Trace Element Additives

[WestTex]

Hey guys, i recently have started my first marine tank. So far so good. I am a few months into it and have added a yellow watchman goby, a ocellaris clown and two blue legged hermits in a 20 gallon tall. I was hoping to add a pistol shrimp, and maybe a blood red fire shrimp.

Eventually ( like 6 months from now if things are still on track) I would like to add some corals. My question is, are there any products that you folks would suggest to make sure the proper trace elements in the tank? Also I have read that most of these inverts require the proper amount of iodine to promote molting. Anything out there for that?

THanks in advance.

WestTex

 

[Kevin8888]

Rule of thumb in my books, if you dont test for it dont dose it, by that I mean you can dose for alkalinity, calcuium, magnesium, but thats about it, the rest are "trace" for a reason, meaning the ammounts needed aren't measurable, and are added with feeding the tanks, waste production, and water changes. So essentially what I'm saying is don't add iodine, don't add strontium, both of these and contrary to popular belief are not nessisary to be dosed and both toxic at certain concentrations. Strontium has been shown to slow stony coral growth, and Iodine is hard on invertebrates forcing them to molt more often then nessisary, they molt when they need to without it. To much in the hobby is based on conjecture and hear say not on anything with a basis in science. I would link you the relivent papers that support what I just said... but the links I have apparently no longer exist.

 

[WestTex]

No sir, I will take your word for it. This is my first marine tank but I have kept many freshwater inverts for years with no additives besides a little fert for my plants. I just didn't know if there was something I was missing for marine. Thanks for the advice.