Anybody wanna share.? It’s all about coral health!
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Best coral nutrition product you’ve ever used? (1 Viewer)
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Cody
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Stability of parameters and correct nutrients.
Swings make them cranky, and nutrients are where they get their energy. The zooxanthellae form a symbiotic relationship with dinoflagelette algae, which provides 98% of their energy (according to a BBC Blue Earth episode that I watch recently. I was never sure of the amount of energy created by filter feeding versus photosynthesis, but I trust the documentary). Gotta have some nitrates and phosphates.
Swings make them cranky, and nutrients are where they get their energy. The zooxanthellae form a symbiotic relationship with dinoflagelette algae, which provides 98% of their energy (according to a BBC Blue Earth episode that I watch recently. I was never sure of the amount of energy created by filter feeding versus photosynthesis, but I trust the documentary). Gotta have some nitrates and phosphates.
Cody
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With regular water changes, or a CaRX plus a diverse food source, trace elements dosing just isn't necesarry. With a quality salt, a water change is like hitting default to correct parameters. For an array of trace element solutions, pumps, and the testing involved with it, you could have already bought yourself a stenner pump and been done with it and have done a fraction of the labor involved with chasing trace element dosing and testing.
Not to mention, since home test kits aren't as reliable as ICP tests, by the time you get the results, your parameters might not be the same, so no matter what the results, you're dosing blindly. Not wise, in my opinion.
As far as some folks boosting certain parameters like boron or potassium to elevate certain hue vibrancy, you'll find a much bigger influence from nutrient and light levels than those minor trace elements. For instance, take a red coral that someone has in their tank with elevated boron, which is ascribed to be a trace element that helps with reds. Move it to your tank with the exact same parameters but different light, and the coral will look different. Play with the nutrients and you'll have even wilder results.
My point being, the Dutch Reef System (which was started by a guy in The Netherlands using home test kits), or as it was later hijacked and branded as the Triton system, then other folks copied that, is just too much work with innacurrate markers for where your tank parameters and where they need to go. You need to get a quality salt, a stenner pump for automatic daily water changes, and let it rest. Or at least a CaRX, which will elevate the vast majority of your dosing issues, and both systems will save you money in a short amount of time.
Sorry for the rant on trace element dosing. I've just encountered the conversation too many times recently and I had to vent. Just one man's perspective.
I haven’t done a water change in over a year. My tank is 95% SPS with insane growth. 5 minutes a day dosing and I have the most amazing color and growth. There are many ways to run a tank.
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OP
OP
I agree with those two!
Also to add I have 1 x 4 port dosing pump for the dosing that requires more than 1ml a day. Reef Moonshines cost me roughly $150 every 5 months. Not sure what all dosing you did but that is way cheaper than the time required and the salt purchased for water changes. I fill my ATO container once every 4 days and empty my skimmed around the same. Pretty easy.
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I agree that trace elements can get you into big trouble. I prefer to dose the safer elements I know that will not STN corals or at least under dose the dangerous ones and always log and track my doses.
Totally agree that strong light, good salt, stable parameters, good nutrition, and regular water changes beats trace element dosing. Trace elements are in our salts. Wink wink. They will deplete over time which is why I do regular water changes.
OP
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Daily I dose the following-
Chromium .2ml
Manganese 2ml
Iron .1ml
Iodine 14 drops
Bimonthly corrections vary based on ICP test and sometimes I do not require all of them. Depends on water evap and feeding and so on but include:
Rubidium
Fluoride
Boron
Bromine
Molybdenum
Barium
Zinc
Potassium
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OP
Looking good man. You’re tank is only 4 months? Did you start with colonies or did you transfer these from a previous system.
Thank you!! No, this tank has been up and running for about a year and 7 months. I started with nothing but softies and zoas. I started putting in SPS slowly about 11 months ago. Every single coral in the tank started as a tiny “nub”. I will never buy a colony of anything. I want to enjoy the growth!!!
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BTW...I love the candy canes. Here’s a pic of my little cluster.
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Ohh got cha. I see what you said. A little old...meaning the pic is 4 mo old.
I agree, I like to start with small frags if possible, but sometimes people give me colonies. I wanna see my tank grow.
Anyway, good job man!
Thank you! I had to frag my candy canes in June. I sold about 25 heads. It was getting too big. Lol.
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They grow fast no doubt. I split mine so I would have two colonies. I’m trying to be like Webster123. I want two basket balls in each corner.
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So anyway...when I said coral nutrition, I was really referring to a specific product that’s currently on the market and is being marketed as a coral nutritional product.
I’ll list a few examples:
Just wondering which ones people have tried and what is working or seems to be an awesome product.
I’ll list a few examples:
Just wondering which ones people have tried and what is working or seems to be an awesome product.
