Chemistry Help

So when are we going to put together a Begineers Chemistry Guide? I have had tanks for about a year now. (FOWLR) However, I would like to start thinking about the chems that are needed to change ca, mg and others. If anyone could help here please do. Please list the important Chems for Salt Water keeping. Also what they are and how to use them or supplement them. How to test them and such. Im just asking this as this is a Very Important part of Reef/salt water keeping and Im 100% sure other noobies would love it as well. Instead of searching all over different forums and search sites. Thanks guys.

 

Try this web site, it has alot of basic info. and has a great glossary.
Saltwater Aquarium Setup Guide

 

The glossary is nice but isn't much of what Im looking to find out.

 

Hey!

For keeping Ca: calcium chloride CaCl2 (commonly available as hexahydrat) sold by major brands as a mix of organic and inorganic salts

For Mg : Magnesium chloride MgCl2 (commonly available as hexahydrat) sold by major brands as a mix of organic and inorganic salts

For SO42-: various sulfates come as potassium and sodium salts K2SO4 and Na2SO4


These chemicals are almost always found (in proper proportions) in trace element blends:

For I: potassium iodate KI (trace element)

For Sr: Strontium chloride (very basic, trace element)

For B: sodium and potassium borates (BO3-) (trace element)

For Mn: Manganium chloride MnCl2 (trace element)

As for the testing! It's rather simple. There are few sorts of test kits for every major water/trace element. Chemically speaking one uses so called colorimetry, very old school but effective method to test for water components (this methodology is still being used by CSI or military to quickly verify content of unknown solutions). Usually tests are delivered with small cuvette with designated volume that you have to fill in with your aquarium water. The actual detection is as simple as adding drops of reagent and counting them. Once you see a difference in coloration before and after addition of the drop, and this difference results in the stable color, you reed in from the manual number of drops that you have used for particular element and/or color of your solution. This directly tells you what is concentration of desired element in water. As simple as that!

I hope that helps!

 

It helps. More or less Im looking for people to gather around and say what they test and or what should be tested. Then how to supplement it into the tank. And if there are any tricks to it. Thanks

 

for my tanks

regular testing: Ca, Mg, dKH
every two weeks: Sr
sometimes NO3

supplement: liquid/dry seachem, Ca reactor, CaOH2

tricks: every tank has its own heart beat, in finding out the tnaks dKH consumption rate all other elements fall into place.

 

I test for the following(no specific order);
1. SG(salt)
2. Cal
3.Mag
4. NH3* * means once in a blue moon
5. NO2*
6. NO3
7. Dkh/Alk
8. PH
9. PO4*

Now for adding the elements, I use Kent Marine's OSMO Prep when adding top off water, That takes care off Cal, Mag and buffers. You can use other additives to get the same results. Im using the OSMO more frequently b/c I already know how much my tank is absorbing it. Word of advice, I test before I add anything. Alk can be added in many different ways, for ex. B-Ionic two part system takes care of Cal and Alk, or Arm and Hammer Washing soda. Mag can also be add by Ebsom salts. I hope this has helped you, Luna

 

Thanks guys yes this is helping. Id still like to her from a couple more people on this forum. Can anyone shine a like on what SO42 is?

Also I think I read it somewhere if you are supplementing with a Ca Reactor you dont have to supplement mag or something like that Im not sure ? Is a Ca Reactor a good thing to go with or is supplementing after tests just as well off?

 

You should find much of what you want to know here:



Chemistry and the Aquarium, By Randy Holmes Farley

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters, By Randy Holmes Farley

Both of above have lots of good references.

For really specific questions not covered, our resident chemist "Camilsky"
should be able to help you out.

Beyond the basics, I am chemistry (and maybe "chemically") impaired.



Scott

 

The only reasons I see the need of a CA reactor is;
1. You have a big system and a reactor is easier than dosing ca
2. Your lazy and dont want to be dosing Cal
3. Your system consumes way too much Cal for just dosing.
This is just my opinion.