small-town-reefer

Don't worry you do not sound rude at all. The kent marine super buffer, Instant ocean reef accelerator , and the Instant ocean calcium booster you will not be needing. All those are just a waist of money and will more then likely bring your calcium levels too high. Your salt is all you need for trace elements and you replenish all those trace elements with the weekly 10% water changes. The only additive I would recommend getting if your calcium levels are low is the oceans blend 2 part additive from the cultured reef. Here is a link: http://www.theculturedreef.com/additives.htm You would first need to have a test kit to see if you calcium levels are low. I would not recommend getting test strips they are inaccurate and will give you wrong readings. I would recommend getting API liquid test kits they will give you a more accurate reading. The Marine snow is not a necessary additive and once again is just something to get money out of you.
The herbtana may be needed but I would never ever dose that in your main display tank if containing copper or other elements they could harm your inverts or corals. It would be best to get a quarantine tank to house all fish in for two weeks or longer to make sure you don't add any para sights to your main tank. Also it will help to look at fish very carefully before you buy them and make sure they eat and don't have any signs of para sights like ich on them.
I know you have no budget for them but it is highly recommended that you buy your own test kits that way you know what is going on with your tank at all times. It is a must and you will be needing to test your tank each week to make sure it is in good health. I would recommend getting the API liquid master test kit. Then buying the Calcium, phosphate, and magnesium test kits on the side those 3 are going to be needed as well.

Here are some links to articles and threads that may be of some help to you:

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/co...Healthier-Fish

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/me...-gal-reef.html

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/me...54-corner.html

http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic23945-9-1.aspx

http://www.theculturedreef.com/beginners.htm

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...step-step.html

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/co...t-Is-the-Cycle


I hope this helps

Also if you have any more questions like this I would recommend posting it on the Forums page in the correct section. Because there are more people that check there than here in the blog section. Just wanted to let you know. I hope I did not sound rude at all and I am sorry if I did. I hope you have a great day.

Thanks that's a good idea, I will start posting in the fourms section, you weren't rude either it was well given advice. I will try there and maby take up the blog when I actually get the reef started . You said that I wouldn't need a buffer, will the sea salts keep the water at the right ph. and alk.? I will look into the blend part two from the cultured reef as well. Herbtana I believe is supposed to help the fish's immune system to fight off the parasite but it does not contain copper from what I read on the website. The reason I did not put a test kit for PH, Nitrate, nitrite, and Ammonia is that my LFS tests for those but I plan on getting some for sure, and the mag. phosphate, and and cal. api test, hopefully as well.
Thanks
God Bless
David P. A.K.A small-town-reefer

Yes, the sea salt has all the buffers, and minerals your tank will need. I use instant ocean too and the only problems is that the calcium and ph are not exactly in the right place that is why I recommended the oceans blend 2 part additive because I use it myself to bring the calcium up and keep the Ph balanced too. Dick the owner of the cultured reef is a great guy and is very helpful I enjoy doing business with him every time I buy from him. Even thought the Herbtana does not contain copper it would still probably be smart not to dose it in the main display tank just in case it may contain something that can hurt your corals or invertebrates.

God Bless