Hope this post helps and is ok by the moderators (if not please edit accordingly
)
After a long discussion on the zeovit thread, we have found the solution!
Now, people that do NOT run the zeovit system do not have to worry about this as much. Granted, if you are not running the zeovit system, but are still trying to maintain natural salt water (NSW) parameters, then you NEED to take this advice as well.
I will quote a few people:
Aged Salt said:
Thnx. Jeff, yes, according to Habib, the Salifert's KH test incorporates as it's total, both carbonate/bicarbonate alk.+ borate alk., therefore, the true useable alk. is minus the borate alk portion[~20% of the total].
To be honest, Nick, I have no way of proving elemental imbalance, but the mode of STN points one in that direction. However, if the real alk. with using SC salt then is <6, basal TN will result. Bob
gqjeff said:
I was running at 7 dKH. Bob, Mushur and myself talked about the borate % a few weeks back. We thought %20 but it was added to the dKH so I actually have lowered mine over the last few weeks and things have gotten worse. I thought 7 was actually 8.4 so I have been lowering it with worse results. I am going to raise it up to 9 or so over the next couple weeks and see if that makes a improvent. I beleive this may be the culprit unless seachem comes in and clarifies up what Habib stated...
Seachem said:
Natural seawater has a total alkalinity of about 2.5 meq/L, of which about 0.1 â€"œ 0.2 meq/L is from borate. It can be quite helpful though for pH control and Ca, Mg and carbonate solubility to have a higher borate content. This should not be at the expense of carbonate though. We recommend a total alkalinity of about 4 â€"œ 5 meq/L with a borate component of about 1.5 â€"œ 2.0 meq/L.
Aged Salt said:
Hi all, just a few coments & thnx. to Jim[SeaChem] for his posts thus far. With ZEOvit method, the dKH must be between 6 -8 & steady. Lower or higher than those values, eventually results in TN, in a oligotrophic environment. Most KH commericial tests only test carbonate alkalinity as the total, as most saltmixes do not contain appreciable quantities of boron in their make-up. The exception is SC's salt, comprising 3x's the NSW levels of boron.
If Salifert's KH test kit measures only carbonate alk., for instance, with a reading of dKH of 7.4, the real alkalinity would be over 8!! If, however, Salifert's tests borate in the total alk reading, then at dKH of 7.4, for instance, then the true carbonate alk. that our SPS corals actually utilize would be below 6!!.
Having said this, I personally do not think the TN's events are related to borate, as these were basal in nature, & IME, STN beginning at the base of a coral is from parameter or elemental imbalances. Jim, is it possible that when the SC formulation was changed &/or "bad batches"[parameter deficiencies] that trace elements supplements were altered in the make-up? Bob
Now based on the above info:
If you ARE running zeovit, or is you are NOT running zeovit but, trying to maintain alkalinity values that are close to NSW (6-8 dkH), THEN you must....
SUBTRACT 20% from the reading you are getting (this is only if you are using Salifert test kits, I am not sure if the Seachem test kits incorporate borate alkalinity).
For example;
You measure a dkH value of 8 on your Salifert test kit....In reality, you are ACTUALLY testing at 6.4 dkH
or
You measure a dkH value of 10 on your Salifert test kit....In reality, you are ACTUALLY testing at 8 dkH
So, in summary:
If you ARE doing 1 of the following:
1. Using Seachem salt and trying to maintain an alkalinity around NSW (6-8 dkH).
2. Using the zeovit method
THEN:
You MUST subtract 20% from your measured alkalinity values (if you are using Salifert test kits) to obtain the correct/true measured alkalinity value
If you ARE doing the following:
1. Just using the seachem salt mix and NOT trying to maintain NSW parameters or NOT using the zeovit method
THEN
You do NOT need to worry AT ALL about the borate alkalinity.
I hope this makes sense, if not please let me know so I can clarify.
Again, the ONLY test kit I know for SURE takes into account borate alkalinity is Salifert. IF you are using another brand of test kit, I would strongly urge you to ask the company if the alkalinity test kit takes into account borate alkalinity and adjust accordingly.
I hope this helps clear up some of the confusion. If it is still unclear please let me know and I will clarify.
Nick