9. Supplements and Additives For Reefs and Saltwater Aquariums

The vitamin and nutrient group of products includes products designed to enhance the immune system, color, and longevity of fish by providing nutrients that may be missing from their captive diets. This group also includes the Omega fatty acids. Studies are constantly underway to enhance coloration, resistance to disease, spawning behavior and to alleviate controversial ailments like Lateral Line Disease. One thing is clear – fish would be most healthy if their diets were duplicated from the wild. The best way to attempt this is to vary the diet with quality frozen foods as much as possible. Some supplements, like VitaChem.

Other products in the group are classified as probiotics and are designed specifically to enhance the health of captive fish by making them immune to specific disease. AquaLife Bio-Pro Plus Probiotic Health Supplement is an exclusive formulation, when used as directed, provides one million colony forming units (CFUs) of live probiotic microorganisms per drop. In addition, each drop delivers 1.25 mg of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), together with chelated iron equivalent to .08 mg Fe. Research has shown that feeding vitamin C along with probiotics improved fish health to a greater extent than resulted from probiotics alone. Separate studies have shown that iron in small amounts is an essential trace mineral in the diet of fishes, required for the formation of hemoglobin, for example.

Red Sea TRACE COLORS A | B | C | D supplements contain the 31 minor and trace elements present in the skeleton and soft tissue of all corals.
A – Halogens (I2, Br2, F2)
B – Potassium & Boron
C – Fe & 7 Complementary Metals
D – 18 Bioactive Trace Elements
The elements in each supplement are related by their biological function and are associated with the production of specific color pigments (Pink, Red, Green/Yellow and Purple/Blue) in the soft tissue of stony corals. All 31 elements are required by all stony corals irrespective of the actual color the coral displays.

Because filtration methods vary and organisms use reef chemicals at different rates, water testing before and after the addition of supplements is highly recommended. In addition to ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, you should be testing calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium.
Red Sea Reef Foundation Pro Multi Test Kit

Kalk+2 Advanced Kalkwasser Supplement contains calcium, strontium, and magnesium in the same ionic ratios found in aragonite. This unique feature increases the usefulness of Kalk+2 to reef-building invertebrates such as corals, clams, calcareous algae, etc., and provides temporary alkalinity to help maintain pH within the desired range when used as directed.

The products containing this calcium have several advantages – easy to use, dissolve easily, and do not alter the pH drastically like Kalkwasser can. They do not tend to support pH and alkalinity and should be used along with Reef Builder. Some have balanced amounts of strontium and magnesium which are needed in proper proportions to calcium for coral growth. They can be used along with occasional use of kalkwasser or as the main source for calcium in the aquarium.

Reef Complete is an excellent product and it has balanced proportions of strontium and magnesium. The advantage of using individual supplements and not mixed products is different amounts of individual chemicals can be added to best suit the needs of the livestock being housed.

Every reef aquarium is different in terms of the kind and number of organisms living in it, and therefore the rate at which calcium and carbonate ions are removed from the water. It is therefore impossible to give all-inclusive instructions for using this or any other liquid supplement product. It is necessary to determine by means of water tests, the calcium concentration, alkalinity and magnesium concentration of the aquarium. Once this information is obtained, it is relatively easy to calculate the quantity of supplement to be added. Typical ocean surface values for these parameters are: Magnesium1280 ppm; Calcium 420 ppm; Alkalinity 2.5 meq/L (7 dKH).
AquaLife Magnesium Part A
AquaLife Calcium Part B
AquaLife Alkalinity Part C

This concentrated and highly bio-available organic calcium will not deplete alkalinity and is easily utilized by corals. It promotes vigorous proliferation of coralline algae. Although many people have shown concerns for the long term effect of these types of products in reefs, they have their place. They are great for accelerating coralline growth and are good products to jump start corals. Use them but not as the sole source of calcium and not all the time. Reef Calcium is a good product.

Purple Up is an ionic calcium that immediately raises calcium levels in your aquarium water while at the same time, 10 micron aragonite targets the live rock surface delivering calcium, strontium, magnesium, and carbonate right where it’s needed. Purple-Up also replenishes iodine, an essential trace element that quickly becomes depleted in closed systems.

This minor element occurs in seawater at 8 to 10 mg/l and is found in the skeletons of many organisms. Like calcium, it aids in the growth of coralline algae, corals, and clams. Acropora species, and many like it, cannot be kept without it. Dosing levels beyond sea water levels have proven to increase the growth rate of many corals. Many of the combined products or trace element products contain strontium. Strontium specific products should be used in all reefs. Use Strontion by Brightwell Aquatics.

Reef Dip by Sea Chem contains elemental iodine complexed to a protective slime coat for safely and gently disinfecting corals. It is effective against bacteria, fungus, and protozoans. It may be used prophylactically (without evidence of disease) or to remedy diseased specimens. It is safe to use with both stony and soft corals. It is also safe for anemones and polyps.

