Calcium Uptake

[fishguy449]

Admittingly I neglected a 10g skimmerless reef that I have. When I did finally test I found Ca at 450, pH 8.2, but alk was only 4 (recommended 7-11). A friend gave me some SeaChem crystals which I appled with a water change. A week later the Alk is still at 6 which is about where it was after treatment, but the Ca dropped to 350. Why would this be? Did the raising of the alk allow the corals to take up the Ca which was in the water column?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Seachem crystals means an alkalinity supplement?

Assuming it is, then yes, adding alkalinity allows organisms to start using both calcium and alkalinity again. It may also allow more abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate on things like heaters,pumps, etc.

 

[fishguy449]

Yes, it was the marine buffer product. And thank you for the article in ReefKeeping mag. A google search pointed me to it. If anyone else needs it, here it is

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-04/rhf/feature/index.php

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

There are lots more such articles listed here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=102605

Happy Reefing.