Many years ago, when I was a baby reefer, the number of equipment and device options was, to say the least, minimal. As I think about my initial adventures and how few technologies we had at our disposal, I can’t help but wonder what the future holds. The increased understanding of reef ecosystem characteristics, combined with the shockingly fast progress in technology, the 21st century reefer is more capable than ever before.
From aquascaping to deciding on their ideal lighting and flow rates, the advancement in reefing systems may enhance the quality of this crafted ecosystem, but the promise of beauty isn’t without confusion. In many ways, Reef Hacks began as a means to simplify and streamline the initial steps and prolonged maintenance of reef tanks.
Author:
As a lifelong aquarist, Yuliya has an endless curiosity about our underwater universe. After graduating with a bachelor’s in Environmental Engineering, she transformed her passion into a successful career. While working at the Institute of Environmental Protection in Moscow, her passion for saltwater and reef aquariums only increased. Moving to the United States in 2013, Yuliya embarked on another impactful journey by sharing her unprecedented experience for all aquarium hobbyists ... Read More.
Throughout my time speaking with both new and experienced reefers, the topic of reef tank supplementation methods is one filled with confusion and misinformation. It seems everyone has their own opinion about the “best method,” but as with many reefing topics, what’s best for one hobbyist may not carry the same benefits for another.
After spending a night browsing my favorite reefing forums, I was shocked by the amount of information being spread around as fact. Depending on who was writing, Method A was touted as being the superior option, while just a few threads down, Method B was proudly proclaimed as the ideal supplementation method.
Even with my experience and knowledge, it was almost more than my brain could handle. This made me wonder, why aren’t any of my fellow reefers offering a non-biased guide to help newbies make their own decision?
Instead of wishing there was such a guide, I cracked my knuckles and decided to get to work on this task myself. So, without further ado, here’s the ultimate guide for choosing a supplementation method (non-biased, of course).
Supplementation Methods Link Your Tank to Nature.
Cultivating a perfectly balanced and robust ecosystem within a self-contained aquarium is the biggest challenge all reefers must face each and every day. Unlike freshwater tanks, which are relatively straightforward to maintain, saltwater reef tanks aren’t mirroring your local pond or lake.
As a reefer, you’re literally mirroring one of the world’s most complex microcosms. In the wild, coral reef colonies only exist due to the multilevel interaction between the smallest compounds and the largest animals. From nutrient disbursement and exporting to biochemical reactions, it may seem natural reefs effortlessly exist, but as you’ll soon discover, nature is anything but effortless.
Without a solid supplementation method, it’s nearly impossible to achieve the majestic colors and vibrant life of natural coral environments. Much like the human body requires trace elements and specific compounds to maintain optimum health, your reef tank must also be treated to a refined supplementation routine. Although the compounds may differ, the importance of quality and dosage is universal.
Sure, it’s possible to sustain a healthy reef tank during its first year with only water changes, but as its population grows and ages, the ease of care will shift. Think of a newly established reef tank as a younger adult. During this time, they can stay out late and eat whatever they want with little ramifications, but as they age, the harder it is to bounce back from a night out with friends.
Keep in mind that as your reef tank ages and grows, the greater the strain and demand for major and trace elements becomes. This is when it’s vital to introduce the right products and supplements into your tank.
Purity of Tailored Technology - Why Leverage Supplementation Methods?
The majority of aquarists began their watery adventure from a stance of admiration for coral reef environments and a desire to begin a fulfilling hobby. Few hobbyists come into the realm of reefing with a solid understanding of natural reef environments and the chemical symphony responsible for these mystical underwater cities.
Over the years, most newbie reefers learned about the foundations of this hobby from retail employees, online forums and fellow reefers. Although reefing forums are an excellent resource for learning tips and connecting with likeminded hobbyists, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat in disbelief at what information is passed along as fact.
Few things anger me more than falsified claims and embellished proclamations from product manufacturers, uninformed aquarium store workers or ego-driven forum posters. Not only does this information result in wasting potentially hundreds of dollars, but in many cases, this free-flowing misinformation is the cause of countless tank crashes.
Before getting to the meat of this topic, here’s a few facts you must understand:
- There’s a difference between essential supplements and useful additives. Calcium and alkalinity, for example, are necessary for tank health, while amino acids and trace element solutions are useful compounds, but also extremely important.
- Useful supplements act as enhancements to the overall health and vitality of a tank microcosm. As the science behind coral reef and natural seawater improves, more supplements/additives are created to refine the overarching approach to reefing.
