Reef Essential® Line · Full Walkthrough
This is the whole system, start to finish.
Reef Essential® isn't a quick fix — it's a complete, sequenced method built from 40+ years of collective aquarium-keeping and water-chemistry expertise: tank setup, cycling, salt selection, nutrient control, calcium/alkalinity/magnesium, coral color, and feeding. Below is the real walkthrough, pulled straight from our Aqua Care Guide™, so you can see exactly what each step does and why it comes in that order.
Start here: recommended setup
Your initial setup affects short and long-term tank performance. The dosing formula throughout this guide is total aquarium + external filter volume, minus everything that displaces water (media, rock, ornaments).
Lighting
Zooxanthellae are photosynthetic — they use light and nutrients to create the biomolecules coral feed on.
Return & Circulating Pumps
Stagnant water builds up toxins and blocks the supply of molecules inhabitants need.
Protein Skimmer
Filters excess proteins from waste before they break down into nuisance-algae-feeding molecules.
Nitrifying Media
High-oxygen media houses bacteria that convert toxic ammonia/ammonium/nitrite to less-toxic nitrate.
Denitrifying Media
Low-oxygen media houses bacteria that, with nitrate removers, convert nitrate to inert nitrogen gas.
Temperature Control
Recommended reef temperature is ~25°C (~77°F).
Filter Wool / Sock / Roller Mat
Catches solid particles in the sump to improve water clarity.
Dosing Pumps (optional)
Manual dosing works fine — pumps just dose at a higher, more consistent rate, reducing shock.
Choose the salt that matches your tank
Step 1 is choosing which type of reef aquarium you're keeping and matching your salt to it. All Reef Essential® salts are a hybrid of natural seawater and synthetic salt, with macro probiotics infused to liven the water and promote beneficial bacteria growth.
| Salt | S.G. | Calcium | Alkalinity | Magnesium | Potassium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPS Macro Probiotic | 1.025–1.026 | 405–420 ppm | 7.4–7.7 dKH | 1230–1280 ppm | 375–390 ppm |
| LPS Macro Probiotic | 1.024–1.025 | 420–440 ppm | 10.1–10.5 dKH | 1255–1310 ppm | 385–400 ppm |
| Mixed Macro Probiotic | 1.025 | 430 ppm | 8 dKH | 1295 ppm | 390 ppm |
| FOWLR Macro Probiotic | 1.019–1.025 | 350–470 ppm | 8.4–11.2 dKH | 1080–1450 ppm | 300–410 ppm |
| Mineral Sea Salt | 1.025 | 435 ppm | 8.1 dKH | 1305 ppm | 395 ppm |
SPS Macro Probiotic Salt™
Small Polyp Stony corals (Acropora, Montipora, Pocillopora) — lower alkalinity reduces "burnt tips."
LPS Macro Probiotic Salt™
Large Polyp Stony & soft coral — elevated CAM levels can reduce maintenance dosing.
Mixed Macro Probiotic Salt™
Intermediary blend for LPS, SPS and NPS coral kept together.
FOWLR Macro Probiotic Salt™
Fish Only With Live Rock — no coral. Use this table for FOWLR tanks only.
Mineral Sea Salt™
No probiotics, slightly higher parameters — versatile enough for pools, spas and baths too.
Refractometer calibration: use room-temperature RODI water to set the 1.000 S.G. point, then submerge the prism in your aquarium water for 60 seconds, 3 times, and average the readings.
Not cycled yet? Don't add inhabitants until your tank has cycled — see the cycling walkthrough below.
Between Step 1 and Step 2: cycling your tank
Skip this if your aquarium is already cycled — cycling an already-cycled tank isn't necessary and can restart the process. If you're starting fresh, this is what actually happens in your sump.
Inhabitant waste is catabolised by bacteria into ammonia/ammonium (NH₃/NH₄⁺).
Nitrifying bacteria + oxygen convert that into nitrite (NO₂⁻).
Further nitrifying bacteria + oxygen convert nitrite into nitrate (NO₃⁻).
Water changes, plus carbon-fed bacteria converting nitrate to nitrogen gas, complete the cycle.
Water Stabiliser™ carries the bacteria and full nutrient spectrum to cycle correctly. Dose in the morning, test ammonia/ammonium/nitrite the next morning before the following dose. Your tank is cycled once ammonia, ammonium and nitrite read 0ppm and nitrate reads above 0.1ppm — usually by day 3, but we recommend following the schedule through day 7 to be sure, then add fish slowly.
TAN spike after cycling? (decaying organic matter, an inhabitant death) Use Water Primer™ at the emergency dose of 25mL per 300L (79 US gal) to bind toxic ammonia while you remove the source and increase oxygen.
Get nuisance nutrients under control
After cycling, your tank may go through the "ugly stage" — a normal phase of nuisance algae while biochemical equilibrium establishes. Maintaining nutrients is a balancing act: too low starves coral of what they need biochemically, too high feeds algae.
| Aquarium type | Nitrate (ppm) | Phosphate (ppm) |
|---|---|---|
| LPS / Soft Coral | 2.0–5.0 | 0.03–0.09 |
| Mixed Reef | 0.1–2.0 | 0.03–0.09 |
| SPS | 0.1–1.0 | 0.03–0.09 |
Bio-Active Carbon™
Removes coral toxins, organic waste, and discolouration. Monthly: 15g/30mL (light) to 50g/100mL (heavy); 250g/500mL for heavy metal removal.
HR Nitrate Remover™
For nitrate above 15ppm. Daily dose scales 1.5mL (15–30ppm) up to 6mL (60ppm+) per 100L. Switch to LR at 15ppm.
