ReefWaters
Premium Member
So Ive been working pretty diligently on some of these issues recently.
I'm still waiting on my replacement parts for my Vortechs. They sent me the wrong parts but fortunately it did give me enough parts to get a spare wet side running. So the tank only has one return pump and one Vortech right now. My replacement shaft and housing for the PanWorld came in last night so I'm going to work on that as soon as I get a free minute today.
Ive also ordered some replacement MH bulbs to replace the current set that is over a year old.
I got several pounds of Seachem Magnesium salt. I read all about the home made Magnesium supplements and just don't like the risks involved in raising other parameters in the tank like sulfate.
Do-It-Yourself Magnesium Supplements for the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php
I also think I might have found the culprit for the elevated Alkalinity. I have been running Dolomite in my reactor and I might have been using too much. I shut off the CO2 to the reactor and the Alkalinity steadily came back down to the optimum range within a week.
Quote from the above linked article.
"The problem is that for every magnesium ion released from the dolomite, two units of alkalinity are also released:
Anyway, I'm getting there and very happy with the results. I just have to stay on top of my testing and tweaking my supplement regime.
I'm still waiting on my replacement parts for my Vortechs. They sent me the wrong parts but fortunately it did give me enough parts to get a spare wet side running. So the tank only has one return pump and one Vortech right now. My replacement shaft and housing for the PanWorld came in last night so I'm going to work on that as soon as I get a free minute today.
Ive also ordered some replacement MH bulbs to replace the current set that is over a year old.
I got several pounds of Seachem Magnesium salt. I read all about the home made Magnesium supplements and just don't like the risks involved in raising other parameters in the tank like sulfate.
Do-It-Yourself Magnesium Supplements for the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php
I also think I might have found the culprit for the elevated Alkalinity. I have been running Dolomite in my reactor and I might have been using too much. I shut off the CO2 to the reactor and the Alkalinity steadily came back down to the optimum range within a week.
Quote from the above linked article.
"The problem is that for every magnesium ion released from the dolomite, two units of alkalinity are also released:
MgCO<SUB>3</SUB> Ã Mg<SUP>++</SUP> + CO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>--</SUP>
Consequently, raising magnesium in this way by 100 ppm will necessarily raise the alkalinity by 8.2 meq/L (23 dKH). The only way around this problem is to add a mineral acid (not vinegar) to the aquarium to reduce the alkalinity, and that may be more problematic than just adding a magnesium supplement in the first place."Anyway, I'm getting there and very happy with the results. I just have to stay on top of my testing and tweaking my supplement regime.