- Think of non-essential supplementation methods as taking workout supplements to boost your results at the gym. Sure, you can craft a healthy body without this assistance, but your results are heightened when the proper supplementation routine is added to a balanced workout and nutrition protocol.
- Don’t believe any company or blog post stating a specific method is “best.” As stated earlier, the unique characteristics of a reef tank makes it almost impossible to state one routine is 100% best for everyone.
So, why should you choose a supplementation method? Let’s see…
Fortifying Coral Architecture & Visual Brilliance.
As kids, we were instructed on what to eat and drink. To the chagrin of our growing minds, we suffered through an endless array of vegetables, vitamins and countless hours in health class uncovering the fundamental building blocks of the human body. At the time, we weren’t too concerned about the importance of calcium for bone health or vitamins for immune system development. I still remember cringing at the thought of taking my daily supplements. My, how times change.
Nowadays, our medicine cabinets are overflowing with supplements for everything from adrenal gland support to vision-protective herbs.
Reefers desire optimum coral health, but unfortunately, few understand the exact molecular/chemical composition required to quench this thirst. Until recently, even the most knowledgeable reefer held a rather fundamental understanding of natural seawater, or should I say, how aquarists can realistically duplicate its delicate arrangement of major and minor trace elements.
This is where supplementation methods come into play.
Science continues to reveal the hidden formula of natural coral life, and select manufacturers are closer than ever before to unlocking the chemical structure these ancient inhabitants require for optimized growth and health. Of course, this also means for every recommended supplement maker, there’s a handful of unscrupulous providers.
So, how do you protect your aquarium from accidental harm, while still taking advantage of these innovative supplement methods? The answer is easy: choose a company with years of verified expertise within the molecular approach to reef tank care.
One of my personal favorite solutions is the Red Sea Reef Care Program or simply, RCP. As outlined in my previous article, The Molecular Approach to Management - Red Sea Reef Care Program, this unique approach to reef tank supplementation targets essential chemical markers for coral health, as well as boosting trace element bioavailability for dynamic coral development.
The RCP method unifies fundamental elements for coral health with the latest scientific breakthroughs in trace element composition. This method supports extreme personalization based on aquarium type, coral needs and your desired outcome. If you’ve never used a comprehensive supplementation method, the Red Sea Reef Care Program is an excellent example of what’s possible in the 21st Century reefing realm.
I run my REEFER 170 with complete RCP and as you can the see colors are amazing in this sytem:
Micro-Nutrient Support for Vivid Coral Appearance (The Ultimate Coloration Hack).
My obsession with hacking processes started at an early age, and intensified as I branched out into engineering. In most cases, the standardized way of achieving a specific result isn’t the only way. Time and again, actually, common methods are oftentimes more confusing, lengthy and costly than necessary.
Few situations prove this point as clearly as the ZEOvit System. As a multilevel supplementation method, ZEOvit accomplished the impossible. It simplified the scientific art of nutrient manipulation. In my article, Leverage Science for Brilliant Corals - ZEOvit Method Guide, I discuss how this supplement provider harnesses the influence of ULNS (ultra low nutrient system), and elevates results via polished water parameter manipulation and balancing.
ZEOvit isn’t a one-size-fits-all supplementation method, which is one of its strongest attributes. Success in this method requires a hands-on approach to reefing. Aquarium characteristics, such as lighting setup, inhabitant species, skimming setup, water flow and biomedia (live rocks, etc.), determine your ideal method.
In brief, here’s the basics of the ZEOvit supplementation method:
- Zeolites form the cornerstone of this method. This specialized collection of porous rocks absorb harmful nutrients at the ionic scale by mobilizing bacteria microorganisms. If you’re familiar with live rocks, then you pretty much already understand how this setup benefits your aquarium. In case you don’t know these benefits, zeolite bacterial colonies covert the molecular structure of harmful nutrients (i.e., nitrogen) and boosts nutrient export (i.e., ammonium, ammonia).
- The bacterial strain, ZEObac, is a refined formulation designed to not only enhance nutrient export, but enhance the bioavailability of essential nutrients coral require for optimum growth.
- ZEOvit differs from other methods as it primarily focuses on ecosystem balance. Unlike other programs, this method boosts the visual development of coral via indirect pathways. Instead of supplementing with exact compounds, for example, ZEOvit supports microcosm homeostasis. Ultimately, resulting in an ecosystem primed for dynamic life.
Check out this guide to learn more about the primary ZEOvit System and their other hyper-specific supplement methods, such as Iodide Complex Concentrate and A-Balance.
Where Future Tech and Ancient Science Meet - ATI Essentials.
