Natural saltwater contains myriad different substances at varying concentrations – this is what saltwater mixes for home aquariums try to reproduce as closely as possible. There are differences between brands of saltwater mixes, but the concentrations of elements are generally quite similar.

The elements contained in saltwater are essential to the health of your fish. As an aquarium runs through its cycles, however, essential minerals and nutrients tend to become depleted and need to be refilled through a water change or special aquarium supplements.

Not everyone needs to add supplements to their aquarium – it really depends on the situation. If you keep up with water changes and maintenance, and only keep fish, supplementation may not be necessary. This is because with each water change essential elements are automatically replenished. Coral reef tanks require supplements to keep the amount of calcium at a high enough level.

If you determine that your saltwater aquarium needs supplementation, using a test kit is essential so that you know exactly what’s missing and how much needs to be added to the water. Also, adding too much of a particular element can cause problems for your fish. A mistake is not easy to fix, either. You’d have to do a full water change to remedy the oversight, causing a lot of stress for your fish.

There is still a lot of debate about supplementation because routine water changes are normally enough to replenish supplies and keep the tank running well, especially for fish only aquariums or fish and live rock aquariums. However, most experts do agree that for coral reef tanks, supplementing with calcium is beneficial. To keep the water alkaline in reef aquariums, you may also want to supplement with magnesium and Kalkwasser.

Calcium supplements are beneficial for tanks with clams, corals, and algae, as it helps them grow. For hobbyists who require a high level of calcium in their aquariums akin to the amount found in natural saltwater, it can be difficult

