Calcium and Alkalinity

reef_dude76 · 09/30/2017, 07:36 PM

Best suppliments for dosing/maintaining calcium, alk, and magnesium levels? Kent tech cb, Brightwell Reef Code A and B, mag suppliments???

bertoni · 09/30/2017, 09:05 PM

All of the commercial two-parts seem fine for calcium and alkalinity, although they might differ in cost. I've used the Kent and ESV magnesium supplements, and they are fine. The SeaChem is mostly magnesium sulfate, so it's not worth getting it, in my opinion. There are DIY recipes that will work, and will save some money, as well.

dkeller_nc · 10/01/2017, 09:10 AM

Personally, I'd stay away from Brightwell, since there seems to be a great deal of high-pressure marketing associated with their products, and at least at one point, it was difficult to get them to publish the ingredients.

A heck of a lot of us simply mix our own from calcium chloride, sodium carbonate/bicarbonate, and magnesium chloride/sulfate. Have you read Randy Holmes Farley's article on DIY two-part dosing? His recipes are pretty much the gold standard of 2-part dosing, and folks like Bulk Reef Supply have made quite a business of supplying the ingredients in convenient packaged proportions.

hkgar · 10/01/2017, 01:19 PM

DIY
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/

Brianhb308 · 10/01/2017, 06:20 PM

Although this may seem like an elementary question, do you reefers that supplement also do regular water changes? If so, how often and why?

bertoni · 10/01/2017, 06:23 PM

Something like 10-20% a month should be fine. There are a lot of problems that water changes can prevent:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

The DIY 2-part all add NaCl (table salt) over time because the primary ingredients are calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate. Water changes and dilution are the key to keeping the ionic balance and salinity in the reasonable zone.

mako61 · 10/02/2017, 09:41 AM

I also like the BRS 2 part. It is pretty cost effective and has good instructions and videos to help mix correctly.

hkgar · 10/02/2017, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

Something like 10-20% a month should be fine. There are a lot of problems that water changes can prevent:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

The DIY 2-part all add NaCl (table salt) over time because the primary ingredients are calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate. Water changes and dilution are the key to keeping the ionic balance and salinity in the reasonable zone.

Can you explain why table salt is added. I have been using the DIY 2 part for a couple years, but only when needed to supplement the calcium reactor.

How would you know if you needed to add table salt?

xCry0x · 10/02/2017, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

Can you explain why table salt is added. I have been using the DIY 2 part for a couple years, but only when needed to supplement the calcium reactor.

How would you know if you needed to add table salt?

What he was saying is the process of dosing adds salt over time. Regular water changes balances that out.

I dose BRS 2 part -- if I lived somewhere that had snow I would buy the dow flake like in Randy's article. Might have to go by home depot next time I am in the mountains =)

bertoni · 10/02/2017, 05:56 PM

Calcium chloride is CaCl₂. Sodium carbonate is Na₂CO₃ The corals consume the calcium and the carbonate, leaving 2 NaCl for each molecule of calcium carbonate created. Those are the two primary ingredients in the DIY, so that effect dominates the ionic shift.

09/30/2017, 07:36 PM	#1
reef_dude76 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Maryville, TN Posts: 663	Calcium and Alkalinity Best suppliments for dosing/maintaining calcium, alk, and magnesium levels? Kent tech cb, Brightwell Reef Code A and B, mag suppliments??? __________________ She canna take the current captn, she's gonna blow!! Current Tank Info: 20 gallon Nano SPS/LPS mixed reef

09/30/2017, 09:05 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	All of the commercial two-parts seem fine for calcium and alkalinity, although they might differ in cost. I've used the Kent and ESV magnesium supplements, and they are fine. The SeaChem is mostly magnesium sulfate, so it's not worth getting it, in my opinion. There are DIY recipes that will work, and will save some money, as well. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

10/01/2017, 01:19 PM	#4
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	DIY http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/ __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

10/01/2017, 06:23 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Something like 10-20% a month should be fine. There are a lot of problems that water changes can prevent: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php The DIY 2-part all add NaCl (table salt) over time because the primary ingredients are calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate. Water changes and dilution are the key to keeping the ionic balance and salinity in the reasonable zone. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

10/02/2017, 09:41 AM	#7
mako61 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Dallas Posts: 359	I also like the BRS 2 part. It is pretty cost effective and has good instructions and videos to help mix correctly. __________________ Thanks, Mako Current Tank Info: Returning Reefer - Red Sea 525XL, Mitras LX7s, Apex, check homepage for vids of tank

10/01/2017, 09:10 AM	#3
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	Personally, I'd stay away from Brightwell, since there seems to be a great deal of high-pressure marketing associated with their products, and at least at one point, it was difficult to get them to publish the ingredients. A heck of a lot of us simply mix our own from calcium chloride, sodium carbonate/bicarbonate, and magnesium chloride/sulfate. Have you read Randy Holmes Farley's article on DIY two-part dosing? His recipes are pretty much the gold standard of 2-part dosing, and folks like Bulk Reef Supply have made quite a business of supplying the ingredients in convenient packaged proportions.

10/01/2017, 06:20 PM	#5
Brianhb308 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ohio Posts: 25	Although this may seem like an elementary question, do you reefers that supplement also do regular water changes? If so, how often and why?

10/02/2017, 05:56 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Calcium chloride is CaCl₂. Sodium carbonate is Na₂CO₃ The corals consume the calcium and the carbonate, leaving 2 NaCl for each molecule of calcium carbonate created. Those are the two primary ingredients in the DIY, so that effect dominates the ionic shift. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni