What does Nano Reef A&B and other chemicals do?

Luckydawg · 01/25/2009, 06:31 PM

What does Nano Reef A&B and other chemicals do? Like are they beneficial to a new starting tank or do I need them after I add fish?

Sk8r · 01/25/2009, 06:56 PM

part A and B, if I understand what you're asking about, is for a tank that's been up and running a month with fish and corals. It is imporant after your cycle that you start testing for more than nitrate and ammonia. Alkalinity comes into play---and the only way to stabilize alkalinity is to have your magnesium and calcium in balance. If things are unhappy, always run those basic tests: salinity, nitrate, ammonia, alkalinity. Keeping a log book helps, so you can see whether the level is rising or falling over several days. You can raise alkalinity with a dkh buffer powder, or with that 2-part stuff. (It usually tends to fall.) If you keep corals, you also need to keep on top of the calcium and magnesium. You want an alkalinity of 8.3-9.3 to keep things happy. If you add buffer and the alk keeps falling and won't stay up, you're short of magnesium: but all 3 have to be in balance to get a stable water chemistry. It's why I say coral reefs are easier than fish-onlys. Corals tuck in and act upset if their chemistry shifts out of the safe zone, so you can tell at a glance you need to test and do something. Fish don't give you those clues, so you need to test on a very regular schedule.

mmedeiros2 · 01/25/2009, 07:01 PM

Only if you have corals. If you have fish only, the salt mixture should provide all you need between water changes. Check out these articals. If you want a saltwater tank you must read, read, read.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php

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

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=102605

01/25/2009, 06:31 PM	#1
Luckydawg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 16	What does Nano Reef A&B and other chemicals do? What does Nano Reef A&B and other chemicals do? Like are they beneficial to a new starting tank or do I need them after I add fish?

01/25/2009, 06:56 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	part A and B, if I understand what you're asking about, is for a tank that's been up and running a month with fish and corals. It is imporant after your cycle that you start testing for more than nitrate and ammonia. Alkalinity comes into play---and the only way to stabilize alkalinity is to have your magnesium and calcium in balance. If things are unhappy, always run those basic tests: salinity, nitrate, ammonia, alkalinity. Keeping a log book helps, so you can see whether the level is rising or falling over several days. You can raise alkalinity with a dkh buffer powder, or with that 2-part stuff. (It usually tends to fall.) If you keep corals, you also need to keep on top of the calcium and magnesium. You want an alkalinity of 8.3-9.3 to keep things happy. If you add buffer and the alk keeps falling and won't stay up, you're short of magnesium: but all 3 have to be in balance to get a stable water chemistry. It's why I say coral reefs are easier than fish-onlys. Corals tuck in and act upset if their chemistry shifts out of the safe zone, so you can tell at a glance you need to test and do something. Fish don't give you those clues, so you need to test on a very regular schedule. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/25/2009, 07:01 PM	#3
mmedeiros2 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Dartmouth, Ma. Posts: 452	Only if you have corals. If you have fish only, the salt mixture should provide all you need between water changes. Check out these articals. If you want a saltwater tank you must read, read, read. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=102605 __________________ One must always be aware for the unexpected. Mike Current Tank Info: 75 gal. / Sump / Skimmer / 65 Lbs. LR / 2 Cleaner Shrimp / Firefish / Bangi Cardinal / Pearly Jawfish / 3 - Yellow Clown Gobies / Yellow Wrasse / Hermits