basic 4 and....?

[DMK]

i have my reactor and pump. i'm ordering my basic 4 and whatever else friday. besides the basic 4, what else is recommended to start? i was thinking of the Pohl's CV and amino acids. i would like to use the Mg granules to maintain Mg but i have absolutely no room for another thing under tank. should i get the Mg liquid? also i dose lugol's solution, should i switch to the iodine offered from captiveoceans? any advice/info on other items i should get/think about getting would be appreciated. thanks.
dennis

[G.Alexander]

Dennis, do you run a CaC2 reactor ?

Generally it is helpful to dose CoralVitalizer and AminoAcids while the start but its not a must. Its just a support for the corals while the environment changes.

I would stop the usage of Lugols completely and use PotassiumIodineFluoride in phase 3 together with the other products for colouration.

G.Alexander

[DMK]

no, i don't use a Ca reactor. no room AT ALL, especially now w/ phosban reactor for zeo. it's kinda tight under 92 corner tank w/ sump and everything. i've been using BIonic daily since tank startup w/ good results.
- so just the basic 4, carbon, PCV and AA for now? if i stop the lugol's now, don't use any iodine supplement, until stage 3, then starting potassium iodine fluride??? what about from now till then? no iodine supplementation?

[G.Alexander]

Yes, just the 4 basics (ZeoVit / ZeoBac / ZeoFood7 / ZeoStart2) and additional CV and AAHC. I would recommend to run the system without iodine supplementation until your nutrients decrease.

G.Alexander

[DMK]

how will i know that other than testing for PO4, which is just about undetectable?

[G.Alexander]

Denis you should notice it in the corals while the tissue gets lighter in a nutrient poor environment, as long as you do not add additional trace elements. Alternatively you could use a photometer to measure the PO4 level like the Hanna.

G.Alexander

[DMK]

we have 2 at work. we do lab tests. i work for a pharmaceutical co. i think i'll take a sample tonight. how long is a sample good for if stored in air tight 40ml vial? i have 1/2hr ride.

[G.Alexander]

Try to fill up the glass with the sample without air and sediment so the PO4 concentration should not change over some days.

G.Alexander