Is alk or ca more important?
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Topic: Is alk or ca more important?
Posted By: shaggydoo
Subject: Is alk or ca more important?
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 9:00pm
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I have been struggling recently to keep these two levels in balance and high enough for my SPS. Due to my issues I have noticed that when my ca is good but my alk is low my corals look bad and lose color. When the alk is high but the ca is low the corals look better but still not 100%. My opinion is alk is more important. Obviously the ultimate scenario is to have both levels in line. What have others noticed? ------------- 60g LPS Cube |
Replies:
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 9:11pm
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While both are important I think you are correct that a low Alk reading will adversely effect your SPS more rapidly and with more noticeable symptoms / consequences than if your Alk is good but your Ca is low... without adequate levels of carbonate buffering I don't think your corals can effectively utilize the available Ca anyway... So I guess you could say maintaing the proper Alk level is more "important"
------------- - My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) - * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: reptoreef
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 9:13pm
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Keep alk at 9-12 dKH, Calcium at 400-450, and magnesium at 1280-1400... they are VERY ESSENTIAL for growth and a healthy sps. ------------- www.captivereefing.com |
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 9:14pm
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P.S. - How's your Mg level?
If Mg is too low it bcomes more difficult to maintain higher levels of both Ca & Alk without either the Ca or Alk supplements precipitating out of the water...
------------- - My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) - * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 9:52pm
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There is 4-5 times more calcium then alkalinity in seawater. Calcification requires both alk and calcium, meaning to the coral they are both important (the omega value is what's ultimately important). But in reality, since there is such a small amount of alk in the water, it doesn't take too much of a decline to become very noticeable to the corals.
------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 9:55pm
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What Jon said... or I'd just answer with Alkalinity.
Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 10:19pm
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Alkalinity drop definitely stresses my corals first.
Mike -------------  |
Posted By: bbeck4x4
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 10:27pm
| when dosing with Kalk, is there any Magnesium added? |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 10:35pm
No ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
bbeck4x4 wrote:Posted By: bbeck4x4
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 10:36pm
| what is a good (cheep)source of mag? |
Posted By: MadReefer
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 10:49pm
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I don't really have experience but I'll throw in my 2 cents. If you can't get the "Keep alk at 9-12 dKH, Calcium at 400-450, and magnesium at 1280-1400... they are VERY ESSENTIAL for growth and a healthy sps. " that http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/member_profile.asp?PF=395&FID=9 - reptoreef correctly spoke of, then you need to find a new way to add this or you need to add less at a time.
So the question is how do you get these in your tank and do you ever see a precipitate?
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Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 10:50pm
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3 parts Magnesium Chloride to 1 part Epsom Salts (Magnesium Sulfate)...
You can just use the Epsom Salts alone but eventually it will upset the balance between sulfides and chlorides in your water (I think those are the terms)...
------------- - My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) - * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: bbeck4x4
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 10:53pm
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I am currently dosing kalk to make up for evaporation, but have paid little attention to my magnesium levels. along with regular water changes. I probably should start adding some mag. |
Posted By: bbeck4x4
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 11:01pm
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epsom salt I can find, where would I find the Mag chloride? |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 11:05pm
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You should test for Mg before adding. I'm sure there are a few places on-line where you can buy MgCl2, but I bought mine at The Chem Shop in Centerville. ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: bbeck4x4
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 11:08pm
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ok, yes, I would test before I added, about what quantities do you purchase and how long do they last? |
Posted By: MadReefer
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 11:17pm
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I don't use kalk(but have been thinking about it) and everything looks happy. To be honest I don't have a mag. test. It and iodine would be the only tests I need to set up my lab right. I have many different additives that I use at different times based on my tests. I use Seachem reef atvantage calcium to boost calcium and that has magnesium and strontium. Reef builder for alk. I know there are less expensive ways. Until I know my system this is what I'll use. Any help would be appreciated. Edit-
I only have to adjust once every week or two. I don't have many corals. When I have more I will try to save money with alternate additives.
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Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 11:22pm
Brian, I bought like 5 lbs about 4 yrs ago and still have about 4.5 lbs left  . Oh and Epsom salts can be found in the pharmacy section of any grocery store.I don't use kalk(but have been thinking about it) and everything looks happy... use Seachem reef atvantage calcium to boost calcium and that has magnesium and strontium. Reef builder for alk. I know there are less expensive ways. Until I know my system this is what I'll use this. Any help would be appreciated. If your tank's happy and you're not going broke then don't change a thing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing what your currently doing. ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: bbeck4x4
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 11:25pm
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sounds good, thanks. |
Posted By: shaggydoo
Date Posted: January 05 2008 at 11:45pm
Well it looks like others have noticed the same as I have. I too have noticed that my alk can fluctuate a ton while my ca takes a while to really change. Really all this 'noticing' has occurred because I've been a giant moron and have been dosing soooooo much that I've killed/browned out a majority of my sps. My ca/alk has been jumping around from too low to too high. But I guess patience is a virtue... one I don't have  But I have been testing my mg and its a tad low but nothing to worry about, especially when compared to my ca/alk problems I've been causing myself.------------- 60g LPS Cube |