Trace elements

[Dutch_Roots]

I’m sure it’s been discussed at length before but I’m wondering if anyone has any input on what they are doing for trace elements? Is this a focus area that really matters that much?

I’ve tried moonshiners but honestly don’t have time for the daily additions and I feel like water changes just throw off everything anyways.

I do 20% WC every other week but when I send an ICP out I’m always showing bottomed out levels of things like iodine, manganese, zinc, iron, etc.

Is there a more basic setup that anyone recommends where I can add dosing pumps to take care of Trace elements?

Honestly just not sure how much the real impact is and if these are really even needed at all. Back in the day it wasn’t a thing but now I know it’s what everyone seems to be focused on.

 

[joseserrano]

only if you are making a living selling corals, the small amount of extra colors you’ll pull is not worth it to me.

 

[Jimbo327]

If you are doing 20% water change every 2 weeks consistently, I don't think you have to worry too much about dosing trace elements. Your WC should take care of most of the trace and replenish a lot of it. Whatever you are low on, just mix a batch of those elements, set up a doser and add it.

I think dosing trace elements is really needed if you don't do WC or don't do it consistently and frequently enough. With the cost of salt and water and amount of time to mix/change, I think a lot of reefers rather just spend that money on ICP and then replenish the trace elements by dosing.

 

[bluemon]

I do Manganese and Iron because it’s

1. Pretty much impossible to overdose on these as they are used almost immediately in the process of photosynthesis

2. I keep Goniopora which are documented to prefer dosing of these two

3. Helps my macroalgae grow

4. it is super easy and cheap to DIY dose

 

[bakbay]

I’ve heard people doing TM A- and K+ with varying success. I’m currently doing BW Replenish and the ICP result ain’t bad - I don’t do any WC. Will switch to TM to when I’m done with my 1L dose to see…

 

[Discotu]

If you're dosing 2 part then I highly recommend TM A and K. Just add equal parts to the alk and calcium solution and dose as you normally would. Easy!

 

[Sold4JC]

I agree that using Tropic Marine A and K is a good starting point. Years ago, I used TM and saw good results. I've learned not to chase numbers; instead, I make sure to keep traces available.

 

[drexel]

There are traces that deplete rapidly in most systems and it's worth it to dose them, but it really depends on the animals you're keeping. Iodine, iron, manganese and zinc are among the ones that are usually depleted. Mixed and sps dominant reefs will benefit from maintaining near NSW parameters, including traces. Softies can get away with just doing water changes alone. I've never known water changes to have a negative effect on tanks unless the source water is subpar or there's a huge mismatch of parameters (mainly alk and salinity). TM A & K is a very simple way on supplying traces to most systems, but with most things that we dose, testing is the key. I think ICP every couple months should be fine for most. TM also has a new way of dosing traces that's coming out soon which may make it easier for most. I think it's called the "Block" system. I'm definitely going to look into it.

 

[Dutch_Roots]

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I’m going to give the TM a try. Sounds like a pretty simple process.

One thing that was really off on my ICP I just got back was elevated lithium at above 1200. Seems like that can happen with salt mixes and I shouldn’t be concerned? Anyone else have experience with this?

Trying to just figure out why I lost a couple Acro frags when I was on vacation. Only thing I can find off at this point was the lithium being high, minor traces being depleted and my Po4 was bottomed out. I’ve had po4 bottomed out before though and no major issues so not sure if that caused any issues. My majors were all looking good when I was away on my trident and when I got back and tested all was good on the majors. The tips looked burned on a few Acros so I was thinking alk spike but alk is in line and seems to have been.

 

[drexel]

Don't worry about lithium, that seems to be an ongoing theme here in the States. PO4 at zero is bad news for corals, especially sps. I would much rather have too much PO4, than zero. Alk spikes don't cause the burnt tips, but zero nutrients will cause them to do that. I find that fluctuations in alk are more forgiving when you have surplus nutrients. In my experience, roller coaster levels with nutrients causes more problems than anything else. PO4 should be above 0.05, if not higher. I think anything closer to 0.1 is much better, but that's just been my experience.

