[diver0077]

I have only had a reef tank setup for about 6 months now and have been learning alot. My question is; should you use additivies or not? At first I never did and everything looked pretty good, then someone at the LFS told me to use reef additives, like calcium, iodine, and scromium, so I did then some of my soft corals were looking bad. So I cut back on them and was just wondering what other people did.

 

[skylergirl]

Did you follow the instructions for dosing? What did you end up buying; what did you dose? How did you dispense the additive....into the sump or into the main tank?

Did you test those parameters before adding stuff?

The only things I put in my tank are: lugols, calcium, alkalinity for additives. My tank is 8 months old.

 

[E-quality]

If you decide to add anything make sure you have a test kit for it. Following directions on the label means nothing, testing is the only way to make sure your tank needs more of a certain additive.

 

[chad]

I totally agree with skylergirl only things I add is alkalinity buffer, calcium, and very occasionally Iodine (lugols) which can be very easily overdosed.all other trace elements/minerals are replenished via regular water changes. I have seen plenty of tanks with nothing but problems from adding too many additives