goldfish connection sells something called "gold trace", which is supposed to be trace elements for goldfish. Here is what is written about it:

Formulated especially for Goldfish, "Gold Trace" replaces the life supporting trace elements removed by your City Water Dept.during the process of purification, or anyone using R.O. systems. Trace elements are also used up by your fish and your good bacteria. Used just twice a week, "Gold Trace" will replace the trace elements your Goldfish need to stay healthy. 16.9oz. will treat a 100 gallon tank for 2 to 4 months. 16.9 oz.

What do you all think about this? Does anybody here use trace elements, or see a need to?

Aqua

I am not familiar with this particular product, but I can say that Goldfish connection usually sells very high quality products, and I was always extremely happy with Rick's medicated food.

tis true that you could purchase a product that contains "trace elements"
but what could be more pure than sea salt?
this contains all the trace elements found.
it is even recommended, that this be used instead of regular table salt (no not your aquarium salt.. gawd imagine that on a piece of chicken, they sell it in small granuals for table salt)

-BUT-
my Doc Wellfish'd aquarium salt says "all natural - made from evaporated sea water"

i have no first hand knowledge of salting tanks, nor would i recommend a high dosage, but disolving a few crystals into a gallon of water would put some trace elements back into your water, and not noticably affect the level of salt in your tank.
my 2 cents.. -Tooter

That is a good question and hopefully I can give you a good answer.
If the water you use is city water I think it would be a good idea too add it. Fish need trace elements just like humans do. If you are on a well I doubt you will need it.
NEVER use ONLY reverse osmosis (ro) water. RO water is basically stripped of everything and if used exclusively your fish will eventually die.
You could also test your water for GH, and if the reading is above 50-75 ppm you would also probably be OK.
If however you feel the need too use a product like this, take a look at koi clay. It will cost you around $20 but will last you a lifetime.

Thanks for the replies. I do use city water, so I should use it? I am just scared to add another chemical/product to my tank water.

Aqua

It is not going too hurt the tank if you use it because it is not like a chemical you add for treating diseases. It basically adds minerals that are essential for life.
See what your reading is for GH first. If you don't have a test kit you could bring some water in too a local fish store and ask them too test it for GH (general hardness). You could even bring in some tap water. It won't make a difference. If the reading is over 50 ppm in all likelihood you don't need it.

Goldfish (fish in general) get their nutrients from the food they eat AND the water they swim in. The water can get depleted of these elements if it has few to begin with. Most city water has plenty of content, as do the majority of well waters.

RO water is actually the least "empty" filtered water you can use. Distilled has far less and DI (deionized) is the emptiest. But RO water still is too devoid of the necessary "vitamins and minerals" that the fish glean from their environment.

You are looking to give them calcium, magnesium, iodine, posassium, copper, iron, zinc, manganese, flourine, and selenium. Studies have shown that these are naturally occuring in most water percolated through the ground (well and city water). I have read two different hypotheses suggesting amounts of each recommended for the goldfish's maximum health, and the Gold Trace product sold by Goldfish Connection seems to come the closest to supplying these as any I have seen.

Because I use only RO water, I need to supplement it. I do it with GoldTrace.