Red Sea Trace-Colors Manuel Utilisateur page 4

2 | Red Sea | Reef Care Program
Trace-Colors
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Red Sea's research into the metabolic demand of 3 different coral types (SPS, LPS, soft corals)
has identified 31 minor and trace elements that in addition to the foundation elements are
present in the skeleton and soft tissue of all corals. These elements are known as important
bio-catalysts in thousands of metabolic processes in marine organisms and therefore must be
readily available in all reef aquariums. Many of them however become toxic in concentrations
above the levels found in natural sea water and therefore their correct dosage is crucial to the
long term success of any reef aquarium.
Our research has identified 4 distinct groups of elements with similar biological functions
as well as a direct connection to specific coral pigments that enabled the division of the 31
elements into the 4 supplements Trace-Colors Iodine+, Potassium+, Iron+ & Bioactive Elements.
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Trace-Colors supplements have been formulated such that the ratio of the elements in each
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supplement are the same as are found in the combined coral skeleton and soft tissue.
All of the Trace-Colors ™ should be supplemented regularly to all mixed reefs and SPS aquariums
without connection to the colors of the specific corals.
In reef aquariums corals often have higher than natural populations of Zooxanthellae algae
that give a deep brown tint obscuring the natural vivid pigments of the corals. Lowering the
Zooxanthellae populations by fine control of algae nutrients (with NO :PO -X) will remove the
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brownish tint and induce the production of pigments (chromoproteins) that protect the delicate
inner layers of the coral soft tissue from intense UV radiation, similar to the tanning of human
skin when exposed to direct sunlight.
Our research has shown that the pigments can only be produced by the soft tissue of the
coral if the specific elements required for the bio-chemical process are available in the correct
concentration. Each of the natural pink, red, green/yellow & blue/purple pigments are
connected with specific elements that correlate with the elemental grouping of the Trace-
Colors Iodine+, Potassium+, Iron+ & Bioactive Elements.
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