Trace Elements and Supplement: What You Should Add to Your Saltwater

Aquarium
Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff
The inhabitants of almost any saltwater aquarium require supplements added to the water. The type of supplements depends
upon the type of inhabitants, as shown in the following table. The trace elements of special concern for reef tanks include
calcium, iodine, and strontium.

Marine
Aquarium
Containing: Supplement Benefit
Small or Calcium Helps build skeleton
Large Polyp Helps prevent damage due to excessive
Stony Iodine
light exposure
Corals,
Giant Strontium Helps build skeleton
Clams, Helps prevent premature calcium
Leather Magnesium
precipitation
Corals,
Polyps, Buffer
Helps build skeleton; buffers pH
Mushroom (Alkalinity)
Anemones Trace Helps facilitate enzymatic and
Element photosynthetic reactions
Plankton Provides nutrients that are not produced
Suspension by the target organism
Helps maintain health, color, and
Vitamin
facilitates biological reactions

Crustaceans Calcium Helps build skeleton

and other Helps prevent premature calcium
Motile Magnesium
precipitation
Invertebrates
A component of the animal's exoskeleton;
Iodine
aids in the molting process
Buffer
Buffers pH
(Alkalinity)
Trace
Helps facilitate enzymatic reactions
Element
Helps maintain health, color, and
Vitamin
facilitates biological reactions

Fish-Only Helps prevent health disorders such as

Iodine
goiter

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 Buffer
Buffers pH
(Alkalinity)
Trace
Helps facilitate enzymatic reactions
Element
Helps maintain health, color, and
Vitamin
facilitates biological reactions
Replenishing trace elements
Over the course of time, many of the "trace" elements in reef aquarium water become depleted. Several processes are
responsible for this depletion. Protein skimming can trap some trace elements with the removed organics and protein. The use
of Granulated Activated Carbon (G.A.C.) or other chemical media adsorbs or absorbs some trace elements. Materials of the
reef system, like hosing, glass, etc., also adsorb and remove some trace elements. Most importantly, growth of the reef
inhabitants reduces the available supply of trace elements.
You can replenishment depleted trace elements in several ways: through feeding, water changes, and liquid supplements.
Whenever you feed your reef, some trace elements are contained in the foods and are used by the creatures digesting the
foods. In most reef systems, feeding is done very sparingly to avoid a build-up of waste products. Some hobbyists take this to
the extreme and end up with anorexic fish. Please be sure to provide enough food for the proper health of your fish. (Nitrate
build-up can be controlled with any number of easy-to-use products.)
All quality salt mixes include the trace elements required by corals, fish, and invertebrates. Monthly water changes of 20% to
30% are recommended to replenish any elements which may have been exhausted.
In a heavily-stocked reef aquarium, elements are often depleted at a much faster rate, and should be replenished by using
commercially available reef supplements. It is best to use the appropriate test kits to monitor the levels of these important
trace elements.
Calcium requirements and supplementation
Possibly the most important trace element to be kept at proper levels is calcium, which should ideally be maintained at 350 to
450 PPM. While these levels are far from "trace" levels, depletion of this element is rapid; constant monitoring is required to
maintain proper levels. Proper levels of calcium help maintain the carbonate pH buffer system and cause excess phosphate to
precipitate, while providing a necessary element for coral skeletal growth.
There are several options to replenish the calcium. The most popular method involves dosing the reef aquarium every day
with a mixture of lime water (Kalkwasser). Caution must be used to add the Kalkwasser slowly, as a sudden increase can
cause a precipitation of magnesium carbonate and can also deplete the pH buffering system, allowing a sudden increase in
pH.
A second method to supply the correct level of calcium is to use calcium chloride and a buffer. This method is simple, but it is
difficult to stabilize the calcium and buffer levels and can result in unacceptable fluctuations. Tanks with only small amounts
of coralline algae and a small population of soft corals could be adequately maintained by this method.
Balanced supplements are available and are easy to use once appropriate levels of calcium and alkalinity have been acheived.
These supplements are more expensive and may be cost prohibitive for large tanks with SPS corals.
The last method available to dose calcium involves the use of a calcium reactor with CO 2 injection.
These reactors are filled with calcium carbonate; a circulation pump within the reactor mixes the
saltwater and CO 2 to produce a pH of approximately 6.5, allowing the calcium to dissolve into the
saltwater. The rate of water discharged from the reactor is several drops per minute and can be controlled
by a valve. These systems can be automated with a pH controller and magnetic valve, allowing you to
leave the system alone for several weeks, while you take a much needed vacation. These units require
close monitoring and the initial cost of the reactor and CO 2 system is comparatively high.
Liquid supplements to maintain other trace elements
Addition of the remaining trace elements is best accomplished with the use of liquid supplements. Trace
elements can be overdosed into the aquarium, so be careful and monitor these levels with the appropriate
test kit and keep and eye on the overall health of the aquarium.
Usually, iodine/iodide is offered by itself, and is important for increased soft coral growth and carapace production in shrimp
and crabs. Iodine is depleted by protein skimming and should be kept at 0.06 PPM, although being careful not to overdose.
Strontium is utilized by both hard corals and invertebrates and should be maintained at a level of 8 ppm with the use of a
liquid supplement.

Trace Elements and Supplement: What You Should Add to Your Saltwater Aquarium - Page 2 of 3
Unauthorized use of any images, thumbnails, illustrations, descriptions, article content, or registered trademarks of Foster & Smith, Inc. is strictly
prohibited under copyright law. Site content, including photography, descriptions, pricing, promotions, and availability are subject to change without
notice. These restrictions are necessary in order to protect not only our copyrighted intellectual property, but also the health of pets, since articles or
images that are altered or edited after download could result in misinformation that may harm companion animals, aquatic life, or native species.
Barium (used in coral skeleton growth) and iron (required by the photosynthetic zooxanthellae and macroalgae), are usually
available in a trace element supplement. Several of these products are available, and, of course, everyone has their favorites.
It is probably best to try several to see which family of supplements gives you the best results. Many reef keepers advocate
the addition of molybdenum, though any improvement is the result of improved bacterial (nitrifying and denitrifying) action
versus any direct effect on the corals.

Trace Elements and Supplement: What You Should Add to Your Saltwater Aquarium - Page 3 of 3
Unauthorized use of any images, thumbnails, illustrations, descriptions, article content, or registered trademarks of Foster & Smith, Inc. is strictly
prohibited under copyright law. Site content, including photography, descriptions, pricing, promotions, and availability are subject to change without
notice. These restrictions are necessary in order to protect not only our copyrighted intellectual property, but also the health of pets, since articles or
images that are altered or edited after download could result in misinformation that may harm companion animals, aquatic life, or native species.