Purple up!

From personal experience or from what fishlore.com says?

Be wary of articles written in the first person; unless you can easily identify the person writing the article. Otherwise, you might be apt to believe everything you see. That would be bad.

 

ive read that in books and a lot of different articles but i'll look in to it

 

I'm not a fan of Purple-up myself, however it needs to be said that Purple-up does contain those minerals in it

Keeping your Phosphates down will help alot too

 

I've always been under the impression that Iodine was one of those things you should absolutely not be dosing unless you are consistently testing for it and that it could be VERY easily overdosed. Never seen the need to supplement it while maintaining good water change habits, but that could just be me.

EDIT: It sounds like the snippet about skimming you posted really applies to over filtering the aquarium, but again most things come in proper dosages with simple routine water changes.

 

Blanket statements never (or rarely never) are true. To say a water change is a magic bullet and replaces "all" elements is incorrect. I don't correct people often but for the benefit of the forum I am this time.
Each tank has its' own requirements, consumption rates and unique qualities based on coral, plants and the myriad of other life that inhabit it. We, as good stewards, should delve into what our tanks truly require to make them a success. Understanding the needs of the particular coral, plants and other denizens of the deep we "keep" and providing for each is a daunting task if taken seriously, but a labor of love for those of us who love this great hobby and are indebted to safe keeping of the life entrusted to us.

 

I was not trying to say that a water change was a magical cure all, but that in *most* situations it should keep things at proper level. I believe that iodine usually falls into that category. Responsible husbandry says that unless you are testing for the results, blindly adding is at best a bad idea and at worse destructive.
Each tank does have its specific requirements, but in this instance recommending water changes as a easy solution to the problem was the right call. Are elements beyond that needed on a case by case basis? Absolutely, just make sure you know what effect you are having.

 

To further the debate...this statement; "EDIT: It sounds like the snippet about skimming you posted really applies to over filtering the aquarium, but again most things come in proper dosages with simple routine water changes." is inaccurate. If it were true, no supplements would ever be needed. Why do you suppose people use Calcium reactors? They are doing water changes? Over filtering? I don't know what that means, you filter, maybe not enough but I don't know how to achieve over-filtering. I could see the concept of over-skimming by utilizing a 2 or 3 times larger skimmer than your system requires, however, I have never read or heard of anyone falling in to this.
So, again........Purple up works, is a good product but Iodine should be tested for.

 

I use purple up for my CA dosing. I do also have an iodine test kit. Purple up contains such minute amounts of iodine (if any at all) that there is no need to test for it. I have never seen a rise AT ALL in iodine while dosing purple up.
And like stated, there is nothing "magic" about it. Whatever product you choose to keep your CA, MG, and dKH levels correct is your choice

 

Yes, people do run calcium reactors but just like adding in iodine or ANY other chemical if you do so without testing you are asking for problems. I understand that people DO need to add chemicals in, my point remains that for many simple water changes may do the trick and if you aren't testing then you shouldn't be dosing. In your example running a calcium reactor without knowing what your levels are at is a pretty stupid decision. Calcium, magnesium and iodine can all pose serious issues to livestock health. Purple Up contain said chemicals and as you so well put it blanket statements do not apply. Each tank is going to have individual demands and dosing by an arbitrary guide with no check is foolish.

I did missphrase the quote you decided to pick up on, and proper skimming would have been the correct wording. Funny though, the quote *I* was responding too was backing up that simple water changes are a good way to make sure your trace elements stay in check.

I have not tried to say that water changes are the be-all-end-all solution, just that it can be an effective way to keep levels in good boundaries. I will not waver in saying that if you are dosing ANY supplement without testing for the results you are making a mistake.

Did you just decide to have a problem with me? I clarified the point I was trying to make and you completely disregarded it before running off on a tangent. I appreciate you taking my words out of context, but it may be more productive to conversation if you could respond without the condescension.

 

The only thing I dose is magnesium sulphate when I make up new synthetic seawater because the salts I use are slightly low on mag. I do a 5-10% water change every 2 weeks and do not have any problems with iodine, cal, mag or alk.
This is just from my experience with my tank, just keep testing parameters and slowly adjusting, eventually you will find what works for you and what doesn't.