LR Nitrate Remover™
For nitrate at or below 15ppm — safe for continuous life-of-aquarium maintenance dosing.
AR Phosphate Remover™
Removes both ionic and chemically-bound phosphate, freeing up calcium that phosphate had bound.
Sweet Coralline™
Feeds coralline algae growth directly, plus raises pH and stabilises alkalinity. 1mL per 100L weekly.
The phosphate trap: phosphate can bind with calcium and nucleate onto live rock, which is why hobbyists sometimes read low phosphate but still have algae problems — the calcium is being precipitated out, lowering its concentration and stressing coral.
Denitrification needs: dKH of 7+ and pH of 8.2+ — a byproduct of the bacterial process is CO₂, which can slightly lower pH if these aren't met.
Q Tip: break down doses of nutrient removers and trace elements to increase efficiency and reduce parameter swings.
Build strong aragonite with CAM
Corals need a solid calcium-carbonate foundation for skeletal structure. The "CAM" model — Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium — outlines the three parameters that determine whether they build strong aragonite or brittle calcite, chemically identical but structurally very different (like diamond vs. graphite).
| Aquarium type | Calcium (ppm) | Alkalinity (dKH) | Magnesium (ppm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| LPS / Soft Coral | 420–440 | 10.1–10.5 | 1255–1310 |
| Mixed Reef | 430 | 8 | 1295 |
| SPS | 405–420 | 7.4–7.7 | 1230–1280 |
Aragonite A™ — Calcium
Ionic + complexed calcium, strontium, barium. 0.5–1mL/100L daily by stocking level.
Aragonite B™ — Alkalinity
Full-spectrum buffer stabilising pH toward the 8.3–8.5 target. Same 0.5–1mL/100L dosing.
Aragonite C™ — Magnesium
Stabilises alkalinity in turn — Mg is found in chlorophyll, essential for zooxanthellae and coralline algae.
Bio-Kalkwasser™
For low pH — converts CO₂ into calcium carbonate via drip system or kalkwasser reactor.
Why aragonite over calcite: both are calcium carbonate, but aragonite's ion arrangement makes it more stable, harder, and denser — exactly what a reef aquarium needs.
Watch the ratio: if CAM falls out of balance, other elements get pulled in to compensate, which can produce brittle calcite or hinder growth even when individual readings look fine.
Bring out real coral color
Once CAM is dialed in, Step 4 elements boost natural coloration and support biochemical processes tied to health, appearance, vitality and growth. These elements get absorbed and filtered out of reef aquariums quickly, so ongoing supplementation matters.
| Element | Target | Colors intensified |
|---|---|---|
| Iodide, Bromide, Fluoride | 0.06–0.09 / 60–70 / 1–1.2 ppm | White, blue, violet |
| Potassium, Boron | 375–400 / 4–5 ppm | Red, pink |
| Iron | 0.005–0.015 ppm | Green, yellow |
Bio-Gen™
Iodide, bromide, fluoride — reduces bleaching, boosts calcification, provides antioxidants.
Bio-Kalium™
Potassium + boron — transports nutrients, stabilises osmotic pressure, aids aragonite formation.
Bio-Metals™
Ionic, complexed and chelated iron plus manganese — vital for energy production and photosynthesis.
All three are dosed the same way: 0.5–1mL per 100L daily, scaled to lightly (0.50mL), moderately (0.75mL), or heavily (1.0mL) stocked — formulated to typical uptake ratios rather than requiring individual testing for routine use.
Not every reefer runs Steps 3 & 4 the same way
Straight from the guide: there's more than one way to keep a healthy reef, and which one fits depends on your cabinet space and free time.
Easy Reefer®
Combines everything in Steps 3 & 4 into two products — Easy E™ and Easy Z™ — formulated on the same typical uptake ratios, at the cost of some individual-parameter control.
See Easy Reefer® →Signature Series™
Eleven single elements for hobbyists who want to dose based on regular ICP lab testing, organized by periodic table group for easier reference.
See Signature Series™ →Feed what photosynthesis can't provide
Corals aren't plants — they rely on zooxanthellae for many nutrients, but not all of them. Step 5 rounds out the full spectrum needed for vibrant coloration and vigorous growth, for both broadcast and target feeding.
| Product | Dose | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Pure Phyto™ | 5–10mL/100L | Twice weekly, broadcast |
| Bio-Enhance™ | 0.5–1mL/100L | Daily, broadcast |
| Coral Cane® | ½–1 scoop/100L | Twice weekly, broadcast |
| Fish Enhance™ | 1–2 drops/food cube | Every feeding |
Pure Phyto™
Marine phytoplankton + phycocyanin extract — no refrigeration required, suitable for all coral.
Bio-Enhance™
Amino acids, vitamins, carbs, protein, fatty acids — doesn't need shaking, perfect for dosing pumps.
Coral Cane®
Complete coral food, phytoplankton + zooplankton + Bio-Enhance™ ingredients, no binders or fillers.
Target-feed recipe: 1 scoop Coral Cane® + 1mL Bio-Enhance™ + 3mL Pure Phyto™ + 4mL aquarium water. Turn off circulating/return pumps, spot-feed, then turn pumps back on.
Fish need feeding too — Fish Enhance™ delivers amino acids, vitamins and appetite enhancers straight on food, and RODI-straining fish food first can cut unwanted phosphate.
This page is the summary — the guide is the whole book
Every table above comes straight from our free Saltwater Coral & Fish Aqua Care Guide™, which also covers the full nitrogen cycle diagram, adding fish safely, and a free downloadable logbook to track your own readings step by step.
Not sure which step you need?
The dosing app calculates exact amounts once you know your tank size and readings.
