additives

[nobby]

hi all, my tank has developed in leaps and bounds since my last post.
i have just started to think about making up my own additive solutions eg calcium,strontium, iodine ect.
i have obtained some dry powder forms of all the elements that i need,
my question is how much dry powder goes in to each gal(uk) of water to make the correct concentrations??
cheers
andy

[FishDaddy]

Hi Nobby,
I would not recommend adding Strontium or Iodine. These are considered trace elements and good salt mix provide all your tank needs through water changes. The quantities actually needed are unknown and mixing your own could create real dangers for your animals.
See Dr. Shimek's article: http://www.aquarium.net/0297/0297_6.shtml
Pure Calcium would be difficult to dissolve in the water column. Calcium Hydroxide, sold as Kalkwasser in the aquarium trade or Pickling Lime at the supermarket (same stuff) is the preferred method of keeping Calcium levels up. I mix 1-1/2 teaspoons per gallon of freshwater; let it settle overnight, then drip the clear liquid in very slowly. There are also commercial products, such as B-Ionic, which can be directly added to the tank in a 2 step process.
Except for feeding and water changes, the only additive I use is Kalkwasser.
Dick

[nobby]

thanks for the reply and the link, there is a few hours of reading there to do.
cheers
andy