Calcium, Alkalinity,Magnesium additives

[saltwaterguy112]

Was just wondering what additives you guys are using to maintain your calcium,alkalinity and magnesium. I am running low and need to make a purchase soon. I was recently using a Kent two part calcium and alkalinity and Magnesium chrolide from bulkreefsupply. I havent noticed the Magnesium levels increase since using in fact i seen it decrease. Dont know why? But whats the best on the market.

 

[reefsandrotts]

I was having the same problem and then was told to use the brightwell products.
Now my problems are going away.

 

[saltwaterguy112]

I was having the same problem and then was told to use the brightwell products.
Now my problems are going away.

When you say having the same problem are you referring to the Magnesium level dropping. And what brightwell product are you using? Are you using just the Magnesion or are you using the calcium and alkalinity.Anyone else?

 

[pgordemer]

Magnesium levels drop directly proportional to the CA usage in your system. I forget the actual ratio, but generally when at the your targeted levels and to maintain those levels, for every gallon of CA you add, you will be adding 20oz of magnesium.

 

[gogol]

Pardon the hitch-hike saltwater112 .... but my pH has been steadily falling and you did mention alkalinity ;D
Mods, please make this into a new thread should you feel the need.

Like all reefers (not that kind of reefers ) I want my private chunk of ocean in the living room and want water parameters to be near perfect , before I invite more residents in it.

I have a 20G long where Ammonia,Nitrate,Nitrite are 0,0,10 but my pH is creeping below 8 :'(. My powerhead (Koralia 1) is supposed to arrive in shipment on this Friday and I am trying to supplement with my power filter and airstone to assist in aeration.

I do not want to start off Kalkwasser for my small setup and was looking at commercially available buffers.

Would you recommend/have usage expereince of any of the following? [Pardon all links being from Petsmart , I have no affiliation but do like their price match policy ;D]

For Alkalinity:
a.Kent Marine Super Buffer dKH :http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754106
b.Seachem Liquid Marine Buffer: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753900

For Calcium/Magnesium :
a.Kent Marine Reef Starter Kit: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754105
b.Kent Marine Liquid Calcium: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754101
+ Epsom Salt (for magnesium)

 

[pgordemer]

Try going here and looking at the 2 part kits. It doesn't get any cheaper or easier than this.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Two-Part-Kits/c52/index.html

 

[gogol]

And another buffer: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753894

 

[reefsandrotts]

I use the following:
Magnesion-p
calcion-p
elemental-
8.3
I bought all of these in the biggest size available from my lfs and it only cost me $60.00 for everything, each container does 4000 gallons of water treatment.

 

[gogol]

I cant find the last product. Did you mean Brightwell Elemental reef builder ? That looks like more Ca,Mg ..etc. supplement and than a buffering solution. There is a small caveat saying that it temporarily introduces alkalinity.

Thanks for a the other two suggestions though. Do you know of a test kit that would test for Calcium,Phosphate and Magnesium ?

 

[mott768]

Before using a calcium reactor I used tropic marine bio calcium and never had problems with Cal and alk as it would raise both. My PH was always 8.3 while using it. Out of the many brands I tried I found it to be best but not cheapest. For mag. I use ESV liquid and very rarely have to add it since switching to a better salt mix. I have also used Kent Tech M which is good also, I don't like the powder Mag additives and found the liquid to be easier to dose.

 

[daveh285]

I have a 20G long where Ammonia,Nitrate,Nitrite are 0,0,10 but my pH is creeping below 8 . My powerhead (Koralia 1) is supposed to arrive in shipment on this Friday and I am trying to supplement with my power filter and airstone to assist in aeration.

Airstone?? I would remove the air stone

 

[gogol]

I realise the airstone is hardly any good compared to the powerhead.. but it does disturb the water surface and to somewhat assist in aeration, No ?? As explained, this is an intermittent situation till I get my powerhead.

Any reasons against keeping the air stone in a saltwater aquarium ? I read on the Net that the major issue was salt creep but I check my water conditions everyday since the setup is fairly new and volatile. Please let me know if I have totally missed out on something.

Again, as I said, I would hopefully be able to move the air stone back to my freshwater by Friday, when the powerhead arrives.

 

[vangvace]

Pardon the hitch-hike saltwater112 .... but my pH has been steadily falling and you did mention alkalinity ;D
Mods, please make this into a new thread should you feel the need.

Like all reefers (not that kind of reefers ) I want my private chunk of ocean in the living room and want water parameters to be near perfect , before I invite more residents in it.

I have a 20G long where Ammonia,Nitrate,Nitrite are 0,0,10 but my pH is creeping below 8 :'(. My powerhead (Koralia 1) is supposed to arrive in shipment on this Friday and I am trying to supplement with my power filter and airstone to assist in aeration.

I do not want to start off Kalkwasser for my small setup and was looking at commercially available buffers.

How new is the tank? pH will fluctuate for a few months while it is maturing.
At what time are you testing you're pH? What is your Alk, Ca, Mg at? Waterchange schedule?
Have anything go MIA recently?
What size powerfilter? Chances are that it is creating enough agitation on it's own.
Have you done the areation test to confirm that it's a CO2 buildup?

If only your Alk is dropping below the minimum acceptable levels between waterchanges then I would look into dosing baking soda/baked baking soda.

 

[gogol]

I have been planning to buy a reef test kit for a the last couple of days but my timing with my LFS always seems off :-\

I got my koralia 1 yesterday. It has blown one of my mushrooms off of the rock. :-[ , but the water movement has been great, hope it helps the pH situation. do I need to keep it on a timer, or can it always be on.

I recently got hold of the following product to buff up other required minerals. I got it in a haste since my pH was dropping fast, but would end up getting Magnesion-p and calcion-p as suggested previously.

Let me know if anyone has used them before. I will post the results after I've bought my kit today ...
http://www.amazon.com/Kent-Marine-Nano-Reef-Parts/dp/B001EWG0X4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1236266125&sr=8-1