I'm so confused... can someone help.

[jmkarcz]

I have been desperatly working to understand the relationship between Calcium, Alkalinity and pH. I have read all the publications by Randy. Then re-read them... and keep them handy so I can re read them again.

I thought I had this all sorted out... but someone who I thought should have a clue, got me all messed up. I have every reason to trust them, but it messes with what Ive been reading and what I thought was the way it worked...

Question # 1> A calcium reactor helps you to maintain your calcium as the name implies, or your Alkalinity as the name does not imply.

Jason

 

[kiowascout]

I think that it does both. But I honestly cannot say with any certainty.

BTW... did you clean out your inbox yet.... I went to reply about wedcnesday and it said you were full.

 

[srlumaye1]

I believe it does both. It dissolves the media, thereby adding calcium, alkalinity, and whatever else is tied up in the media.

 

[jmkarcz]

I fixed it now, it was only showing me the last 20 days... I wish I could turn off the sent and tracking.

ok, then compared to kalk, which is preferred for adding calcium?

Jason

 

[srlumaye1]

Depends...

I want a calcium reactor as I can load it up and let it go for 6 months. No worries once it is set up right. High initial cost.

I will also dump pickling lime into my 30 gal topoff bucket. Very cheap. Only good for 2 weeks though. Does precipitate out impurities form left in the RO water.

There is also a kalk reactor? with a stirrer bar using Randy's formula. Also fairly cheap. Someone I talked to (Al C.?) only does something every 3 months with it. Don't know enough about it though...


For what it is worth...
Steve

 

[RCS]

Using Kalk will normally maintain your Ca but not increase it very much. Liquid Calcium chloride is the fastest way to increase your Ca levels.

Ca Reactors will do both, as was said, depending on the media used. Keep in mind they can play around a bit with pH as well due to the CO2 injection, so though they can add alkalinity and Ca, that may not increase your pH as expected.

 

[srlumaye1]

In that case, pickling lime in the topoff bucket for PH maintenance, and a calc reactor for alk and calcium sounds like the easiest from a maintenance standpoint.?

 

[jmkarcz]

See, I was telling kevin, My Alk went throught the roof but my Ca stayed low to par... when I was dosing Kalk. I now switched to the Sea Chem Calcium advantage powder, and within 4 weeks, the coraline in the 30 has doubled!

Jason

 

[kass03]

Ive never understood alkalinity and still don't.
Good thing I don't have problems with it lol at least don't think I do. I did test for it a cpl yrs ago lol and it was ok.

My PH has always been steady at 8.3 and I got a calcium test kit once and it kept reading like 700 or more so I gave up on it. I don't even add calcium that much.

I do have well water and don't use RO (I hear the gasps) we have hard water so dunno if that means anything.

I do use chemi-pure which claims to keep PH steady but dunno if thats why I never had a problem or not.

My coraline grows so I don't worry about it.

kass

 

[RCS]

I've used plain old tap water in a number of tanks. Unless you're trying to keep things like Acropora or other touchy corals, there's no reason not to use it unless there's major problem with it (high nitrites, nitrates, ammonia, etc.). Before we moved to TN, when I lived in Kaukauna, I used tap and had Ca that measured out around 900...pH was rock-steady at 7.9-8.0 all day long though...

 

[jmkarcz]

Kass, just for giggles, someday, wash out a container really well, and bring me a sample to a meeting, Or I could bring the TDS meter to your house when I pick up that shroom. Maybe we could all get our water from you.

Seems Kaukauna water is the Cat's ....

Jason

 

[jandlms]

Kass,
Must be the well.
When I lived in the valley and had municipal water I swear that there was a switch in the basement that periodically went from regualr water to "chunky" style. Tastes bad and bad for reefs what more could I ask for?
jandlms

 

[jmkarcz]

How do you keep ph up and stay up. I add additive, but then mine slowly drifts back down to its 7.8* resting state?


And dose anyone have a Magnesium test kit that they would test my water for me? Spike things its a Mg problem. I have invested alot of money in test kits over the years, and I'm not sure if I will be using it repeatedly. If it tests low, I'll buy one...

Jason

 

[johns]

jmkarcz-

I'll test your Mg if you bring a water sample with you here. But I have a feeling I am too late in seeing this post.

 

[Aquabucket]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7950589#post7950589 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmkarcz

And dose anyone have a Magnesium test kit that they would test my water for me? Spike things its a Mg problem. I have invested alot of money in test kits over the years, and I'm not sure if I will be using it repeatedly. If it tests low, I'll buy one...

Jason

I consider testing for Magnesium as one of the big three along with Calcium and Alk. You can get a good Magnesium test kit that includes tests for carbonate alkalinity, borate alkalinity and total alkalinity for a little over $30 shipped. The kit I use is from Seachem and can be found at the link below and many other online vendors.

http://www.petstore.com/ps_viewitem.aspx?idproduct=SC4119

Once your Magnesium level falls below natural seawater you need to add some to get it back up. I use epson salts to this. Water changes alone will not replentish your Magnesium levels. I test once a month and have had the kit for well over a year now. It is well worth the $$$ IMO. If your Magnesium levels are below seawater you will have a very difficult time maintaining alk and calcium no matter if you are using a reactor, kalk, or a 2 part additive.

If you want to learn more about the importance of Magnesium in a captive reef do some searches in Randy's chemistry forum. I have helped quite a few customers with similar problems as yours and in almost all the cases low Magnesium was the cause. I have also had similar problems years ago before I started testing for it. You really need to rule this out as a cause for the problems you are having IMO.

EDIT: Here is a good article for you Jason.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2003/chem.htm