Chromium is a trace element present in small quantities in the seawater of reefs all around the world.

Chromium is used to form enzymes for fat metabolisation in cells as such may have positive impacts on coral skeleton calcification, health and coloration.

Chromium gets depleted from the water in our tanks quickly. Naturally, Chromium in seawater varies strongly and is usually between 0.2-0.6 µg/l.

Too low chromium values lead to slow growth. Chromium plays an important role in the absorption and use of fatty acids in corals.

On a scale of 1-10 (1 low, 10 high) we classify the importance of chromium supplementation a 4 and suitable for experienced reefers only.

The use of our 2 part systems like Complete or pHplus will supplement Chromium helping to maintain adequate levels over time.

It is recommended to dose Chromium continuously (as needed) in as many small doses as possible. This will ensure Chromium is present and available in the water (despite precipitation and potentially being below the ICP limit of detection).

For ease of dosing and if you wish you can dose our elements via a dosing pump mixing them together in 2 solutions.

The following Reef Zlements elements can be mixed with chromium – barium, iron, cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel and zinc.

Please note that given the different products available in the market the above only applies to Reef Zlements trace elements and that we cannot guarantee the safety of the mix with other products.

To reach the desired level of 0.50 µg/l please dose 0.14 ml of Reef Zlements Chromium per day for 20 days.

Copper is a trace element present in small quantities in the seawater of reefs all around the world.

Copper is an essential trace element that kept in small concentrations has positive impacts on coral skeleton calcification, health and colouration along being needed for multiple biological processes of corals and other organisms.

It is important to check Copper levels through ICP analysis and ensure adequate levels and stability by dosing a Copper supplement as needed.

Naturally, Copper in seawater varies but its concentration doesn’t go above 3 µg/l.

On a scale of 1-10 (1 low, 10 high) we classify the importance of copper supplementation a 5 and suitable for experienced reefers only.

The use of our 2 part systems like Complete or pHplus will supplement copper helping to maintain adequate levels over time.

It is recommended to dose copper continuously (as needed) in as many small doses as possible. This will ensure Copper is present and available in the water (despite precipitation and potentially being below the ICP limit of detection).

Please note that for reference one drop is approximately 0.02-0.05 ml. If your recommended dose is below 1 drop per day, feel free to dose every other day (or less).

For ease of dosing and if you wish you can dose our elements via a dosing pump mixing them together in 2 solutions.

The following Reef Zlements elements can be mixed with copper – barium, iron, chromium, cobalt, manganese, nickel and zinc.

Please note that given the different products available in the market the above only applies to Reef Zlements trace elements and that we cannot guarantee the safety of the mix with other products.

To reach the desired level of 0.20 µg/l please dose 0.15 ml of Reef Zlements Copper per day for 10 days.

Iodine is a trace element belonging to the halogen group, which is present in reefs all around the world, being one of the most important elements for all animals and plants in our aquariums.

It can be present in different organic and inorganic forms, however in our aquariums Iodine mainly exists as inorganic iodine, iodate, and iodide.

Nonetheless corals and bacteria can absorb all forms of iodine, and as such it is irrelevant in which form it is added.

Iodine concentrations in seawater vary widely, but it is commonly agreed that a level of 60-80 µg/l is ideal.

Iodine has been known to have a positive impact in aquariums where macro algae is present and to impact the blue and green colours of the genus Acropora and Montipora.

A low Iodine concentration manifests itself in poor colouration, reduced (or non-existent) growth, colourless growth tips or growth edges, and high light sensitivity allowing bleaching to more readily occur.

Low Iodine concentrations can also weaken the coral immune system, reducing any resistance to parasites.

Below ideal levels, Iodine will greatly impact bio-filtration and coral polyp extension is reduced (even when feeding LPS).

Very low levels of Iodine combined with low levels of other halogens such as Bromine can promote dinoflagellate growth.
With extreme iodine deficiency i.e. below 30 µg/l, SPS corals stop growing and RTN-STN infections occur more frequently.

With continued iodine deficiency, SPS corals start to STN from the base.

On a scale of 1-10 (1 low, 10 high) we classify the importance of Iodine supplementation a 9 and suitable for all levels of reefers.

