Ohio Reef
Reef Discussion => Water Chemistry => Topic started by: mhhauser321 on July 18, 2007, 02:23:11
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So I was wondering a Few things, And what better place to talk about these things than Ohio Reef.
First of all how many of you actually test your Calcium And Alkalinity?
and what type of test kit do you use.
I know that a lot of people feel differently about what level is the correct level of Calcium and Alkalinity but I am going by RANDY HOLMES-FARLEY's article Chemistry and the Aquarium (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm)
he says
Calcium Recommended to Be
380 – 450 ppm calcium ion or 950 - 1125 ppm CaCO3 equivalents
Alkalinity Recommended to be
2.5 - 4 meq/L or 7 - 11 dKH or 125 - 200 ppm CaCO3 equivalents
I don't know how you all feel about this but i wanted to get some other opinions on this, And see what other hobbyist actually do.
How many of you actually feel that these levels are a accurate recommendation and do you keep your tanks out of these levels and still maintain a healthy aquarium?
Also Please Tell Me what supplements you use to obtain your levels of calcium and alk.
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I think Randy Holmes-Farley is accurate. I have a CA reactor. The last time I check the CA I think it was 450. My Alk has always ran high for some reason. I use salifert test kits. Maybe I should runs some tests today for giggles and grins! :)
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I check my Ca and Alk, although not as often as I probably should. I like to keep my Ca right around 380-400 and my Alk about 3-3.5 meq/L.
I top off with limewater and that does a pretty good job of maintaining my tank at those levels.
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Micki what Media do you use in your CA Reactor?
Ohioreef what brand Of Lime Water do you use?
matt
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I just use Mrs Wages pickling lime available at my local Kroger's store.
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Randy Holmes-Farley recommended ranges are right. I test weekly for both Alk and Calc, as well as PH. I also test Magnesium after a water change. I have used RHF's recipes for alk, calc, and mag for the past 2 years and have had no problems. Although that is going to change soon with the addition of a calcium reactor. Just one more addition in the puzzle to make most everything with the tank automatic.
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Cool but i got to ask do we all go by the old saying
"Don't dose for it unless you test for it"
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Micki what Media do you use in your CA Reactor?
I use CaribSea A.R.M
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calcium and alk are just as important as temp and ph IMO. i made my own calcium reactor for the 125 i had, but now i have a 20l for taking to college. in a tank with softies, the alk and calcium arent as important as they are in sps tanks.
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What type of product do you use for you supplements illnino
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I Just Found A Article That shows how a Calcium Reactor Works its a very interesting read.
Here it is
(http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/sh/feature/index.php (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/sh/feature/index.php))
I was wondering how you measure the amount of drips that enter the calcium reactor.
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my current tank is just softies, clams and a few lps but it is small, so it has fairly low supplimental requirements. to be truthful, im doing nothing but water changes and im keeping softies, hardy sps and clams goin good. however when you use a calcium reactor(at least on a stony coral reef) there should be no need for any suppliments as it dissolves exactly what the coral uses and in the right portions.
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it dissolves exactly what the coral uses and in the right portions......
.....except magnesium in some tanks. I've read where some have to use a different type of media on top of the regular stuff.