new reef tank

john dillon

New Member
i have a 55 gallon tank some equipment i have is a coral life super skimmer, fluval 306 canister filter, solarmax t5 lighting system, 2 powerheads for water movement, basic heater and temp probe. Some live stock I have in the tank includ 30 pounds of live rock two damsel, two bay clown fish and an anemone. i just introduce 5 frags of assorted coral. I have been running tank about 3 months. and use api reef master test kit. so far everything is running fine. my only concern is how to maintain my calcium levels and alkalinity levels. in bought esv b ionic buffering system. i have not used it because i am unclear on how dose it. do i dose the calcium part 2 all at once that would be 10 - 12 ml or do i spread that dose throughout the.
 

Oxylebius

Well-Known Member
Do not dose anything that you are not testing for. Dosing can be very tricky to get a hang of at first. Some tanks can really get screwed by dosing w/o really understanding what is going on in their tanks chemical-wise. If you don't have test kits for the chemicals that you want to dose, then go out and buy some test kits.

It can take some time to wrap your head around the relationship of Ca, Mg & Alk. They all interact with each other in your tank. And there is a balance with each that you will want to maintain in the tank.

You first need to find out how much your tank is consuming in a week's time (of Ca, Alk and Mg). In this time don't dose anything or do water changes. Test daily (if you can) or every other day to determine how much the levels are falling.

Now that you have a better understanding of how much your tank in consuming. Do a water change. Test before and after the water change. Did the water change bring the levels back to where they need to be? If so, then you don't need to start dosing yet. Or are you still a little low on Ca, Alk, or Mg? If so, then it sounds like it is time to start to dose the tank.

If you find that your levels are low, then you can start to figure out your dosing regime. I'd do another water change to get your levels back to where you want them. Once you have the levels where you want them, you are gonna want to maintain the levels. To do this you are gonna dose small amts of Ca and Alk on a daily basis.
 

Oxylebius

Well-Known Member
And here are some articles that you can get started on reading.

Dosing Calcium and Alkalinity

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 1: The Salt Water Itself http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

Aquarium Chemistry: The Chemical and Biochemical Mechanisms of Calcification http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/4/chemistry

Chemistry and the Aquarium: Calcium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/3/chemistry

Calcium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2002/chem.htm

A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php

Calcium Carbonate as a Supplement
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/july2002/chem.htm

Purity of Calcium Chloride
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2004/chem.htm

What is Alkalinity?
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2002/chemistry.htm

The Chemical & Biochemical Mechanisms of Calcification in Corals
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/apr2002/chem.htm


Articles on how to keep Ca and Alk in balance:


When Do Calcium and Alkalinity Demand Not Exactly Balance?
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rhf/index.htm

Calcium and Alkalinity Balance Issues
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-04/rhf/feature/index.htm

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm



Additional details on how each are used are provided in these articles:


Comparison of Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Methods
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

Calcium carbonate/carbon dioxide reactors
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/sh/feature/index.htm

Limewater (kalkwasser)
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm

Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Systems
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

A Guide to Using Calcium Reactors
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/sh/feature/index.htm


The following calculator and articles will help guide aquarists through the process of fixing calcium and alkalinity imbalances in reef aquaria using these types of supplements:


Reef Chemicals Calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

BRS Aquarium and Reef Calculators
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-calculator

Electronic Calcium Monitoring
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-04/rhf/index.htm
 

DaveK

Well-Known Member
@Oxylebius just about covers the entire topic pn calcium and alkalinity. I will add a few points.

Do not chase numbers, you will do more harm than good.
With only 5 coral frags, I doubt your getting very much calcium depletion. You may be able to maintain things via water changes.
Make sure your SG is correct before you test and make adjustments. If it is off you'll skew the test results.
Get your magnesium level correct before you try to fix calcium and alkalinity.
Make changes slowly and carefully.
 

nanoreefing4fun

Well-Known Member
RS STAFF
welcomefish.gif

to ReefSanctuary, a real Sanctuary of reef forums, with lots of very nice members

Start a tank thread & share your tank with us so we can follow along, we love pics :nessie:
 
Top