Supplaments Really Neaded?

[Nalaundi]

Hey,

Ive been doing my research and keep getting mixed answers.
I am setting up a 12g Nano Cube deluxe (by Cube Masters) reef with two 1" (ish) fish. I will have 12 lbs of rock and 20lbs of live sand. my lighting is rated at 38watts (3per gallon) and I know that is on the dim side and could be upgraded.

but here is the question........ which supplaments do I need.. I have Iodine, Calcium, stroniom/mobod(whatever Essential Ellements buffer and ph 8.3 alll kent marine.
do I really need to worry about ALL of these or is there others that I need instead.

I will be doing 1.5gallon water changes every week with occasional 3g changes every month or so.

Also which tests do I really need. Ive got the basics pluse calcium, phosphate. do I need to test for stroniom and Iodine?

Im taking things slow as my tank will arrive on wednesday(15th) and I have sorce for my live rock and live sand. I will put an upgraded powerhead in also maxijet900.

and really how deep does the sand need to be... I will have cleanup crews to stir the sand.


Im guessing 4" max for fish... I dont want to over do it. two 2" or three 1"

what do you all think?


Thanks

Nalaundi

I will get pics up as soon as I get the live rock in (hopefully by next week)

 

[Mr Miagi]

Edit: WELCOME to TFF Nalaundi!

- You wont need any additives. A good rule to go by in small marine aquaria is "Dont add what you dont test for". By all means this can lead you into buying masses of test kits, but you wont need them in a nano. Keep up with regular water changes, thats all you need with a low coral load. You deffinately dont need to add strontium or iodine unless your doing an SPS reef or some high growth coral, and then it would have o be serious coral numbers in a 12g, because most trace elements depleted are replaced by a good salt brand in regular water changes.

- Test kits, well, the usual, Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, pH, Calcium, and Alkalinity will get you off the ground, and either a hydrometer (varing accuracy) or refractometer (best quality) to measure salinity.

In a 12g I think youd just want 1-2 fish, and small ones at that. The inch per gallon rule is hard to apply to small aquaria, so its not used as often as with FW tanks.

 

[SkiFletch]

to the salty side of life.

Do what Mr. Miagi said, he was spot on with his advice