The most notorious issue many supplement methods face boils down to theoretical benefit. While a company may base its formulation in scientific facts, including specific elements in a product doesn’t mean its impact will be as monumental as studies suggest. What these businesses hope customers don’t understand is the difference between the terms “formula” and “formulation.”
In order for any supplement formula to move beyond hypothetical benefits into the realm of reality, it must have a refined formulation. In more simplistic terms, ingredient characteristics (size, bioavailability, concentration, etc) must be precise to work. Throughout my investigations and experience with a myriad of supplement brands, few accomplish this as well as ATI Essentials.
ATI Essentials, which you can read about in greater detail here, reproduces the precise element balance of natural seawater by introducing exact elements within each dose. While there’s so much to be said about this dosing method, here’s a brief overview:
- ATI Essentials is made up of three distinct formulas (named Essentials #1, #2, #3) with a total of 28 individual elements.
- Each bottle focuses on a major element (#1 Alkalinity, #2 Calcium #3 Magnesium), as well as injecting a specific concentration of trace elements and carbonate sources.
- Success requires regular water testing. While you can use your preferred method, I recommend leveraging the ATI Labs water testing resource. In short, ATI Labs offers at-home testing kits, but more importantly, you can send water samples to their advanced laboratory where over 40 water parameters are tested.
- One of the biggest claims-to-fame about using the ATI Essentials method is its ability to minimize water changing frequency. Yes, you read that right! While ATI Essentials can eliminate partial water changes, it’s important to perform full water testing every 2 to 3 months via ATI Labs and weekly tests through home testing kits like Salifet. I didn't perform any water changes in my REEFER 250 for a year and corals are very happy!
Nutritive Supplement Methods & Beyond.
Earlier, I touched on necessary and unnecessary supplements. Now, let me clarify. Simply because a nutrient or compound isn’t absolutely required to keep coral alive doesn’t mean it’s frivolous. When I wrote those words, it was to clarify the placement of supplements, not to discourage the use of these innovative products.
Speaking of innovative, what supplement method guide would this be if we didn’t discuss the most interesting product development: nutritive supplements.
Essentially, these methods revolve around both individual nutrients science has confirmed as essential for complete development, as well as aquarium ecosystem support. Of course, we can’t mention nutritive methods without discussing powerhouse provider, Prodibio.
What I appreciate about Prodibio isn’t simply the number of supplement options, although, their product list is quite impressive. More strikingly is the inventive approach to reef care. Instead of primarily focusing on the systemwide components of a healthy tank, Prodibio offers hyper-focused supplements.
From quickly establishing the chemical profile of a new tank with their Start Up product, to deep-level reef nutrient support with the Reef Booster, Prodibio offers a unique opportunity for all reefers: tailored nutritive support. We run our NANO based on this program and I'll share more info on that tank very soon. While I'm working on it, you can check this program in details here - The Prodibio Program – Triggering Pristine Health via Microorganisms.
However, Prodibio isn’t alone in this category. AquaForest, which is a complete provider of supplements, nutrient export solutions and even water testing kits, is among the most trusted providers of reef nutritive supplements. I like to think of AquaForest as a one-stop-shop for many, if not most, of your aquarium needs. I need to mention that I didn't have a chance to try their products yet and never run a system based on this method. You can check the full guide here - The AquaForest Method – Nutrition Supplements for Dynamic Coral Health.
AquaForest delivers complete solutions, which range from filtration media to probiotics. Ultimately, this company offers not only specific reef care methods, but also essential components needed to establish a healthy ecosystem. While there’s simply too much about this company to detail in this guide, there’s one glaring question: how do you choose?
Choosing a Method Isn’t as Easy as You Think…
If you’re looking for a cut-and-dry guide for selecting a care method, then you’re going to be looking for a longtime. Sure, certain products are better suited for specific situations. Take Chloral Reset by Prodibio, for example, which is ideal when using tap water to perform water changes. However, when it comes to coloration supplement methods, nearly all of the aforementioned companies offer their own formulation.
Essentially, there’s only one rule when it comes to choosing a method: Understand the needs of your aquarium and the quality of every product.
Because every provider in this article offers quality solutions, it’s not a question of which is best, but rather, which is best for you. And, as it turns out, the only way to make this decision is to simply explore what each offers your unique situation.
Are you leaning towards a particular method? Have you tested some of the products or manufacturers in this guide? If so, what was your experience? Head on over to our Facebook Page and let us know your thoughts. Of course, if you simply can’t decide, the entire Reef Hacks team is here to help. As always,
Happy Reefing!
by Yuliya Ivanova for ReefHacks.
