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Giving your livestock what it needs to grow & thrive is very
important
As you start to acquire new
livestock (ie: coral, invertebrates, and fish) and add them
into your aquarium, they begin to grow and consume
nutrients/elements from the water. As you can imagine, the
more corals, inverts, and fish you have, the quicker many
trace elements are consumed. Most trace elements cannot be
replenished with water changes alone, and supplementary
additives are necessary to maintain stable water chemistry,
and steady coral/invert growth.
Test your Water Parameters
Before adding any trace element it is
necessary to test your existing levels. Water molecules are
able to hold a specific number molecules of other elements,
if too much of one element is present, another is displaced
from the water column. This is often referred to as an
“ionic imbalance”. In this state, adding more of a trace
element will not correct the problem. Regularly testing
your calcium and alkalinity levels is important in
maintaining the proper proportions. Aquarium Illusions
carries the full line of test kits from Hagen, Seachem,
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals and Salifert, as well as digital
monitors from American Marine and Digital Aquatics.
Calcium and alkalinity
(carbonate hardness) are said to be two of the most
important parameters to maintain in a reef aquarium.
Maintaining a, daily, balanced relationship between the two
has been the subject of many authors. They are critical to
coral growth in a process known as ‘calcification’, the
growth of coral skeletons. Many additives are on the market
to maintain both of these crucial parameters, the most
popular of which are two part additives that are added daily
in equal amounts to maintain a stable ratio between the two.
Iodine is an often-overlooked
element. Maintaining a natural of level of iodine benefits
creatures such as shrimp, crabs, some soft corals and is
utilized by macro algae in their growth cycle as. Iodine is
also believed to be a ‘preventative’ additive, in that it
often is used to treat/prevent many coral ailments. There
are many additives on the market that will supplement
iodine. Look for products containing iodine or iodide to
assist you in maintaining a natural level in your aquarium
Strontium, Magnesium,
Molybdenum, and Iron are often supplemented in small
amounts. All of which aid in, and play an important role in
the growth and expansion of corals, the growth of many
inverts, and the life cycle of macro algaes. All of the
above may be supplemented individually by products targeted
at specific elements, or by additives that add all of the
listed elements and other minor trace elements, in
proportionate amounts, that can be added at routine
intervals.
Vitamins and fatty acids are
crucial to coral/fish health and nutrition. Many
‘all-in-one’ additives on the market contain a combination
of critical vitamins ( A and B12), fatty acids, marine
lipids, and minor trace elements , to keep your aquarium
healthy and vibrant. Addition of these leads to better
coloration and expansion of the corals, and promotes fish
growth and health.
Look for the names: Seachem, Two
Little Fishes, Kent marine, Ecosystem, and Salifert on our
store shelves.
The following Additives are important to the success of your
reef: |
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Calcium
and alkalinity:
(carbonate hardness) are
said to be two of the most important parameters to maintain
in a reef aquarium. Maintaining a, daily, balanced
relationship between the two has been the subject of many
authors. They are critical to coral growth in a process
known as ‘calcification’, the growth of coral skeletons.
There are different varieties of calcium additives to choose
from. |
Iodine:
is an
often-overlooked element. Maintaining a natural of level of
iodine benefits creatures such as shrimp, crabs, some soft
corals and is utilized by macro algae in their growth cycle
as. Iodine is also believed to be a ‘preventative’ additive,
in that it often is used to treat/prevent many coral
ailments. There are many additives on the market that will
supplement iodine. Look for products containing iodine or
iodide to assist you in maintaining a natural level in your
aquarium |
|
Strontium, Magnesium,
Molybdenum, and Iron:
are often
supplemented in small amounts. All of which aid in, and play
an important role in the growth and expansion of corals, the
growth of many inverts, and the life cycle of macro algaes.
All of the above may be supplemented individually by
products targeted at specific elements, or by additives that
add all of the listed elements and other minor trace
elements, in proportionate amounts, that can be added at
routine intervals. |
Vitamins
and fatty acids:
are crucial to
coral/fish health and nutrition. Many ‘all-in-one’ additives
on the market contain a combination of critical vitamins ( A
and B12), fatty acids, marine lipids, and minor trace
elements , to keep your aquarium healthy and vibrant.
Addition of these leads to better coloration and expansion
of the corals, and promotes fish growth and health.
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