Alkalinity, Calcium, Magnesium levels??!!?? (1 Viewer)

[steveb]

Just to add to the confusion.... and food for thought.

baking soda - sodium bicarbonate raises alkalinity but may temporarily depress PH
baked baking soda (soda ash) - sodium carbonate raises alkalinity and will temporarily increase PH

Most of us use the 2nd form, sodium carbonate.

So depending on your tank you want to select one or the other...

 

[emixa]

mark,

that makes sense. i can see about setting the fall safe for the alk, but why the calcium?

i was just wondering how you got the 8.4 value.

 

[Mark L.]

mark,

that makes sense. i can see about setting the fall safe for the alk, but why the calcium?

i was just wondering how you got the 8.4 value.

Because when you dose 2 part you are supposed to dose the exact same amount of Alk and Cal. You basically get your Alk to say 9.5 and your Cal to 450. Then if you have to dose 100ml of alk a day to keep a stable 9.5 then you want to dose 100ml of Cal a day and you will stay stable at 450. That is why everyone says to get your alkalinity to the desired level and then don't dose it for a day and check how much it has fallen. Then check it at day two, and maybe 3. Alk is what you want to base your dosing on because it is more sensitive to fluctuations. Once you know how much you have to dose to keep your alk stable then you automatically know how much calcium. If for some reason my Alk dosing pump has to stop because of a pH swing then I want my Calcium to stop also so I don't get everything out of whack. I hope that was clear as mud. LOL

Here's some good reads on Alkalinity, Calcium, Magnesium and making/dosing them... (also some light reading on pH)

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, What Chemicals Must be Supplemented by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

he “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, pH by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[emixa]

Awesome Mark. Thanks again. all clear as the BP spill and their text messages.

 

[maconbits]

Do any of you guys have an accurate tester for calcium or magnesium ? I really need to test mine and would be will to hook someone up with an sps frag or 2 if you could help.
Not trying to thread jack. Just need some help lol 8322704241

 

[emixa]

i dont have a mechanical one either. i use Salifert for magnesium and Elos for calcium.