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Your success at keeping aquarium corals and invertebrates depends upon your success at recreating natural conditions. In the ocean, there is a constant source of vital minerals, nutrients, and vitamins. In a closed aquarium environment, some of these essential minerals are depleted as corals and invertebrates use them to grow.
Aquarium additives replenish essential mineral and nutrient levels to provide an ongoing source corals and invertebrates need for proper growth, physical strength, biological function, and coloration. They also help the organism resist minor changes in water conditions, as well as diseases.
While the addition and maintenance of calcium and alkalinity in reef aquariums is well recognized, the replenishment rate of other specific minerals and trace elements is not as well understood. Use the following chart as a general guide when selecting the appropriate supplements for your corals and invertebrates. Always follow the manufacturer's recommended dosage directions.
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Small or Large Polyp Stony Corals, Giant Clams |
| Calcium |
Helps build skeleton/shell |
| Strontium |
Helps build skeleton/shell |
| Magnesium |
Helps prevent premature calcium precipitation & helps stabilize pH and alkalinity |
| Buffer (Alkalinity) |
Helps build skeleton; Buffers pH & helps maintain proper calcium levels |
| Iodine/Iodide |
Helps heal damage due to excessive light exposure |
| Trace Elements |
Helps facilitate enzymatic and photosynthetic reactions |
| Plankton Suspension |
Provides nutrients that are not produced by the target organism |
| Vitamins |
Helps maintain health, color; and facilitates biological reactions |
| Leather Corals, Polyp Corals, and Mushroom Anemones |
| Calcium |
Helps maintain high pH |
| Strontium |
Helps with proper health & growth |
| Magnesium |
Helps prevent premature calcium precipitation |
| Buffer (Alkalinity) |
Buffers pH |
| Iodine |
Helps enhance coloration & coral expansion |
| Trace Elements |
Helps facilitate enzymatic & photosynthetic reactions |
| Plankton Suspension |
Provides nutrients that are not produced by the target organism |
| Vitamins |
Helps maintain health, color; facilitates biological reactions |
| Crustaceans and other Motile Invertebrates |
| Magnesium |
Helps prevent premature calcium precipitation & helps stabilize pH & alkalinity |
| Iodine |
A component of the animal's exoskeleton; aids in molting process |
| Trace Elements |
Helps facilitate enzymatic reactions |
| Vitamins |
Helps maintain health, color; facilitates biological reactions |
| Buffer (Alkalinity) |
Buffers pH |
Question:
What should the calcium level be in a reef aquarium? |
Answer:
The ideal calcium level should be between 350-450ppm. Be sure to test for calcium on a regular basis to monitor and maintain ideal levels. |
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