Alk / Mag / Cal Relations

Jabberwock · 06/16/2010, 08:34 AM

Can someone give me a very basic description or a grid on how these three components effect each other. I'm not looking for numbers or quantities, just the general concept about how the three chemicals interact.

Examples:
If A goes up, then B goes down, but C is unaffected.
If B goes up, then A and C go down.
If C goes down, then A and B go down.

Something like this ^^^

amr952 · 06/16/2010, 08:43 AM

Not a very simple document but it explains what you are asking very well.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

Jabberwock · 06/16/2010, 09:16 AM

Good read. Thanks.

If I understood it right then:

1. If Alk increases, then Calcium decreases (Calcium precipitates out when excess Alk is in the water)

2. If Mag increases, then the Rate that Alk decreases Calcium by precipitation decreases (with higher Mag levels you can run a higher amount of Alk without precipitating as much Calcium)

3. Dosing 2-Part is superior to attempting to control Alk and Calcium independently.

4. Calcium should be maintained at natural seawater levels (~400ppm). Alk (and therefore Mag to prevent Calcium precipitation) should be just *slightly* elevated levels to promote faster coral growth (~8-12dKh).

Chris27 · 06/16/2010, 10:47 AM

Starting with Magnesium - if it's high, not to worry, if it's low, it becomes very difficult to maintain Calcium and Alkalinity.

If alkalinity drops, so does calcium.

If calcium drops, alkalinity already did.

I hope that is what you asked for.

06/16/2010, 08:34 AM	#1
Jabberwock Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: North Charleroi, PA Posts: 120	Alk / Mag / Cal Relations Can someone give me a very basic description or a grid on how these three components effect each other. I'm not looking for numbers or quantities, just the general concept about how the three chemicals interact. Examples: If A goes up, then B goes down, but C is unaffected. If B goes up, then A and C go down. If C goes down, then A and B go down. Something like this ^^^ __________________ -bill __________________ Current Tank Info: 90g Lagoon (launched 6/17) - LPS - 2x 360w, 1x MP40, 1x NWB-150, 1x GFO reactor, RKE, 2-part //// 24g Nano (Launched 1/18) - Zoanthid Garden - 5x Trulumen Pro, MJ1200

06/16/2010, 09:16 AM	#3
Jabberwock Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: North Charleroi, PA Posts: 120	Good read. Thanks. If I understood it right then: 1. If Alk increases, then Calcium decreases (Calcium precipitates out when excess Alk is in the water) 2. If Mag increases, then the Rate that Alk decreases Calcium by precipitation decreases (with higher Mag levels you can run a higher amount of Alk without precipitating as much Calcium) 3. Dosing 2-Part is superior to attempting to control Alk and Calcium independently. 4. Calcium should be maintained at natural seawater levels (~400ppm). Alk (and therefore Mag to prevent Calcium precipitation) should be just slightly elevated levels to promote faster coral growth (~8-12dKh). __________________ -bill __________________ Current Tank Info: 90g Lagoon (launched 6/17) - LPS - 2x 360w, 1x MP40, 1x NWB-150, 1x GFO reactor, RKE, 2-part //// 24g Nano (Launched 1/18) - Zoanthid Garden - 5x Trulumen Pro, MJ1200

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06/16/2010, 08:43 AM	#2
amr952 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Farmville, VA USA Posts: 59	Not a very simple document but it explains what you are asking very well. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

06/16/2010, 10:47 AM	#4
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	Starting with Magnesium - if it's high, not to worry, if it's low, it becomes very difficult to maintain Calcium and Alkalinity. If alkalinity drops, so does calcium. If calcium drops, alkalinity already did. I hope that is what you asked for.