Additives

[jmguerry]

Right now I have a FOWLR tank. It's an 18 gal eclipse. I wanted to start a reef tank. I was wondering what additives I NEED. Not ones I SHOULD have. I feel my LFS is just trying to get me to buy things I dont need. Can anyone help.....Oh yeah and does anyone have any suggestions on how to plumb an eclipse tank so i can put a sump underneath it. thanks

 

[Anonymous]

For an 18 gallon tank I would reccomend a two part additive like B-ionic.

You could also drip kalkwasser as your top off water instead of the two part, but I have never done so in a tank that small, I suppose you would have to be careful to add it slowly so as not to get Ph swings.

 

[Anonymous]

>...I was wondering what additives I NEED. Not ones I SHOULD have.

For a FOWLR, I don't think he even need any calcium additive like B-ionic. Just do regular water change.

>... I feel my LFS is just trying to get me to buy things I dont need.

That's how they make money.

>...any suggestions on how to plumb an eclipse tank so i can put a sump underneath it....

you can drill it, or use an overflow... any preference?

 

[jmguerry]

I already do a calcium and a a....(dang it i forgot) in my tank now. Im wondering what about when I start a reef tank. What do I need then? Do I need Idoine or anything like that?

 

[Anonymous]

IMO, no one need to dose iodine unless you test for it and find deficit in that element/ion.

 

[jmguerry]

So basically all I need is my calcium and buffer at normal levels and I will be good to go??

 

[ThrillYa]

I agree with Laura D, and would recommend B-ionic or something similar. It is easy and with a tank that small it would not be overy expensive. I've been using it in my tank from the start which was setup over a year ago and all is well.

 

[jmguerry]

Is that all you use ThrillYa