dose trace elements?

I use Reef Trace by seachem in addition to Cal and dkh ang mag.

As far as the water changes are concerned im 100% with that. especially in smaller systems. Water changes are so valuable. as they so much of the guess work out of so many aspects of this hobby. Best full prove way to replace what had diminished.

However I dont neccessarily believe as to say we shouldnt dose b4 WC time becuase on the flip side of that is if where not testing for it, how do we know the amount of the elements we have depleted before this WC. Perhaps the time we wonder why are austrilian elegance coral, or rare acan has not survived it may be from one of these simple trace elements we have 'not tested" for or has been depleted more rapidlly than the rest of the elements of are water because a organism may be using it more often. Thats why I for one believe in testing abuduntly. I have test kits for 10 diffrent trace elements besides my normal parameter tests. I rarely use all of them but I make sure I do have them incase a problem arises and I can compare what element may be out of range compared to the last time I tested.

After the 3....what do you think is the most important trace element?

 

Calcium, magnesium and alk are not considered to be trace elements.
For my tanks I do water changes to LOWER the levels of elements, not to raise them.
Every time you feed your tank you are adding a multitude of elements that are available to the tank as the food gets processed by the tank inhabitants.
While some are used by whatever eats the food, and some by other life forms feeding on uneaten food as well as fecal matter, there is still plenty left to build up in the water.
IMO, water changes are the most economical way to change these excessive elemental excesses, or to bring back levels of ones that MAY have not been sufficiently available in the food.

 

Elements are things on the periodic table. Things like Calcium, Iodine, Strontium, etc.

Phosphate and nitrates are not elements in this sense but referred to as nutrients.

The point of a WC is to either raise elements or reduce nutrients.

That's not to say there aren't elements in the food, but I don't see that as apples and apples.

 

Well I guess it's just the way we each view things.
Phosphates and nitrates and everything that is in the salt water or in the foods are all compounds made up of elements.
I am NOT just concerned about removing phosphates or nitrogen compounds, but ALL elevated compounds. In fact, I never even test for phosphates or nitrogen compounds
We you add food to your tank it is not just composed of phosphates and nitrogen compounds but many compounds that contain the majority of elements found in salt water. When you dose for trace elements, you are usually dosing compounds containing elements, not pure elements.
However, my point is that the levels of many elements increase in time rather than decrease, and as I mentioned, I'm not concerned with replenishing elements because IMO they have MOSTLY INCREASED due to feeding, not decreased.