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 0.02 ml of Reef Zlements Chromium per day for 28 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 0.07 ml of Reef Zlements Iodine per day for 1 day.

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 0.08 ml of Reef Zlements Manganese per day for 27 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 above 2 in a 1:100 ratio to orthophosphate. Below this level, coral colour tend to fade and coral tissue becomes thinner.

To help keeping Nitrates at ideal levels we recommend NitroPlus.

Please note that the dose recommendation is for the original NitroPlus. If you have the newer NitroPlus 10x you should divide the volume by 10.

To reach the desired level of 5.00 mg/l please dose 25.52 ml of Reef Zlements Nitroplus per day for 4 days.

Cobalt is a trace element present in a low concentration in oceans, varying between 0.002μg/L in north central Pacific Ocean and 0.39μg/L in Indian Ocean. Above these values will promote the increase of cyanobacteria and the darkening of corals.

We therefore recommend you to perform 6x 20% water changes with a high quality salt and if coral/fish vitamin supplements are used we recommend the immediate discontinuing of these as this can contain cobalt.

A high copper level will cause the death of corals. Values from around 20 µg/l are particularly critical and need to be addressed quickly.

Copper can be introduced into the aquarium via deficient equipment, fish food or supplements.

As your copper levels are above the recommended level we do suggest either using a copper absorbing media or 6x 20% water changes.

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.