Brightwell Liquid Reef 500 ml — Complete reef trace element supplement Reef Marine Aquarium - Brightwell

Brightwell Liquid Reef — complete calcium, KH, magnesium, strontium reef solution

The Brightwell Liquid Reef is a complete source of the elements and molecules directly used by corals, clams, and other reef-building invertebrates to build their skeletons. Formulated in the United States by Brightwell Aquatics from natural aragonite enriched with sulfate and chloride salts of calcium, strontium, magnesium, and potassium, the solution delivers twice the calcium relative to carbonates that natural aragonite provides — without phosphate or silicate.

Liquid Reef combines in a single dose what the Balling method handles across three separate solutions. Useful on a light-to-medium reef tank where a Balling dosing-pump setup isn't warranted, or as a quick fix when calcium drops below 412 ppm.

What Liquid Reef is for and when to use it

• Light-to-medium reef tank — sparse SPS/LPS where daily consumption stays under 10 mL per 30 US gal.
• Catching up a low calcium — Ca below 412 ppm brought back into the 412-450 ppm target without installing a Balling routine.
• Simplified solution — start-up tanks, aquarists who want a single routine rather than separate Component A/B/C bottles.
• Support for clams, snails, tube worms — calcifying invertebrates that don't get enough from a plain water change.

Brightwell official dosing

• Ratio: each mL of Liquid Reef raises calcium in 1 US gal (3.785 L) by approximately 37 ppm.
• Basic dose: 5 mL (1 capful) per 50 US gal (189 L) every other day, or as needed. A 250 mL bottle treats up to 2,500 US gal.
• Initial catch-up: up to 10 mL per 30 US gal daily if calcium is low.
• Calcium target: 412 to 450 ppm.
• Dose daily rather than weekly to maintain a more stable [Ca²⁺].

Brightwell official composition (guaranteed analysis)

• Calcium (min): 4,140 mg/oz (140,000 ppm)
• Carbonate (min): 3,100 mg/oz (104,800 ppm)
• Strontium (min): 80 mg/oz (2,715 ppm)
• Magnesium (min): 11 mg/oz (386 ppm)
• Potassium (min): 0.60 mg/oz (20.6 ppm)

Specifications

• Brand: Brightwell Aquatics (made in the USA)
• Available sizes: 250 mL, 500 mL, 2 L, 20 L
• Composition: purified water, aragonite, Ca/Sr/Mg/K sulfate and chloride salts
• Type: all-in-one calcium + alkalinity + traces
• Free of: phosphate and silicate

Why choose Brightwell at ReefSolution

• Aquaforest Components Strong — the Balling trace elements to add if the tank outgrows what Liquid Reef covers.
• Salifert Calcium Test Kit — the accurate titration test to steer daily dosing in the 412-450 ppm range.
• Brightwell MicroBacter7 — the bioculture to keep biology healthy alongside mineral dosing.

Frequently asked questions

How much calcium does 1 mL of Liquid Reef add?

Brightwell publishes a precise ratio: 1 mL of Liquid Reef raises the calcium concentration in 1 US gal (3.785 L) by approximately 37 ppm. On a 100 US gal tank, the basic 5 mL dose (1 capful per 50 US gal) therefore adds about 1.85 ppm of calcium — a gentle dose to repeat every 2 days to hold 412-450 ppm.

Can Liquid Reef replace a Balling method?

On a light-to-medium reef tank (sparse SPS/LPS, daily consumption under 10 mL per 30 US gal), yes — Liquid Reef combines into one solution what Balling handles across three. For a densely stocked SPS system with high consumption, classical Balling (Aquaforest Components 1+/2+/3+) stays more flexible and cheaper long term.

Does Liquid Reef cloud the water after dosing?

Brightwell does not mention it on the current product page but notes on similar products that a temporary cloud can appear — prefer a nighttime dose so clarity is back before the next day's main lighting.

How often should I dose Liquid Reef?

Brightwell recommends daily rather than weekly dosing to hold a more stable calcium concentration. The "every other day" baseline is a compromise — on demanding reef tanks, splitting the dose daily reduces swings and improves growth.