rocketeer
Thu, 11th Feb 2010, 01:22 PM
I haven't had my 240 reef in balance since 2006. My calcium has always been ok around 420 but my Alk has always been around 2.0, give or take a little. Of course ph has been a little low too. I use a calcium reactor, although maybe a little small.
Here's what I found out. According th this:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
Calcification uses 20 ppm Ca for 1.0 meq/L Alk. This is the same as what my Ca reactor should be contributing. So together, they're a wash.
For years, I tried to increase my Alk by doing many (expensive) water changes (20% every two weeks) and doing a little supplementation with Reef Buffer (maybe 1 tsp every two days). But, according to:
http://reefsaltanalysis.googlepages.com/AWT_Salt_Analysis_0208.pdf
My Kent salt mix contributes 425 ppm Ca and 2.0 meq/L Alk. Hey that sounds familiar.
My water changes have been undoing any benefit of my supplements.
The solution? I cut back on water changes and have been dosing Reef Buffer about 1.5 tsp/day and my Alk went up quickly. One water change in two months and 45 tsp of Reef Buffer over that time and my Alk went from 2.1 meq/L to 3.0 meq/L, and my Ca stayed at 410 to 420. Mg still at 1275 or a little more and NO3 is 0.
Finally!
Here's what I found out. According th this:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
Calcification uses 20 ppm Ca for 1.0 meq/L Alk. This is the same as what my Ca reactor should be contributing. So together, they're a wash.
For years, I tried to increase my Alk by doing many (expensive) water changes (20% every two weeks) and doing a little supplementation with Reef Buffer (maybe 1 tsp every two days). But, according to:
http://reefsaltanalysis.googlepages.com/AWT_Salt_Analysis_0208.pdf
My Kent salt mix contributes 425 ppm Ca and 2.0 meq/L Alk. Hey that sounds familiar.
My water changes have been undoing any benefit of my supplements.
The solution? I cut back on water changes and have been dosing Reef Buffer about 1.5 tsp/day and my Alk went up quickly. One water change in two months and 45 tsp of Reef Buffer over that time and my Alk went from 2.1 meq/L to 3.0 meq/L, and my Ca stayed at 410 to 420. Mg still at 1275 or a little more and NO3 is 0.
Finally!