Biologist Report -- North Branch Susquehanna River Young-of-the-Year Walleye
Area 4 biologists completed our annual assessment of walleye reproduction in the North Branch Susquehanna River during the week of October 14, 2008.
Fish and Boat Commission urges support for referendum
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Dr. Douglas J. Austen today urged citizens to vote ?Yes? on Election Day for a $400 million referendum to help upgrade the Commonwealth?s aging wastewater and drinking water infrastructure.
Fish & Boat Commission set to drain Opossum Lake
Anglers visiting Cumberland County?s Opossum Lake will have one last weekend to harvest fish from the popular spot before the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) concludes salvage efforts next week.
Commission votes to acquire Erie County properties, adopts regulations to slow aquatic disease
During its fall quarterly meeting on Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) voted to purchase two properties in Erie County in order to enhance public fishing opportunities and approved final regulations aimed at slowing the spread of an infectious disease found in a variety of fish.
Commission approves grant program to restore Sinnemahoning Creek Watershed
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) has approved a program to award grants of up to $100,000 to projects to restore the Sinnemahoning Creek Watershed, which was damaged in a June 30, 2006, train derailment in rural Norwich Township, McKean County.
Steelhead are on the run
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission announced today that steelhead are officially on the run in Erie after the heavy rain experienced this week.
Biologist Report -- Pymatuning Reservoir YOY walleye, Crawford County
On September 27, 2008 crews from both the Ohio Division of Wildlife and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission conducted a night electrofishing survey on Pymatuning Reservoir. A young-of-year (YOY) abundance survey is preformed annually to monitor survival of walleye stocked into the lake.
Biologist Report -- Raccoon Lake (Main Lake), Beaver County
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission biologists surveyed Raccoon Lake to measure the size and quality of the lake?s resident gamefish and panfish populations relative to previous management targets.
Fish & Boat fall meeting set for October 6-7
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will hold its fall quarterly meeting October 6-7 at agency headquarters, 1601 Elmerton Avenue, in Harrisburg.
New state record for golden rainbow trout
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission announced today a new state record for golden rainbow trout caught, by Eli Borger of Palmerton, PA.
Exciting change for the Commission?s Boating Facilities Grant Program
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) has announced that non-profit land trusts, conservancies, and watershed associations may now directly apply for grants through the agency?s Boating Facilities Grant Program.
Biologist Report -- Warmwater stream survey results from ten southeastern Pennsylvania waters
In July and August of 2007 and 2008 Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Area 6 along with other agency personnel sampled 10 different moderately-wide to wide (14-36 meters) warmwater streams in southeastern Pennsylvania to document the warmwater fish communities.
Reading Phillies fan wins national ?Take Me Fishing? sweepstakes & heads home with Lowe boat
The winner of the national Take Me Fishing? baseball sweepstakes is William Rocco of Reading, Penn., who beat out baseball fans from 32 other minor league and independent teams to take home the grand prize.
Grants available to improve Tulpehocken and Quittapahilla watersheds in Lebanon and Berks counties
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) has announced that $113,900 is available through a grant program for stream restoration, habitat enhancement, and recreational enhancement activities on streams located in the Tulpehocken Creek and Quittapahilla Creek watersheds.
Commission looking for diverse applicants to perform the varied duties of a waterways conservation officer
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is looking for individuals interested in a career as a Waterways Conservation Officer (WCO).
Winter drawdown to begin at High Point Lake in Somerset County
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will begin a winter drawdown of High Point Lake in Somerset County next month, lowering the lake level by approximately 10 feet between September and March.
Biologist Report -- Tamarack Lake
Commission biologists surveyed Tamarack Lake on the evenings of May 14 - 15, 2008 to evaluate our efforts to bolster largemouth bass density.
Biologist Report -- Pymatuning Reservoir
Area One Fisheries Management personnel performed an annual spring trapnet survey of Pymatuning Reservoir immediately following ice-out, from March 31 to April 11.
Lake Wilma closed
The Lake Wilma portion of the Consol Energy land enrolled in the Pennsylvania Game Commission Farm Game program was closed to the public yesterday until further notice.
Biologist Report -- Keystone Lake
Area 2 biologists surveyed fish populations and evaluated the success of the walleye and tiger muskellunge stocking programs at Keystone Lake (also know as Keystone Power Dam) during the week of April 21, 2008.
Region Reports
Local fishing & boating reports for each region of Pennsylvania.
Biologist Report -- Beaverdam Run Reservoir
Area 8 biologists surveyed Beaverdam Run Reservoir to measure the size structure and quality of the lake?s resident gamefish and panfish populations.
Biologist Report -- Upper Woods Pond
Area 5 biologists sampled Upper Woods Pond to assess new bass fishing opportunities.
Biologist Report -- Blue Marsh Lake, Berks County, Crappie Angler Opinion Survey
In May and June of 2008, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission fisheries management personnel conducted an angler opinion survey concerning the Blue Marsh Lake crappie fishery.
Biologist Report -- Presque Isle Bay
Beginning on May 28th Area One Fisheries Management Personnel sampled Presque Isle Bay by means of an electrofishing boat for 3 consecutive nights to assess black bass populations.
Trout regulations modified at Fish & Boat Commission summer meeting
At its summer quarterly meeting yesterday, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) voted to allow anglers to fish in lakes and ponds approved as year-round trout waters without possessing a trout/salmon permit, as long as anglers are not fishing for trout or salmon.
Majority of trout anglers satisfied with fishing experience
The overwhelming majority of Pennsylvania trout anglers were satisfied with their trout fishing experiences in Pennsylvania in 2007.
Biologist Report -- Lower Hereford Manor Lake, Beaver County -- Spring night electrofishing survey
On May 6, 2008 Area One Fisheries Management personnel sampled Lower Hereford Manor Lake by means of night electrofishing to assess the largemouth bass population.
Biologist Report -- Conneaut Lake, Crawford County -- Spring trapnet and electrofishing survey
During the week of April 14th, 2008 Area 1 Fisheries Management personnel sampled the fishery of Conneaut Lake by means of Pennsylvania style trap nets.
Fish & Boat Commission summer meeting set for July 14-15
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will hold its summer quarterly meeting July 14-15 at its agency headquarters, 1601 Elmerton Avenue, in Harrisburg.
Fish & Boat Commission opens Leaser Lake to all fishing
The Independence Day holiday will provide a great opportunity for anglers fishing Lehigh County?s Leaser Lake. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) has temporarily suspended all seasons, sizes and creel limits at the popular lake, effective July 1.
Harvey?s Lake access area to close July 8-9 for paving
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is alerting boaters that the Harvey?s Lake access area in Luzerne County will be closed July 8 and 9 while contractors reconstruct the entrance and pave the parking lot.
Native eastern brook trout added to PA Wildlife Action Plan
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) has formally added naturally reproducing eastern brook trout to the Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan, the document that prescribes conservation measures for species and their critical habitats before they become more costly to protect and restore.

to maintain the right quantity without adding supplements. There are some products on the market that dose aquarium water with calcium, or you can purchase diluted calcium chloride to dose the water. The latter method is more expensive, but easier. To avoid lowering the alkalinity of the water with liquid calcium, you may have to use a carbonate or bicarbonate as a buffer.

To maintain proper alkalinity, which needs to be around 2.5 meq/L (the alkalinity of natural saltwater) you may have to add kalkwasser (lime water) to the aquarium. This is calcium hydroxide – it must be added through doses. The process can be set up to occur automatically according to the pH levels in the water, or you can do it manually when you carry out water top-offs. You can also drip it slowly, directly into the aquarium.

Kalkwasser gives your aquarium a double whammy, adding calcium and maintaining alkalinity, so it has many benefits.

In the end, the choice to supplement is all in your hands. If you’re planning to put together a reef aquarium, supplementation is a necessity to keep corals and any other invertebrates living in your tank healthy.