Help With Soft Coral Trace Elements, Food Requirements, etc.

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elijones244

Premium Member
Hey everyone, I have recently added 3 soft corals; Pulsing Xenia, Green Star Polyps, and a Magician Zoa Colony, to my newly cycled 20G long. I of course use RO/DI water. I use Instant Ocean salt mix, but am willing to change if someone gives me any reason. My main question is what do I need to add to my tank in the way of trace elements, coral food, calcium, iodine, etc....? I am currently not adding ANYTHING. Let me know what you guys use and recommend! Am open to any and all suggestions. Thanks, Eli
 
Rule of thumb is that if you are not testing for it, you shouldn't be adding it. Regular water changes almost always replenishes most trace items assuming you use a quality salt mix. Dosing iodine in particular is an easy way of killing off critters. None of the corals you posted have extreme requirements. Good starters.

I would keep up checks for ammonia/nitrite/nitrate in a new tank and make some water swaps if you see any ammonia/nitrite and try to keep the nitrate out of the red and otherwise relax and enjoy the new tank. :p
 
What would you consider a quality salt mix? Should I stop using Instant Ocean mix? And one somewhat off topic question, I got the Xenia yesterday and when I brought it home it opened up tall and well, this morning it is still open but the "trunk" or whatever its called is ALOT shorter, is this normal?
 
Yes, if you change salt, just do like 10% water changes weekly with the new salt. Over time it will be the only salt in the tank.

As others have stated, do not dose unless you plan to test for what you are dosing. Blind dosing can lead to slow or rapid build up of whatever you are dosing, leading to a potential crash. Consistent, weekly, water changes will ensure all trace nutrients are up to par.

The only things I dose are alkalinity buffers (since my SPS sucks it up quick) and vitamin c. If you dose alkalinity you must test for it, swinging it too much too quickly can be detrimental, especially to SPS. Vitamin C dosing can be beneficial and is pretty safe. I have used it for about a year now and I have definitely noticed a difference in the color and health of my corals. As with any dosing, start out very slowly and build up over time. Here is a calculator for dosage and a decent read on the benefits.

http://www.saltwatermasters.com/articles/Vitamin-C-Dosing

If you want a salt that is good for corals I recommend Red Sea Coral Pro, yet there are many good salts out there for corals (higher calc, etc salts).

http://www.redseafish.com/

On a side note, with Xenia and green star polyps (GSP) you will find you don't need to do anything to get them to grow like weeds. Make sure to keep the GSP on a rock of its own away from other areas. It can quickly grow and take over a tank if not watched. Xenia can do the same thing. I actually superglued about 4 cuttings of GSP to my back wall of my 24 nano and about 6 months later the entire back wall is covered and waves bright green with the water current. If you vitamin c dose with Xenia there is a chance it will slowly die/melt since vitamin c has a side effect of reducing nutrients, which is a great side effect for most other corals, especially SPS, but not necessarily Xenia or Kenya trees. Just start out slow if you do want to dose it and as always watch the tank closely during any changes.
 
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