Reef Dip provides a protective slime coat complex that covers the coral, holding the iodine in contact with the infected site for extended periods of time. In addition, the slime coat prevents infection from re-entering the site.

Many products are developed for replenishing trace elements. Many are replenished with water changes but in aquariums with skimmers, carbon, filters, etc., how many are depleted between water changes is unknown. Not all of the supplements are created equal. The highest grade products are difficult to produce consistently from all but the best companies. Replenish is a consistently reliable supplement.

Many stores now carry AquaLife Reef Cafe, a revolutionary new feeding protocol for corals and other saltwater invertebrates. Customers can customize and vary their reef diets with Reef Cafe’s unique blend of fresh, whole ingredient “shots.” The blends are recipes of Amino Shot, Phyto-Frappe and Zoo-Ka-Moka in proportions suited to the requirements of particular species. Ask your dealer about this great product.

In addition to Reef Cafe, AquaLife has developed a great family of reef nutrition products. CALA-fin Whole Marine Zooplankton and CALA-fin Fine Marine Zooplankton. These dried foods are perfect for feeding corals, other invertebrates, fish larvae, and fishes requiring zooplankton in the range of 2 to 4 millimeters and smaller. These copepods provide top-quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and anti-oxidant compounds important in the diet of marine organisms. Copepods are an important part of natural marine food webs. AquaLife CALA-fin LIQUID contains the same species of Calanus finmarchicus in a convenient liquid form.

AquaLife AMINO GLOW is a nutritional supplement and food soak that contains essential L-amino acids, simple sugars, and vitamin C. Unlike other products, AMINO GLOW contains only L-amino acids that are preferentially taken up by stony corals, according to recent scientific research. 

AquaLife PHYTO-fin is a concentrated blend of marine phytoplankton.á This superior natural diet is ideal for soft and hard corals, anemones, zoanthids, clams, and all other filter feeding marine invertebrates.á AquaLife Phyto-fin is rich the necessary proteins, carbohydrates and lipids for vivid color, vigorous growth and reproduction.

AquaLife REEFeast Zooplankton and Phytoplankton contains crustaceans and marine algae that is the natural diets of wild corals and reef fish.á This blended diet is ideal for filter feeding marine invertebrates and is a natural source of Astaxanthin. Reef fishes, such as Anthias, chromis, pseudochromids, basslets, and most other reef compatible species also benefit from this nutritious diet. AquaLife REEF FEAST provides all the necessary proteins, carbohydrates and lipids for vigorous growth and reproduction. Ideal for: hard and soft corals, clams, sponges, anemones and reef fish.

HyperCoral GC is a new, unique, and revolutionary reef nourishment product, complete with essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals in the precise concentrations found on coral reefs. Use HyperCoral GC as a daily food for your SPS corals. It offers a complete nutrition management system for your reef tank. HyperCoral GC is a new, unique, and revolutionary reef nourishment product, complete with essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals in the precise concentrations found on coral reefs. Use HyperCoral GC as a daily food for your SPS corals. It offers a complete nutrition management system for your reef tank.

Algone eliminates excessive nutrients from the water leaving existing algae spores with nothing to feed on. Conventional treatment products introduce chemicals to the tank, which would not otherwise be found in a natural aquatic environment.

AquaLife Clarify is the ultimate clarifier for both fresh and saltwater. It employs an advanced polymeric flocculating agent that is both reef and plant safe. Clarityª is the only clarifier on the market that does it all! Clarityª will clear all types of clouding: bacterial and other biological type blooms, chemical clouding, and particulate clouding (i.e. stirred up gravel bed).

Activate is a natural organic formulation designed to accelerate biological filtration, cycle new aquariums, improve water quality, and reduce maintenance. ACTIVATE reduces ammonia, nitrite, and fish loss. With regular use, the blend of synergistic bacteria reduces sludge and phosphate, and it keeps aquariums clear. It is safe for all aquatic animals and plants.

Although the large number of products available may be daunting in freshwater, only a few need to be considered for saltwater. First of all gH products are not needed for saltwater aquariums. pH is controlled in fish only aquariums with Marine Buffer, Reef Buffer, in reef tanks. For alkalinity/dkH, use Reef Builder or Brightwell Alkalin 8.3.

AQUAVITRO offers some exciting products for reef tanks.  They work well and are worth reading about. These products are not advertised on the web. You may pick them up locally, call to order, or email a request for information and pricing.

For creating “mud” filters it is important to create the proper base in the filter. CaribSea’s Mineral Mud is a unique blend of sediments that duplicate tropical fringing coastal mangrove environments. Mineral Mud particles are in a size range compatible with soft, burrowing infaunal, macro animal assemblages. Ideal for mud refugiums, seagrasses, macro-algae, and mangroves, Mineral Mud provides a variety of trace elements, chelated trace elements, plus calcium, strontium, iron, sulfur, and free carbon. In addition, Mineral Mud contains live marine bacteria, to complete the tropical ecosystem.