The use of our 2 part systems like Complete or pHplus will supplement Iodine helping to maintain adequate levels over time.

For ease of dosing and if you wish you can dose our elements via a dosing pump mixing them together in 2 solutions.

The following Reef Zlements elements can be mixed with iodine – fluorine, lithium, molybdenum, selenium and vanadium.

Please note that given the different products available in the market the above only applies to Reef Zlements trace elements and that we cannot guarantee the safety of the mix with other products.

To reach the desired level of 60.00 µg/l please dose 1.14 ml of Reef Zlements Iodine per day for 2 days.

Manganese is present in all reefs around the world, being an extremely important element for animals and plants in our aquariums.

Being a cofactor to many enzymes it has a strong role in the metabolic processes of almost all organisms, Manganese has been known to have a positive impact around the oxidative processes in organisms and is an essential element for corals having an impact in both growth and colouration (specially red).

Manganese in the aquarium precipitates quickly making it almost non-existent thus, can only be detected if the concentration is much higher than needed.

A lack of manganese is visible in dull tissue, reduced growth (or none at all), colourless growth tips and little to no polyp extension in Goniopora and Alveopora corals as well as light sensitivity in LPS.

Manganese also plays an important role in photosynthesis making it crucial for corals, algae and phytoplankton.

On a scale of 1-10 (1 low, 10 high) we classify the importance of manganese supplementation an 8 and suitable for all levels of reefers.

If GFO is used we recommend the additional supplementation of Manganese as GFO will absorb Mn.

The use of our 2 part systems like Complete/pHplus or our NO3/PO4 reduction supplement CarboPlus will supplement Manganese helping to maintain adequate levels over time.

It is recommended to dose Manganese daily and as in as many small doses as possible. This will ensure Manganese is present and available in the water (despite precipitation and potentially being below the ICP limit of detection).

If you maintain Goniopora corals, macro algae or a high coral bio-mass please multiply your daily dose by 2x.

Please note that for reference one drop is approximately 0.02-0.05 ml. If your recommended dose is below 1 drop per day, feel free to dose every other day (or less).

For ease of dosing and if you wish you can dose our elements via a dosing pump mixing them together in 2 solutions.

The following Reef Zlements elements can be mixed with manganese – barium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, nickel and zinc.

Please note that given the different products available in the market the above only applies to Reef Zlements trace elements and that we cannot guarantee the safety of the mix with other products.

To reach the desired level of 2.00 µg/l please dose 0.44 ml of Reef Zlements Manganese per day for 34 days.

Molybdenum is present in all reefs around the world and is an essential element for many marine creatures as it allows many enzymatic processes to occur, e.g. nitrate reductase and sulfite oxidase.

It is a trace element that is not as abundant as lithium but is more abundant than other elements such as Manganese and Iron.

Molybdenum is quite important for corals, inverts, and bacteria as it improves coral coloration and helps to regulate photo sensitivity, protects inverts from copper toxicity, and allows bacteria to perform the nitrate reductase.

A deficiency of Molybdenum will lead to a reduction in growth and an increase in nutrient levels.

On a scale of 1-10 (1 low, 10 high) we classify the importance of molybdenum supplementation an 8 and suitable for all levels of reefers.

The use of our 2 part systems like Complete/pHplus or our CarboPlus nutrient reduction supplement will supplement Molybdenum helping to maintain adequate levels over time.

For ease of dosing and if you wish you can dose our elements via a dosing pump mixing them together in 2 solutions.

The following Reef Zlements elements can be mixed with molybdenum – fluorine, iodine, lithium, selenium and vanadium.

Please note that given the different products available in the market the above only applies to Reef Zlements trace elements and that we cannot guarantee the safety of the mix with other products.

To reach the desired level of 15.00 µg/l please dose 6.50 ml of Reef Zlements Molybdenum per day for 5 days.

Nickel is present in reefs all around the world and is an essential element for many marine creatures and bacteria as it promotes many enzymatic processes to occur.

With the ideal Nickel concentration, improvements in growth along with red and turquoise colours and contrast.

Nonetheless, Nickel gets depleted from the water in our tanks quickly.

