How are Calcium levels and Alkalinity related?

I'm not sure, but let me BUMP this up and see if we get an answer!!

Not sure if this is correct, but just a guess- I'm bad at the chemistry side of reefkeeping, but I'm trying to learn. I don't look at them as being related however they could be. If my sytem needs CA, then I add more Kalk to my dripper. If my ALK is low, them I add alk buffer and I do the same with PH buffer too. I *think* adding kalk will increase your PH, but not sure how that affects ALK though.

I'm bad at the chemistry side of reefkeeping

Me too that's why I'm hoping Rob can cover this in more depth on a show.

I guess I should elaborate. What do they effect when they are not within the recommended values? How are the interrelated? I've heard that high alkalinity messes with your Calcium levels. Is this true and is it a problem? What methods can be used to keep them in balance? I've heard that high alkalinity can help control nuisance algae, will this have any other good or bad effects on my tank?

Once that's correct what about Magnesium, Strontium, etc.?

Hey look! You're an Insightful Reefer now!

Hey look! You're an Insightful Reefer now!

YAY!! Keep on posting and you will be there too!

Here are some good links to brush up on the chemistry...

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/alkalinity.htm

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/calcalkmar.htm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

There's some great articles out there that really go into depth. Have fun reading!
:lol:
Christi

Thanks for the links Christi. I actually read those a long time ago. But my eyes glazed over at the time. LOL Was hoping someone could explain it in a way that doesn't make my head hurt.

weeel, lets see. we all know about ph and hardness right? Well, certain types of cations and ions will release and combine during different amounts of ph or hardness in solution. Calcium carbonate for example will dilute with higher ph values and relative hardness (alk) vs. a lump in the bottom of your tank with the aragonite all clumped together with low ph (acidosis) and soft water. There is not enough covalence to pull these materials into the solution so they seek clumping elsewhere. Ie...the bottom of our tanks. the trouble of scleritinians is that the cal. levels are unable to be processed correctly and end up "caking" the coral instead of making new coral skeleton. the health of the animal is adversely affected. Does any of this make sense? Sorry if I rambled on.

Chapter 5 of The Reef Aquarium, Vol 3, by Delbeek and Sprung answers every question about Calcium, Alkalinity and pH that I can think of and then some. It's a VERY good book.

So, the third volume is worth getting as well?? I have the first two and wasn't sure whether the third could really cover even more info! Super, have to put that on my birthday list then! :-)

I just got it yesterday. Personally I like this one better than the first two. This one is on tank hardware, maintenance and care. But I'm a hardward guy. It's giving me lots of DIY ideas.

Maybe this is a little bit out of topic but, I’m interested in a good and very complete reef book, I was trying to get more info on the one that you mentioned, but cant find the Table of Contents anywhere, what’s the main topics for Volume 1, 2 and 3?, is there any other book that you guys highly recommend?

I've really enjoyed and have gained a lot of knowledge from the following:

Reef Invertebrates: An Essential Guide to Selection, Care and Compatibilty (Paperback) by Anthony Calfo and Robert Fenner - this one has a pretty in depth section on refugiums

Aquarium Corals : Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History (Hardcover) by Eric H. Borneman - a great book on everything about corals

Complete Encyclopedia of the Saltwater Aquarium (Hardcover) by Julian Sprung - this is a great book for a beginner, covering a lot of information and some basics on fish, but it's not filled with lots of technical info.

The Modern Coral Reef Aquarium (Modern Coral Reef Aquarium) (Hardcover) by Svein Fossa, Alf Nilsen - although this book is from 1996, it full of great information on all the technical aspects of reefkeeping. I've learned a lot from this book...

Corals: A Quick Reference Guide (Oceanographic Series) (Oceanographic Series) (Hardcover) by Julian Sprung - a super, photographic reference guide to tons and tons of corals, also addressing their lighting, flow and food needs.

Invertebrates: A Quick Reference Guide (Oceanographic Series) (Hardcover) by Julian Sprung - in the same series as his corals book, covering the same information for invertebrates.


and of course, the two books mentioned previously,
The Reef Aquarium: A Comprehensive Guide to the Identification and Care of Tropical Marine Invertebrates (Volume 1) (Hardcover) by J. Charles Delbeek and Julian Sprung - great book overall

and

The Reef Aquarium: A Comprehensive Guide to the Identification and Care of Tropical Marine Invertebrates (Vol 2) (Hardcover) by Julian Sprung and J. Charles Delbeek - the second part...

All of these books have been books that I've back to time and time again and each time learn something new. Hope this helped somebody!:)

All of these books have been books that I've back to time and time again and each time learn something new. Hope this helped somebody!:)

Wow...yeah, it helped me see that I won't have any money for some time to come. ;)

At least I have them bookmarked now, so I know what to put cash aside for. Thanks for posting that list.

Look into whether or not your local reefing club has a library. I've purchased lots of books, but use the Boston Reefers Library whenever I can. I also donate my used books to the library.

Finally, for chemistry issues, you CAN'T go wrong reading anything by Randy Holmes-Farley. He is brilliant and has a knack for being able to put things out in 'lay terms'.

Dave

farley is the coolest egg head your going to have the pleasure of experienceing. tell me something international TR community, who who in the marine industry that can warrent a mention, cause america seems to have us licked at the moment!

Anthony Calfo wrote a neat illustration in his book on coral propogation in regaurds to alk verses ca. Basicaly he said that you reef tank is a jar and alk is blue marbles while Ca is red marbles. You can only put so many marbles in the jar wether its more blue or red.

Greg