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FAQs on Calcium and Alkalinity in Seawater, Products For
Related Articles: Calcium and Alkalinity
Explained by Anthony Calfo,
Calcium, Biominerals,
Using Kalkwasser, Calcium Reactors,
Marine Maintenance, Marine Water
Quality, Magnesium in Seawater,
Strontium in Seawater, pH, Alkalinity,
Marine Alkalinity, Live Sand,
Marine Substrates, Reef
Systems,
Refugiums, Related FAQs:
Ca/Alk 1, Ca/Alk 2,
Ca/Alk 3, & FAQs on Calcium & Alkalinity:
The Science of Calcium & Alkalinity,
Importance, Measure,
Sources, Use of Additives, Troubleshooting/Fixing,
&
Calcium, &
FAQs on Calcium:
Rationale/Use, Calcium Measuring/Test
Kits, Sources of Calcium,
Calcium Supplements, Dosing,
Chemical/Physical Interactions,
Troubleshooting/Fixing, &
Calcium Reactors, pH, Alkalinity,
Marine Alkalinity, Marine Alkalinity 2,
Marine Alkalinity 3, Marine
Supplements 1, |
Mmm... there are many (strong) opinions re methods, brands...
whatever S.O.P. you settle on, do continue testing, pre-mixing and
storing ahead of use, making gradual changes... |
Supplementing Limestone Flour? 8/14//08
Hello Crew,
After Googling my head off, I'm having trouble finding an answer. When
searching for calcium carbonate alternatives, I've come across a product
called limestone flour. Can this be used, dissolved in water, as a
calcium/alkalinity supplement?
<Mmmm, nominally, yes... practically?
Not likely... just not very soluble>
"Chemical" supply companies seem
to have better prices on "high purity" ground limestone than dedicated
marine suppliers.
Would this also help supplement the biominerals
deficient in calcium chloride?
<Mmmm, no... not really... as in other
than calcium and bicarbonate... there is nothing else in Limestone...
Where would Magnesium for instance come from?>
I Googled limestone
flour/ground limestone in conjunction with calcium carbonate
supplementation and didn't get a conclusive answer that it's a viable
alternative. Would this be approximately the same solution to the Tropic
Marin Bio Calcium?
<Is similar in principle make-up, but...>
My
setup includes a 120 sps reef with two 110g basement sumps. The first
one is filled with live rock that flows over into a second one (filled
with a DSB, some rock, and Chaeto) and back up stairs. Just always
looking for a better/less expensive way to add calcium without the
investment in a reactor.
Thanks as always for your help. Without your
site...success would be more of a delayed gratification.
Jeff
<Would like to make a few statements. The use of finely ground CaCO3
can/could be useful, economical IF you had a large, let's say commercial
grow-out system of high biomineral use, along with supplying other
needed materials. In practical terms however, for the small volume/need
you have, the best (cheapest, simplest, most-reliable) method of
supplying alkalinity and biomineral content is some sort of reactor...
can be DIY made... I would NOT just supplement (alone) this flour... but
it's worth experimenting to prove to yourself the value in using
"balanced" means of supplementation. Bob Fenner>
B-Ionic Dosing Pump
12/24/07
Hey guys,
So I have a 90 gallon reef tank, full of
SPS and LPS to the point where I could not add another coral. I have
been struggling with getting the correct Ca and Alk levels I want, and
have been through a Kalk reactor and Calcium Reactor and am fed up with
trying to get them dialed in correctly.
<Mmm, there are automated
measure, feeding devices...>
After comparing the results I have
gotten with B-Ionic 2 part Ca and Alk solution with the Kalk reactor and
Calcium Reactor, I would like to go back to using the B-Ionic as it is
so easy to use and has given me good results.
<Is/are fine product/s>
My only question is I have an Aquadoser Quadro which I am planning to
use to dose these 2 supplements automatically, but after reading some of
the Q and A on this issue I learned that the Ca part of the B-Ionic must
be stirred vigourously before it is added in order to ensure saturation.
