Calcium/KH Kits- Should I Use Some?

I just bought some macroalgae and new corals and since the tank is getting fuller I figure I should start dosing some additives.

I'm using Instant Ocean Reef Crystals and doing 10%-15% water changes every week. Would these additives be necessary and/or helpful?

I was looking into the Seachem Reef Pack: Fundamentals set and then getting API tests for Calcium and KH/Carbonate. That pack has seperate calcium and KH bottles plus a seperate bottle for trace elements that I figure could help my inverts with their iodine supplements.

Any advice is appreciated!

 

Yes on the kits for sure, but I doubt on the dosing. Unless you have alot of SPS or clams, your WCs should keep up with their use. But what size tank and corals do you have?

And be careful with your iodine, it can get high quick. You prob shouldn't dose it IMO, once again those WC's should be fine.

 

Petrichor

the test kits are a smart 1st step, and as far as Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium, those test kits will tell you if you need to add/ supplement anything

Iodine , there are many who will tell you not to bother in terms of corals
many very experienced reef keepers have maintained tanks without needing to dose this supplement

some very experienced reef keepers have experimented with it and then stopped , and have reported no notable difference in the before and after, as such no benefit from using it (water changes in general will be adequate)

one very experienced reef chemist commented " does the iodine help the inverts molt or does it irritate them into molting?"

I do not know the answer to his question

I do know my shrimps seem to have no issues outgrowing their present external skeletons
and I have not dosed any iodine or iodide into my reef tank

Steve

 

Fantastic question steve. Puts a new perspective on Iodine dosing for sure.

 

I've heard and read that iodine helps inverts molt, and the only reason I would get some is my emerald crab seems ready to molt. I got myself paranoid by reading about crabs dying from not being able to molt, heh. He has splotchy white spots on him so I figure he's close to molting.

Cosmo, it's a 24 gallon Cardiff nano, and I have LPS, softies, and macroalgae. Haven't bought any SPS yet, and not sure when I will, and definitely won't get a clam until my tank is at least a year old. I want to make sure my tank is completely set and steady before I throw in an $80 dollar critter.

I'll look into buying those test kits first and seeing if I need to dose then. If my levels are low, would that Seachem triple pack of bottles be good for raising the levels?

Oh, and thanks for the quick responses!

 

no worries bro. Not sure about those dosing kits, but I'll be willing to bet you won't even be close to needing to dose with that stock list and that WC schedule! Save your cash for other things ya need more now, like a refractometer, test kits extra heater etc!

 

Alright you have me convinced, I'll hold off on them, heh. Thanks for all the help! Now to just deal with my flatworms and I can stop babying my tank (just a little though).

 

Nice thread..i ve pondered the same question myself recently and i repeatedly hear that my water changes should do the trick for the immediate future. I think my money is going to an ATO first before i think of dosing.

 

from my experience wtih mantis shrimps in r/t giving iodine to help them molt. From everything that i have read and from actually seeing someone dose iodine......what happens is yes, it will cause them to molt. however it might not be the time for them to molt and molting is actually a VERY stressful thing on shrimp and can cause death.

I never, EVER dosed iodine in my mantis tank. I fed appropriate foods and did water changes.

Curt (inwall) had a mantis shrimp at one of the LFS that he owned many years back. his name was snuggles and it was the store mascot. Curt hurt his back and was out for 4 days........during that time someone had the smart idea that snuggles needed more iodine and dosed. Well snuggles went into a molt and died!

As far as aquaria shrimp, ie fire shrimp, cleaners etc.........i feed my tank some mysis shrimp. This shrimp will contain the needed iodine.

As far as corals........i havent seen/heard enough info to show me that it was effective in the health of corals.

IMO, keep it simple. If you dont have to dose something........dont!