Ca monitoring with the ACIII Pro?
- Thread starter jnarowe
- Start date
We will add a Ca probe to our product line when one is available that is accurate, good for continues use, and low maintenance. Currently there isn't a probe that even comes close to meeting those requirements.
Personally, I think that an alkalinity monitor is more useful than a Ca monitor for a reef tank. Alkalinity is the first to be depleted when there is a problem Ca reactor, Kalk reactor, etc. If you have a Ca/buffer replacement system that puts Ca and Alkalinity in at the same ratio as the corals are removing it, there is no reason to continuously monitor Ca. A check every once in a while by a test kit is all that is necessary.
Alkalinity can be indirectly determined by noting the daily pH swing in your tank. On my reef tank if the pH swing is greater than about .20 - .25 units, then the alkalinity is less than 10 Meq. If you are seeing pH swings of .3 to .4 daily then it is quite likely your alkalinity is low, and your Ca/Buffer replenishment system is not keeping up with demand.
Curt
Personally, I think that an alkalinity monitor is more useful than a Ca monitor for a reef tank. Alkalinity is the first to be depleted when there is a problem Ca reactor, Kalk reactor, etc. If you have a Ca/buffer replacement system that puts Ca and Alkalinity in at the same ratio as the corals are removing it, there is no reason to continuously monitor Ca. A check every once in a while by a test kit is all that is necessary.
Alkalinity can be indirectly determined by noting the daily pH swing in your tank. On my reef tank if the pH swing is greater than about .20 - .25 units, then the alkalinity is less than 10 Meq. If you are seeing pH swings of .3 to .4 daily then it is quite likely your alkalinity is low, and your Ca/Buffer replenishment system is not keeping up with demand.
Curt
jnarowe
New member
Well I definitely am having high pH swings right now and I am using baked baking soda to offset it. Of course I am in the middle of a tank cycle, doing 100g water changes every day, etc. so it's hard to get a "baseline" at this point.
Do you have a way to monitor alkalinity with the ACIII Pro? I know there are calcium monitors available and I was wondering if it is possible to integrate one with the ACIII Pro.
Do you have a way to monitor alkalinity with the ACIII Pro? I know there are calcium monitors available and I was wondering if it is possible to integrate one with the ACIII Pro.
oops. wrong thread....
jnarowe
New member
yes I replied to that post but perhaps I wasn't clear. Curt explained an easy way to determine if alkalinity is not sufficient by monitoring how large of pH swings are occuring. What I asked was if there is a direct way to monitor alkalinity via the ACIII Pro. In other words, can a digital input device like a probe be connected to the ACIII Pro to track alkalinity itself and give more accurate data?
The more automation I can use the easier it is for me to have enough data to make informed decisions.
I am doing water changes because the tank is cycling and yes, the rock is "uncured", otherwise known as "Live Rock". "Cured rock" is rock that has virtually all the life killed off except the most hearty of bacterias.
And for those of you who can't accept methods other than what you believe to be true, I really don't need to be lectured about what is or isn't cured rock, or whether I should have cured the rock, or how I shouldn't have cycled the tank with "uncured" rock. Etc. etc. I don't ned the stress of trying to expalin what I am doing and why. If anyone is curious they can check out my thread by clicking on the little red house!
The more automation I can use the easier it is for me to have enough data to make informed decisions.
I am doing water changes because the tank is cycling and yes, the rock is "uncured", otherwise known as "Live Rock". "Cured rock" is rock that has virtually all the life killed off except the most hearty of bacterias.
And for those of you who can't accept methods other than what you believe to be true, I really don't need to be lectured about what is or isn't cured rock, or whether I should have cured the rock, or how I shouldn't have cycled the tank with "uncured" rock. Etc. etc. I don't ned the stress of trying to expalin what I am doing and why. If anyone is curious they can check out my thread by clicking on the little red house!
jnarowe
New member
no sweat at all. and please realize that when I post at night my head isn't all together. It's a stroke thing. I have just gotten a little tired of the whole cured rock thing as well as the never ending arguements about DSBs. I have one reefer buddy that cannot come over without telling me that I need more sand in my display. He doesn't seem to realize that I have more sand in my RSB than he could fit in his tank...
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