So would it be possible for me to add a small powerhead which pumps
inline to the bottom of the Ca bottle to ensure that the Ca never sinks
to the bottom, and I get as close to 100% saturation as possible?
<Mmm, yes... though I'd rather use an external magnetic stirrer of sorts
(take a look on chemistry supply sites on the Net)... as this will be
far more appropriate technology, not suffer from "clogging"...>
If
this is a viable option would I need to leave it on 24/7 or just have a
couple of hours a day.
<Could be put on, timed or tied in with the
doser alone...>
Also, since I have 2 other dosing pumps, I was
thinking of adding either Magnesium, Phytoplex, Zooplex or Strontium,
which 2 would you recommend dosing on a regular basis?
<Mmm, none of
the above... Am not a fan of dosing Strontium (only needed/used in
extremely low concentration), and the other alkaline earth element (Mg)
is best used via/after testing for free Ca... in proportion... the
"plexes", not needed, advised... as dosed>
Also, after reading
several other articles on adding Kalk with the B-Ionic it seems
unnecessary as you would be throwing off the balance between the
supplements, is this correct? Thanks for your input!
AJ
<... Too
much to state re... Calcium Hydroxide only really adds calcium... Do you
understand the basic (joke not implied) underlying chemistry/physics
here? Apparently not... Do JUST read what is posted on WWM re... OR
Baensch's works OR Fossa and Nilsen... so you don't get confused... at
one time... and write back re specifics. Bob Fenner>
Calcium/Alkalinity Supplements
WWW Team,
I know that you
normally do not like to endorse products, but I am receiving conflicting
advice from 2 LFS that I go to. I currently use ESV 2 part B-Ionic
Calcium Buffer System which was recommended by one of the LFS. The
other store said that this stuff is bad due to increasing phosphates and
causing hair algae, even though the package states that it does not
increase phosphates. They recommend using Kent Marine Calcium and Pro
Buffer. I have noticed a little hair algae, but not overwhelming, and I
have not tested for phosphates (I know I probably should). Which LFS is
right? Do you recommend one product over the other?
Thanks for your
help
<I can only speak with my personal experience with both of these
products. I have used the ESV B-Ionic for several months at a time and
have never experienced any elevated phosphate or hair algae because of
it. Kent Marine calcium and buffer worked best at raising the calcium
and alkalinity levels. Overall, I would purchase the Kent product.>
Hope this helps,
Graham Stephan R/O water
treatment part2 2/22/05
One follow-up question: If I use B-Ionic,
is there any reason not to use it to treat the ro/di water in the Brute,
before that water is used to make synthetic seawater or to top-up the
tank? Thanks, Tom
<B-Ionic and similar two part additives are shipped
as two parts because mixing them will result in a useless insoluble
precipitate. For this reason, they must be added separately (I even
suggest several hours apart), and cannot be mixed in make up water.
Also, you could add one or the other part to your make up water, but
IMO, this would be complicating a very simple process. Hope this helps.
AdamC.> EVS 2-Part Solution Alk/Cal
Hello Crew,
<Hello Steve>
A few weeks back a reader of your website asked the
crew if you could use just 1 part of the EVS solution. Their situation
was that they needed to raise their calcium, a crew member did not know
the answer so they diligently emailed EVS and they stated they never
received a response from EVS at that point in time. I read your website
just about everyday and I never saw a response.
On 04/24/05 I
emailed EVS because this is my situation, Cal 470, Alk 7.2, PH 8.2, and
I want to raise my Alk, I never received a response, did you guys?
"Dear EVS,
When using your 2 part buffer system can you use just 1 of
the solutions. Example: my calcium is at 470 and my alkalinity is at 7.2
can I just use part 1 to raise my alkalinity? Also if the situations
were reversed and I wanted to just raise my calcium could I just use
part 2? Thank you for your time in advance.
Thanks Steve"
<Not
to my knowledge. With customer service like that, I wouldn't be using
their products to start with.>
I have purchased this product and I
don't know if I can use it in this application. Any good products that
you can suggest for just raising just my Alk, but really I just want an
answer from EVS. Copy of orig. message below.