Nickel has a growth-enhancing effect if ideal Nitrate levels are found in the water.

On a scale of 1-10 (1 low, 10 high) we classify the importance of nickel supplementation a 3 and suitable for experienced reefers only.

The use of our 2 part systems like Complete or pHplus will help to maintain adequate levels over time.

It is recommended to dose Nickel continuously (as needed) in as many small doses as possible. This will ensure Nickel is present and available in the water (despite precipitation and potentially being below the ICP limit of detection).

Please note that for reference one drop is approximately 0.02-0.05 ml. If your recommended dose is below 1 drop per day, feel free to dose every other day (or less).

For ease of dosing and if you wish you can dose our elements via a dosing pump mixing them together in 2 solutions.

The following Reef Zlements elements can be mixed with nickel – barium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, nickel and zinc.

Please note that given the different products available in the market the above only applies to Reef Zlements trace elements and that we cannot guarantee the safety of the mix with other products.

To reach the desired level of 2.50 µg/l please dose 0.59 ml of Reef Zlements Nickel per day for 17 days.

Vanadium is a metal present in reefs all around the world in different states of oxidation. It is an essential element for many marine creatures as it is an enzymatic cofactor, promoting many processes to occur in particular in the metabolism of cells.

This transition metal is extremely important in colouration, growth of coral tissue along other organisms present in the aquarium.

Vanadium is also deeply connected to nutrient export and without Vanadium this is highly impacted leading to high levels of Nitrate and Phosphate in the aquarium. In parallel it also leads dull colours without contrast our fluorescence.

​Vanadium gets depleted from the water in our tanks quickly, particularly in aquariums with a refugium as Vanadium helps algae to perform photosynthesis optimally.

On a scale of 1-10 (1 low, 10 high) we classify the importance of vanadium supplementation an 8 and suitable for all levels of reefers.

The use of our 2 part systems like Complete or pHplus will supplement Vanadium helping to ensure a constant supply over time. Dosing CarboPlus will also supply the aquarium with Vanadium.

It is recommended to dose Vanadium continuously (as needed) in as many small doses as possible. This will ensure Vanadium is present and available in the water (despite precipitation and potentially being below the ICP limit of detection).

Please note that for reference one drop is approximately 0.02-0.05 ml. If your recommended dose is below 1 drop per day, feel free to dose every other day (or less).

For ease of dosing and if you wish you can dose our elements via a dosing pump mixing them together in 2 solutions.

The following Reef Zlements elements can be mixed with vanadium – fluorine, iodine, lithium, molybdenum and selenium.

Please note that given the different products available in the market the above only applies to Reef Zlements trace elements and that we cannot guarantee the safety of the mix with other products.

To reach the desired level of 2.00 µg/l please dose 0.15 ml of Reef Zlements Vanadium per day for 30 days.

Nitrate (NO3-) is a molecule that contains nitrogen and oxygen. In the context of a reef aquarium, nitrates are a byproduct of the nitrogen cycle, which is crucial for maintaining water quality and a healthy environment for the aquarium inhabitants, particularly in a reef aquarium.

Nitrates along with orthophosphate at ideal levels are considered important nutrients for corals, helping coral health and colouration. Idealy nitrates want to be kept below 25 in a 1:100 ratio to orthophosphate. With ideal levels and this ratio, the ideal NO3/PO4 conditions for coral health and algae control are achieved.

Nonetheless, if the nitrates are too high excessive bacteria (including cyanobacteria), undesireable algae can appear and corals tend to become darker so, it is important to maintain nitrates within the ideal range.

To keep nitrate levels in check, ensure that you use an adequately sized protein skimmer, employ efficient biological filtration, control feeding and waste accumulation in the tank. Additionally, you can add a refugium or algae reactor to the system.

To help both the biological filtration and macro algae we recommend the use of CarboPlus which you can find more information here

Orthophosphate (PO₄³⁻) is likely the most important nutrient in the reef aquaria when it comes to corals, however too much can lead to corals losing coral and becoming brown and to the reduction if coral growth.

It can also lead to algae and bacteria issues.

