Chemicals for reef tank

[kyabk]

Hello all. I have the reef tank listed below. 90Gal. Anyways I have been told by a guy at my LFS that as long as I have a good sump and protein skimmer the only chemicals that I should need to add to my tank is calcium and Alkalinity. So far I have had my new tank for about 2.5 months and have ahd no major problems.

So with that said was I told right? Any chemicals that I should be adding? Also I am going to get some test kits to measure both the alkalinity and the calcium and recommened test kits?

 

[Len]

Personally, I find the only additives worth adding are two part Ca/alk all purpose supplements such as B-ionic or C-balance in addition to a calcium supplement such as kalkwasser or a Ca reactor. There are lots of other additives on the market but I've never found a use for them myself. You'll probably get a lot of differing opinions on this issue, however.

Salifert, Hach, and LaMotte make good test kits IME.

 

[LauraH]

Like Len, I only supplement for calcium/alkalinity. I use a combination of B-ionic and Kalkwasser.

 

[Anonymous]

Yep, what they said. The two part additives and/or dripping kalkwasser are the cheapest way to begin supplementing CA and alk. Depending on on your tank size and CA/Alk demand, you may eventually want to invest in a calcium reactor or a kalk reactor, or both. Reactors take the daily activity out of maintaining your levels.

Tell us more about your tank and livestock.

Louey

 

[Mogo]

Wow! Good advice from your LFS 8O. My old LFS would have tried to sell me a whack of chemicals that I don't really need.

 

[JohnD]

Hey Jersey Boy,

Welcome to the board.

As a great rule of thumb, NEVER add anything, be it iodine, magnesium, etc, to the tank if you do not have the measuring kits to measure what you are adding.

To get yourself started, you really need calcium and Alk kits. I use Salifert.