 

[Dutch_Roots]

Don't worry about lithium, that seems to be an ongoing theme here in the States. PO4 at zero is bad news for corals, especially sps. I would much rather have too much PO4, than zero. Alk spikes don't cause the burnt tips, but zero nutrients will cause them to do that. I find that fluctuations in alk are more forgiving when you have surplus nutrients. In my experience, roller coaster levels with nutrients causes more problems than anything else. PO4 should be above 0.05, if not higher. I think anything closer to 0.1 is much better, but that's just been my experience.

Good to know, I’m so used to back in the day when we were always trying to keep nutrients low. I’ve been riding the danger zone then and have had po4 sitting really low. Time to fatten up the fish a bit more.

 

[Jimbo327]

LIthium usually is not a big problem. Sometimes, you get high lithium in the bulk elements like Magnesium pellets used to de-ice snow. I had that before, and switched to BRS magnesium

 

[drexel]

People think they can control algae by lowering nutrients, when in fact, nutrients have nothing to do with algae for the most part. Yes, nutrients can fuel algae, but algae doesn't need nutrients alone to grow, they utilize trace elements as well. Algae is really good at life, corals, not so much. Algae is controlled by herbivores (and manual removal from us), remove the herbivores and you have algae growth. Corals need nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon, remove or limit one of those things and it makes it very hard for the coral to survive, they essentially starve to death.

 

[Dooly]

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I’m going to give the TM a try. Sounds like a pretty simple process.

One thing that was really off on my ICP I just got back was elevated lithium at above 1200. Seems like that can happen with salt mixes and I shouldn’t be concerned? Anyone else have experience with this?

Trying to just figure out why I lost a couple Acro frags when I was on vacation. Only thing I can find off at this point was the lithium being high, minor traces being depleted and my Po4 was bottomed out. I’ve had po4 bottomed out before though and no major issues so not sure if that caused any issues. My majors were all looking good when I was away on my trident and when I got back and tested all was good on the majors. The tips looked burned on a few Acros so I was thinking alk spike but alk is in line and seems to have been.

Which 2 part are you using?

 

[Dutch_Roots]

Which 2 part are you using?

I’m using ESV Bionic

 

[Dooly]

The calcium from ESV is likely your source of elevated lithium.
Took me a while to figure out where it was coming from, but stumbled upon a thread on r2r where most people concerned with their levels were using esv, my last icp showed lithium at 1475

 

[Tommy Ngo]

I’m using ESV Bionic

My personal experience that works for me is doing 2 parts with ESV. I do dose magnesium as well and Kalk for PH. I don’t do water change. The only time that I do water change is if i have to treat my tank with chemicals (interceptor, fluconazole, etcs)

I had only done (1) ICP test in the past and it came back all green on the chart.

If you are producing your own RODI water I would suggest changing out your carbon block more often depending on much water you use. Ideally I would change my carbon out every 2-3 months.

 

[joeoliver]

@Tommy Ngo I want to be like you. I do regular water changes but would rather not.

does esv have trace elements? also, do you run a refugium?

 

[Tommy Ngo]

@Tommy Ngo I want to be like you. I do regular water changes but would rather not.

does esv have trace elements? also, do you run a refugium?

ESV does have some trace elements. I don’t have a refugium. I use a skimmer and filter socks for nutrients export. Dosing Kalk does help with lowering PO4.

 

[Dutch_Roots]

ESV does have some trace elements. I don’t have a refugium. I use a skimmer and filter socks for nutrients export. Dosing Kalk does help with lowering PO4.

So odd I do exactly what you are doing with ESV Alk, CA & MG. I also run Kalk too. My minor traces are always bottomed out though anytime I run a ICP.