PO₄³⁻ swings can lead to STN/RTN so, it is important to carefully manage Phosphate levels.

To manage PO4 adequately, a conscious fish load and feeding should be observed, this will in turn help avoiding the deposits of organic matter containing undesired excess of nutrients.

We recommend the use of our new high efficient liquid Phosphate remover PhosFate or a good quality Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO) like RowaPhos.

Phosphorous is likely the most important nutrient in the reef aquaria when it comes to corals, however too much in the form of Orthophosphate can lead to corals losing colour, becoming brown and to the reduction of coral growth.

It can also lead to algae and bacterial issues.

Swings can lead to STN/RNT so, it is important to carefully manage Phosphorous/Phosphate levels.

To manage PO4 adequately, a conscious fish load and feeding should be observed, this will in turn help avoiding the deposits of organic matter containing undesired excess of nutrients.

We recommend the use of our new high efficient liquid Phosphate remover PhosFate or a good quality Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO) like RowaPhos.

Total Phosphate is the sum of all forms of phosphate present in a given sample. Phosphate (PO₄⁻) can exist in different chemical forms depending on factors such as pH, temperature, and the environment.

The three main forms of phosphate are:

• Orthophosphate (PO4³⁻) which is also measured with the Advanced ICP test, is also known as inorganic phosphate and is the most biologically available form of phosphate. It is directly used by corals, algae, bacteria and other organisms as a nutrient. Orthophosphate is the primary form of phosphate that aquarium hobbyists should focus on, as it has the most significant impact on the corals and the aquarium.
• Polyphosphates are composed of multiple phosphate molecules linked together. In water, they can break down into orthophosphate over time and become biologically available.
• Organic phosphates are phosphorus compounds bound to organic molecules, such as nucleic acids, phospholipids, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). These compounds can also be contained in plants/algae, bacteria, detritus, etc. and are generally not readily available as a nutrient source for most aquatic organisms, as they need to be released into the water, broken down and converted into orthophosphate by biological processes before they can be utilized.

When measuring total phosphate via ICP testing, all these forms of phosphate are included in the analysis to get a comprehensive view of the total phosphorus content in a sample. This analysis is essential for understanding the nutrient dynamics and potential eutrophication (excessive nutrient enrichment leading to algal blooms) in aquatic environments, including in reef tanks.

For reef aquarium hobbyists, it’s often more critical to monitor and control orthophosphate levels since it is the primary form of phosphate that affects coral and algae growth in the tank.

High orthophosphate levels can lead to algae issues and negatively impact coral health, nonetheless reefers can likely infer the amount of detritus, plankton, bacteria and ultimately water quality level looking at the difference between the Total Phosphate and the Orthophosphate concentrations. The bigger the difference is the more likely is the presence of detritus, algae, bacteria, etc. in the water thus potentially reducing the water quality.

To resolve the above, reefers should use adequately sized skimmers, filter rollers like the Clarisea along with UV and Ozone systems which will help to remove these “detritus” from the water.

Following from the above a total phosphate concentration as close to the orthophosphate concentration as possible is likely a good indicator of a “clean water” free from detritus and other undesired bodies.

To manage PO4 adequately, a conscious fish load and feeding should be observed, this will in turn help avoiding the deposits of organic matter containing undesired excess of nutrients.

If the Orthophosphate is equally high, we recommend the use of our new highly efficient liquid Phosphate remover PhosFate or a good quality Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO) like RowaPhos.

Lanthanum has no biological importance in our aquariums and should be removed from the water via mechanical filtration and/or water changes.

Lanthanum is a metal used in water treatment to remove phosphates from water. By using lanthanum chloride products phosphate will bind with lanthanum creating lanthanum phosphate. This in turn can be exported via mechanical filtration. These particles must be removed from the aquarium immediately, otherwise PO4 will later return into solution (increasing PO4 levels again).

Excessive use of Lanthanum Chloride PO4 removers may lead to undesired low levels of PO4 and potentially the depletion of alkalinity. Ensure your skimmer and mechanical filtration performs adequately ensuring to syphon the sand and remove any white flocculant (if you have any).

Ensure you are dosing liquid PO4 removers adequately and in the recommended volumes.