ?

Take note that PH will drop slightly during light off..

Best to measure during the middle of the day or in the middle of your lighting period (if you do not follow the usual 7am to 7pm)

[finind]

any recommended trace element product?

[xjiahua]

Take note that PH will drop slightly during light off..

Best to measure during the middle of the day or in the middle of your lighting period (if you do not follow the usual 7am to 7pm)

noted thanks ! prior to using the buffer my ph was abt 7.8 - 7.9 the highest. any recommended ways of increasing without affecting the dkh ?

[sunny130y]

Your system does not have sufficient nutrient exporting means without a skimmer and only water change 2-3 weeks frequency.

You should focus in:

1. getting an efficient nutrient exporting mechanism, be it efficient skimmer, zeovit/prodibio/biopellet, big sump with mangroves/DBS, weekly water change, etc...

2. maintaining stable parameter, esp. Ca, KH, and Mg. Would suggest 2 part solutions dosed with a dosing machine. Depending on tank size, but suggest start with minus 20% of dosage if tank is lightly stocked.

3. good flow.

4. good lighting.

You should get very good result with above without need of trace elements.

[xjiahua]

Your system does not have sufficient nutrient exporting means without a skimmer and only water change 2-3 weeks frequency.

You should focus in:

1. getting an efficient nutrient exporting mechanism, be it efficient skimmer, zeovit/prodibio/biopellet, big sump with mangroves/DBS, weekly water change, etc...

2. maintaining stable parameter, esp. Ca, KH, and Mg. Would suggest 2 part solutions dosed with a dosing machine. Depending on tank size, but suggest start with minus 20% of dosage if tank is lightly stocked.

3. good flow.

4. good lighting.

You should get very good result with above without need of trace elements.

thanks for the advice. i'm currently looking into modifying my JBJ 24g to fit in a nano skimmer at the very least. any bros here manage to keep their tank supplements/additives free ?

[yongshun]

thanks for the advice. i'm currently looking into modifying my JBJ 24g to fit in a nano skimmer at the very least. any bros here manage to keep their tank supplements/additives free ?

for ur tank size, if u r able to do wc at least once every 2 wks (best is every wk), u dun realli nid to dose ne ting...

i used to own a jbj 28g, i do wc omost every wk wif a gd salt mix (tropic marin pro reef), n i dun dose ne ting...corals all grew well n coraline grew so much tat it bcame irritating...i did use an air stone skimmer though

[xjiahua]

for ur tank size, if u r able to do wc at least once every 2 wks (best is every wk), u dun realli nid to dose ne ting...

i used to own a jbj 28g, i do wc omost every wk wif a gd salt mix (tropic marin pro reef), n i dun dose ne ting...corals all grew well n coraline grew so much tat it bcame irritating...i did use an air stone skimmer though

thanks for your input. infact without frequent water change my surviving zoas, torch coral and brain coral are opening up pretty well alongside with coraline algae appearing. actually wanted to try without WC and see how it goes but guess its too high a price to pay.

[Oprime]

Bro no need to add anything to your tank. Its a waste of money and it will give you problems. The salt mix you use has all the important elements needed by your tank. The best thing is to do 10% water changes every week or whenever your instincts tell you that you need to do a water change (oil coat at the surface - blackish bubbles / smell etc)