Protein Skimmer?

[MikeP]

Ed, your right. I meant a 2 part ca / alk buffer of some type.

I stand by my opinion that most other additives are not necessary with regular water changes.

[Hammer]

Yeah Mike, I was pretty sure that's what you meant, I just didn't want anyone getting confused over something that simple.

[Andrew]

just out of curiosity, what is alk buffer made of?
Calcium+?

[Hammer]

To make it cheap, 5 parts baking soda to 1 part washing soda.

To get the chemistry answer, you best bet is to visit Randy's section, Chemistry forum on reefcentral.com
Between Randy, Habib and Guy, they can answer any question you got. And they already have answered (better then I ever could) these questions before.

[Brett Wilson]

Here is some great reading on alk, PH, calcium, and their relationships.

Calcium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2002/chem.htm

Alkalinity
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...2/chemistry.htm

Calcium and Alkalinity Balance Issues
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-...ature/index.htm

Calcium Carbonate as a Supplement
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...ly2002/chem.htm

The Relationship Between Alkalinity and pH.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2002/chem.htm

Solutions to pH Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...ne2002/chem.htm

The Chemical & Biochemical Mechanisms of Calcification in Corals
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/apr2002/chem.htm


Master list from the chemistry master over at RC, Randy Holmes-Farley:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=102605


Hope that helps!
-Brett

[Andrew]

Thanks for all the advice, and the references (to my question on Alk,etc.)
Hopefully I'll be able to make it to the next meeting (especially likely if in SA - the sea world idea sounds awesome) and meet all of you.
Thanks again,
Andrew