Reef Chemistry - Chemicals

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Chemicals

Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Reef Chemistry
Forum Description: A place to discuss reef chemistry.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=41862
Printed Date: July 16 2026 at 1:42am
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Topic: Chemicals

Posted By: Reefboy4life
Subject: Chemicals
Date Posted: June 23 2010 at 8:55pm

I was wondering what chemicals are a must for a reef, what do you dose?, how often?

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90 gallon mixed reef

Replies:

Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: June 23 2010 at 9:21pm

The only things I would say are a "must" are Calcium, Magnesium, and a carbonate to raise alkalinity.

How much to dose, and how often to dose, depends alot on things like tank size, types of corals / how many corals you are keeping, and how often you do partial water changes.

In general, I think a good rule is that you shouldn't dose anything that you don't also have a test kit for (to measure the levels in your water).

So, you would also need test kits for Ca, Mg, and ALK / dKH.

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- My Current Tank: 50g Starfire Cube Reef

* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *

Posted By: rbrinton2373
Date Posted: June 23 2010 at 9:51pm

about the test kits. Are there certain types that are better than another? i.e. the little paper strips vs. test tubes? Or a particular brand that is more accurate than another? and how often should you test? every day, couple times a week, once a week, etc...? And what are the most important things to test besides Alk, Ph, and salinity?

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Ryan
Semper Fi
60 gal cube w/39 gal Sump\
MH + T5s

Posted By: SGH360
Date Posted: June 23 2010 at 10:04pm

strip test are not that accuarate but are quick to find what you need. CA . Alk. Mg you need liquid as they required more accuarcy to know how to those correctly. Salifert test kits are probably the best. expensive and sort of difficult. boy do they get good results. API probably is a good inexpensive choice i used them and easy to use. i got the whole alk. C phosphate. nitrate test for 20 bucks

Posted By: fishoutawater
Date Posted: June 23 2010 at 10:31pm

alk supplement= baking soda, calcium supplement = prestone driveway heat. Is there a local place to pick up magnesium chloride?

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Some day, when I grow up,...

Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: June 23 2010 at 10:33pm

I second the recommendation on the API Master kit.

The "ReefMaster" kit has alk / dKH, nitrate, phosphate and calcium test kits for around $24.

Any single Salifert kit costs about that much.

The only thing missing is a Magnesium kit (which API does not carry).

You might have to spring for the Salifert Mg kit.

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- My Current Tank: 50g Starfire Cube Reef

* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *

Posted By: Reefboy4life
Date Posted: June 23 2010 at 10:52pm

I have a 55 gallon reef with a lot of softies and a couple lps, and sps.

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90 gallon mixed reef

Posted By: rbrinton2373
Date Posted: June 23 2010 at 11:28pm

what about the frequeny of testing your water?

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Ryan
Semper Fi
60 gal cube w/39 gal Sump\
MH + T5s

Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: June 23 2010 at 11:39pm

I would test once a day until you get your dosing regimen to the point that your numbers are stable.

Example:

If you test for Ca, and your Ca is low (say, 340 pmm when you want 400 ppm), then you would dose Ca and check the next day to see how much the dose raised your Ca level.

After a week or 2 you will be able to figure out approx. how much Ca to dose to get your level up to that 400 ppm mark, and then how frequently to redose in order to keep it there.

Once you get to that point, you can check your water maybe once a week just to make sure everything is still OK.

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- My Current Tank: 50g Starfire Cube Reef

* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *