Tropic Marin Trace Elements

Tropic Marin A- and K+ Elements supply your saltwater aquarium with essential trace elements. The concentrations of the individual elements in the solutions are tailored to your needs.

Trace elements - what for?

Trace elements such as iodine, strontium, potassium and co are involved in a variety of physiological processes and often act as cofactors in proteins and enzymes. They catalyze biochemical reactions that occur, for example, during photosynthesis and calcification. In closed systems such as an aquarium, trace elements are consumed disproportionately, particularly as the coral population increases, and must therefore be replaced.

When does adding trace elements not make sense?

In new aquariums and with a small number of corals, it is not advisable to add trace elements separately. A few corals only use a small amount of trace elements and small deficiencies can be easily compensated for by regular water changes with high-quality sea salt. The risk of overdosing on trace elements should be avoided at all costs.

When does it make sense to add trace elements?

Adding trace elements is advisable as soon as the consumption can no longer be compensated by water changes. This is particularly the case with increasing stocking (especially of SPS corals), increased growth of corals or with intensive filtration (activated carbon, zeolite, adsorber).

Tips for use

Always dose trace elements conservatively. Start with a daily dose of 1 ml of A- or K+ elements per 100 liters of aquarium water. The requirement can be significantly higher in well-stocked tanks. To match your trace element dosage to the actual requirement, we recommend adding the same amount as the calcium intake. If you use the classic Balling method for calcium supply, you can link the addition of trace elements to the calcium and carbonate consumption as follows: add 50 ml/l K ⁺ elements to Balling solution A and 50 ml/l A ^- elements to Balling solution B.

Combination product vs. individual adjustment of trace elements and their control

Combination products provide a basic supply of trace elements. You should regularly check your trace element levels using ICP analyses. The analyses will also show you whether individual elements are being consumed in excess. These are often iodine, strontium, boron, potassium, bromine or iron. In this case, you can dose these separately in addition to the combination product.