alkaline and my skimmer?

George771177 · 01-06-2008, 08:16 PM

i added alkaline today is it necessary for me to turn off my porein skimmer?

Also i have a test kit for alkaline but it is hard to tell where my numbers really are because its a drop test kit and the chart seems to be hard to read. does anyone use a diffrent test kit rather than drop kits.

I read up on alkaline from a link a fellow reefer sent me it says alkaline should be between 8 and 12. I was just wandering if it would benifitt to be higher?

prow · 01-06-2008, 08:23 PM

leave the skimmer on.

not sure what kit you. i use salifert.

chemistry huh? here is a link about gen. water parameter levels. Reef Aquarium Water Parameters by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

have more on alk if you like

lcstorc · 01-06-2008, 08:35 PM

Read the link above. You don't want to just add alk. You need to balance the calc, alk, mag, and ph. They all work together. Adjusting just one can cause the others to go out of wack.

Frankie · 01-06-2008, 08:50 PM

How did you add alkaline?

framerguy · 01-06-2008, 08:54 PM

High alkalinity10-12 and upper end PH (8.3) can aid in the prevention of nuisance algae.

George771177 · 01-06-2008, 10:16 PM

you can add alkaline with alkaline supplements. Thanks for the ip on the high alkaline 10-12 preventing nuissance algae i guess thats why i was getting some build up on my glass, i thought it was my protein skimmer not working right.

prow · 01-06-2008, 11:38 PM

there are different things that contribute to your tanks alk. for example bicarbonate or carbonate are the biggies. some buffer are made of bicarb which effect the ph big time and the alk. other are made of mostly carbonate which raises alk but doesnt effect the ph so much. its not your alk that is causing your algae issue, but it is ture stuff like phosphates do contribute to alk too. but a raise in alk due to that would have the opposite effect your thinking of.

some type of alk/Ca sup do contribute to algae grow, like using a Ca+reactor, the extra CO2 from that might feul algae, but not the calcium and carbonate part-unless your including coralline and other calcareous algaes. using lime water the calcium hydroxide(hydroxide adds alk) but lime actually soaks up some of algaes food and help limits its growth. do read that link and here are some more

all about alk
Chemistry and the Aquarium - Randy Holmes-Farley
alk and ph
Chemistry and the Aquarium
boron-effects alk here
Chemistry and the Aquarium
Ca and alk here wrok togather here;

Calcium and Alkalinity by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
type of sup here
Chemistry and the Aquarium

when your ready for the calcium and ph parts ask away

. or Mg or Sr ect...and then if you find your all out of balance have a few link to help you correct it

sorry can go into it myself here, got a plane to catch. but others like those above will help you out

01-06-2008, 08:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
George771177 Scopas Tang Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: indiana Posts: 426 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	alkaline and my skimmer? i added alkaline today is it necessary for me to turn off my porein skimmer? Also i have a test kit for alkaline but it is hard to tell where my numbers really are because its a drop test kit and the chart seems to be hard to read. does anyone use a diffrent test kit rather than drop kits. I read up on alkaline from a link a fellow reefer sent me it says alkaline should be between 8 and 12. I was just wandering if it would benifitt to be higher?

01-06-2008, 08:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
prow Tridacna maxima Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 4,728 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: alkaline and my skimmer? leave the skimmer on. not sure what kit you. i use salifert. chemistry huh? here is a link about gen. water parameter levels. Reef Aquarium Water Parameters by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com have more on alk if you like __________________ "He who sees things grow from their beginnings shall have the finest view of them" ........Aristotle........ "The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad." - Salvador Dali my chronicle........ http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...al-system.html my clamicle..........http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...my-tank-d.html

01-06-2008, 08:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,433 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: alkaline and my skimmer? Read the link above. You don't want to just add alk. You need to balance the calc, alk, mag, and ph. They all work together. Adjusting just one can cause the others to go out of wack. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

01-06-2008, 08:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
framerguy Tridacna maxima Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Clarkesville, Ga Posts: 4,994 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: alkaline and my skimmer? High alkalinity10-12 and upper end PH (8.3) can aid in the prevention of nuisance algae. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) 375gDT built in wall, 100g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, Aqua C EV-400 skimmer etc, etc, etc... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...areum-too.html

01-06-2008, 10:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
George771177 Scopas Tang Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: indiana Posts: 426 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: alkaline and my skimmer? you can add alkaline with alkaline supplements. Thanks for the ip on the high alkaline 10-12 preventing nuissance algae i guess thats why i was getting some build up on my glass, i thought it was my protein skimmer not working right.

01-06-2008, 11:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
prow Tridacna maxima Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 4,728 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: alkaline and my skimmer? there are different things that contribute to your tanks alk. for example bicarbonate or carbonate are the biggies. some buffer are made of bicarb which effect the ph big time and the alk. other are made of mostly carbonate which raises alk but doesnt effect the ph so much. its not your alk that is causing your algae issue, but it is ture stuff like phosphates do contribute to alk too. but a raise in alk due to that would have the opposite effect your thinking of. some type of alk/Ca sup do contribute to algae grow, like using a Ca+reactor, the extra CO2 from that might feul algae, but not the calcium and carbonate part-unless your including coralline and other calcareous algaes. using lime water the calcium hydroxide(hydroxide adds alk) but lime actually soaks up some of algaes food and help limits its growth. do read that link and here are some more all about alk Chemistry and the Aquarium - Randy Holmes-Farley alk and ph Chemistry and the Aquarium boron-effects alk here Chemistry and the Aquarium Ca and alk here wrok togather here; Calcium and Alkalinity by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com type of sup here Chemistry and the Aquarium when your ready for the calcium and ph parts ask away. or Mg or Sr ect...and then if you find your all out of balance have a few link to help you correct it sorry can go into it myself here, got a plane to catch. but others like those above will help you out __________________ "He who sees things grow from their beginnings shall have the finest view of them" ........Aristotle........ "The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad." - Salvador Dali my chronicle........ http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...al-system.html my clamicle..........http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...my-tank-d.html

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