Additive problem

[Tanzy]

Hi

After reading all the alk, pH KH GH carbonate borates bicarbonates, I'm still blur like sotong.....

perhaps can i ask for even more layman advices like

when alk is low, i add _________

when pH is low, i add _________

when kH is low, i add _________

reef buffer raises carbonates, but thats kH? i got this seachem reef buffer which says it will maintain pH at 8.3... so issit just this i add, to maintain pH and kH? what abt alk?

i know kalk raises calcium and OH- but OH- relates to pH or alk? So is there any additives that raises alk only? coz i already have high calcium level in my tank 480ppm...

sorry to troublez...

Alk low with low calcium, add calcium hydroxide (Kalkwasser)

Alk low with high calcium, add sodium bicarbonate (Seachem Reef Builder)

When alk is low, pH tends to be lower too.

pH low, alk low, refer to above.

pH low, alk normal, add borates (Seachem Reef Buffer)

KH is a measurement for alkalinity.

Adding Seachem Reef Buffer will also increase KH/Alk and most certainly stabilise the pH, but the alkalinity increase is due to borates and not carbonates. Hard corals require carbonates to calcify their skeleton and cannot use borates. Borates is good for pH stabilisation because it is not quickly depleted in the aquarium hleping you maintain a high KH/Alk.

Adding Reef Builder, is adding carbonates, also increasing KH/Alk. It will slowly raise pH to 8.3 over the long run but definitely slower than borate. It will get depleted as corals use it so if KH/Alk is not maintained, pH will fluctuate.

pH is a measurement of acidity and high KH/Alk indicates good buffering capacity of the water, preventing large pH fluctuation.

Kalkwasser does add Ca++ and OH-, the OH- contributes to alk by reacting with carbon dioxide to give bicarbonates(HCO3-).

In your case you need to add Reef Builder.

[newdamsel]

I guess thats the simplest that i can absorbed!!!! A very big thank you Tanzy~~!!!

[NormanH]

Tanzy,

A really big thank you from me as well.

[onghm]

Tanzy,

Very good summary.

Now i got a better understanding on the difference between reef buffer and reef builder.

Keep this kind of "spoon feeding" article coming

[mv3i]

tanzy ,

what would be a good range for cal and alk level in a marine tank .... ???

heard that different type of corals require different concentration of alk and cal ? izit true ?

can enlighten us on this ?

also temp does play a part too ??

[TTBoy]

Thats the best explaination i ever heard. Thanks Tanzy

[Tanzy]

tanzy ,

what would be a good range for cal and alk level in a marine tank .... ???

heard that different type of corals require different concentration of alk and cal ? izit true ?

can enlighten us on this ?

also temp does play a part too ??

I'll prefer to leave temperature out because it's highly debatable. It ranges from 25-28, I think any where in the range is optimum.

Calcium 400ppm +/-50

Alk 8-12 dKH or 3.5meq/L +/-0.5

All hard corals will prefer high alk and calcium. Soft corals will get by with less but won't mind more.

[Sinn]

Tanzy,

ive read somewhere that temperature fluctuations shd be minimal...

is it really important?

the temp of my tank at night would be as low as 22

and during the day as high as 28 due to air conditioner on at night

thanx for the help

[Tanzy]

More important than the temperature is the fluctuation of temperature. It should be minimal, preferably not exceeding 3 deg or so.

If your tank is in the aircon room, you should always provide a heater set at about 25 to prevent temperature dropping too low at night.

[Achilles Tang]

Out of topic! <_

[Sinn]

haha...

sorry AT...

wont do it again