<Steve, I see no
problem just using the alkalinity booster. I really dislike the two part
supplements for the very reason you are stating. I've tried those once
and was in the same boat you're in. Most of the two part supplements
have to be purchased in two parts even though you have much left of the
other part. Much better to use products like SeaChem or Kent
Marine. These companies DO respond to their customers. James (Salty
Dog)>
Thanks Steve
Re: Fw: B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System
Dear Crew,
I did get an
answer..... Steve
<Ahh, thank you for sharing. Will post. Bob Fenner>
In a message dated 4/24/2005
" Dear EVS,
When using your 2 part
buffer system can you use just 1 of the solutions. Example: my calcium
is at 425 and my alkalinity is at 7.2 can I just use part 1 to raise my
alkalinity? Also if the situations were reversed and I wanted to just
raise my calcium could I just use part 2? Thank you for your time in
advance.
Steve"
Steve,
Sorry for this late reply. No problem
using more of one component than the other in order to tweak the
chemistry back in balance. Be careful with the component 1 (alkalinity)
in that you don't exceed 1 ml/per gallon per day and/or allow the pH to
exceed 8.45.
Best Regards,
Bob Stark (ESV)
High Calcium & Alk
Hello!
<Hi!>
I would like to thank you
in advance for your time and apologize for the length of my email.
<No worries...We enjoy answering questions>
I have an established (18
months) 125 gal saltwater tank. I am using a sand substrate 2-4 inches
(varies from spot to spot because some of the fish move it around) with
135 lbs of live rock. My water parameters are calcium 405, magnesium
1150, alk/dKH 12,
<A calcium and alkalinity that high is a difficult
feat to accomplish. I would be careful of letting them get out of hand
and rising too high>
ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate (impossible to get
a clear reading was using coral vital
<You would be wise to leave
that "snake oil" out>
but I have stopped adding it for last 2 weeks
and don't plan on continuing) after >calculation 7, Strontium off the
chart >40, pH 8.2 in the am, iodine .08, sg 1.024, temp 78-80.
<All
sounds good> - Balancing Chemical Equations -
All,
<Good morning, JasonC here...>
When Calcium Chloride is added to
water, you get wanted calcium ions and unwanted chloride ions. Does
Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda) break up into sodium ions and
bicarbonate ions? <Oh man... general chemistry seems so far away right
now. I think for the basics, yes this is true.>
If so, wouldn't the
chloride ions combine with the sodium ions to form NaCl, salt? It
probably isn't a perfectly balanced equation, but it seems that it could
mitigate the usefulness of calcium chloride. <It would seem that way,
but there are other reactions taking place in a marine system that would
also need to be taken into account. What those reactions are exactly is
escaping me at the moment... but on the simple path, I think this is
true - you would produce salt.>
If each is added in *small*
quantities, say Calcium Chloride in the early a.m. and Sodium
Bicarbonate in the early p.m., couldn't they become a useful adjunct to
regular Kalkwasser use, if Kalkwasser alone was not supplying enough
calcium to meet the daily demands of a given system (as is my case).
<Well... if you look at a bottle of ESV B-Ionic, you will find that
their part A is calcium chloride, and part B is sodium bicarbonate, and
part B buffers part A. So in effect, this is similar to the reaction you
describe. I'm not a huge fan of Kalkwasser myself - much to easy to get
into bad trouble with. You might want to consider a calcium reactor -
the cash outlay is perhaps a little high up front, but in the long term
will save you money, grief, and is much better for your system than
calcium chloride.>
Thanks in advance.
