stronium

Now that I have an anemone and xenia in my DT (yay), I'm starting to look at adding stronium as a suppliment. Only thing is I'm worried about is the LFS sells a test kit for over 40 dollars and it tests 25 times :yikes:

What do you guys/gals do?

 

Stronium is more used by stonies. I wouldn't bother with it. What are you using for your Cal/alk supplement?
Many already have stroium in it.

 

To add to that, if you do regular water changes, you shouldn't have to add any supplements at all.

 

I wouldn't base my decision of whether or not to supplement a particular trace mineral(s) on the price of the test kit. Having said this however, it is not as pertinent to have a test kit for strontium as it would be for iodine for example. Also as mentioned above, if you perform weekly water changes of 5-10%, you will be adding the necessary benefical strontium needed for stonies especially for the calcification of their skeleton. If you want to add strontium, Kent has a good liquid product called Strontium and Molybdenum which is very good and not as dangerous as it would be to use the powdered Turbo Strontium, which if over dosed will cause a change in your alkalinity.
If you don't have many stonies, I wouldn't worry about the supplementing of it. The one supplement I feel is essential is iodine and would highly recommend adding it a few times a week to your tank as it is used up quicky due to corals and inverts and the skimmer.

 

Hey CR.....I think you need a 90 gallon. Luckily, I've got one for sale cheap

 

I do add iodine, lugol's solution by kent. I'm very glad I haven't been adding at per the directions, but 1/2 the recommended dosage once a week at the most. I tested my iodidate last night and its .07 ~ .08. The kit said it should be between .03 and .06 Friday is the day I usually would add it but yesterday and this week is going to get skipped

Thanks for the replies !!

 

The jury is still out on Sr++. The issue is, is it really needed by corals or does it just act as a substitute ion for CA++. IMHO it is needed. The other issue is testing it. There are only two kits in this world both made by aquarium companies, so ask yourself that question........

I also agree with coral reef on the use of Sr-Chloride like Turbo Strontium

Here is something to read;

Strontium and the Reef Aquarium
Chemistry and the Aquarium

The issue on "iodine " is the same on kits. There is no need for it in a reef tank. If you were running a heavy Maco-Planted aquariumm it may be another issue. There is also the issue of crustacens, like shrimp, going into excessive molting==> dead. WC are enough Iodine