Sincerely,
Mark Schwartz
<Cheers, J -- > 2 Part Supplements
Which 2 part
supplement do you recommend for adding Calcium and Buffer (Kent Tech
CB, C Balance, etc.) <I always used b-ionic by ESV. They're all really
the same thing and you'll be satisfied with any one you get.>
I have
a 125 gallon reef with fish and hard corals (torch, hammer, frogspawn,
xenia). <Cool, just make sure that you pick up carbonate hardness and
calcium test kits.>
Thanks,
<Enjoy! -Kevin>
Steve
Establishing Calcium and Alkalinity
<Hello! Ryan with you today>
I have a 58g reef tank that I started about 2 months ago. I have 70lbs
of live rock, 40lbs live sand, 2 clownfish, 1 Kole tang, 10 snails, and
5 crabs. <OK> I have a Euro-Reef cs6-1 skimmer, 250w 10,000k metal
halide light, 450gph sump pump and 300gph circulation pump. I've start
thinking about adding calcium to my system to get ready for corals and I
can't decide which method to use. <Understood> I'm thinking Kalkwasser,
2-part calcium/alkalinity, or Seachem reef advantage calcium. <B-Ionic
2-part calcium alk is what I prefer> I'm looking for least maintenance,
most idiot proof, and most effective. <Exactly why I prefer it> I would
also like a recommendation for inexpensive test kits for calcium and
alkalinity. <Seachem works well and is reasonable> What are your
thoughts on the calcium situation and what are your thoughts on my setup
so far? <Sounds great, you've got sturdy equipment list and you're
taking it slow. I'd add some live rock if possible, you'll want at
least 1 pound per gallon. Best of luck! Ryan> Your help is much
appreciated. Thanks, Chris - Shaken not Stirred -
Hello folks! I love your site (best on the web) and really hope I didn't
just miss the answer to these questions somewhere in the faq's.
Hopefully you can help me out here. I was reading Anthony's article on
calcium, in specific, the section pertaining to different sorts of
supplements. He seems to be advising against using liquid calcium
supplements due to a sort of ionic imbalance in the long run. He seemed
ok, however, with using a 2 part system. Is there a reason that this is
not a problem when using a 2 part system? <They are ionically (is that a
word?) balanced. One part is buffer, the other calcium.> I currently run
ESV b-ionic on my 75 gal reef and do not wish to have long term
problems. <ESV is a fine calcium supplement.> It has shown me stable
calcium around 420 with alk at about 10. Live stock seems very healthy
with everything from mushrooms, buttons, Capnella, to Montipora
reproducing or growing steadily. In fact, the only thing that doesn't
grow is coralline algae! <Give it time.> Other than on the rock
(approximately 110 pounds) I have no calcareous (sp?) at all. I run 2
96w (blue and 10k) pc's and 2 40w zoomed Reefsun. Calcium 420, alk 10,
magnesium 1300, nitrates 10-20, phosphate 0. Is the lack of phosphate
the limiting factor? <I don't think so. As I said, give it time.>
Thanks, JL
<Cheers, J -- > Calcium/alkalinity supplements
09/09/03
Hello crew,
<Hi Marty, PF on call tonight>
I am
looking for some clarification on two part supplements, specifically
Kent A&B. I have a 120gal reef tank with a 100lbs live rock that has
been up a running for 8 months. My livestock consists of a hammer coral,
candy cane, open brain, green mushrooms, green star polyps and some
brown and yellow
button polyps. I also have a couple of tangs,
clowns, Chromis, cardinals and some shrimp. I have been adding equal
parts A&B daily and maintaining a fairly good balance. (12 dKH & 350
cal). These are currently the only supplements I am adding. I tested
the other day and noticed the calcium was starting to creep down under
300 while my alkalinity remained at 12 dKH. I know that both cal/alk can
not be simultaneously high, but I would like to
get the calcium back
up to the 350-400 level. In reading the FAQ's I have found that the
answer to increasing the calcium is to temporarily add calcium chloride
until the target value is reached then continue on with the equal parts
of A&B. Is this the same as just adding more of part A, in which the
main ingredient is calcium salts? I'm assuming that this is the same as
calcium chloride. I just want to make sure I am not going to screw up
the of the balance if A&B are not always added in equal amounts. I know
the real answer to this question is to buy a calc reactor, hopefully I
will get there in due time.
Thanks a lot for your help. Marty
<I would advise you to just use the calcium chloride, "calcium salts"
implies more than one kind. And you're right, the real answer is a
reactor. You might also want to look into adding Kalkwasser to your
daily top off. Have a good evening, PF>
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