Saltwater preparation and Ca Mg dKH Relationship

08 Feb Saltwater preparation and Ca Mg dKH Relationship

Talking about practical preparation of saltwater , the relationship between Ca Mg and dKh, concentration and administration of values, it is advisable to carry out the preparation by adding synthetic salts to osmosis water. This procedure should be done a few days before use with the help of a pump and a heater, so as to dissolve all trace elements and to stabilize the triad Ca Mg and dKh.

One of the most important things for the proper maintenance of a marine aquarium is the balance between calcium and magnesium ions in relation to KH as critical to the organisms present in the tank especially for corals, also this balance protects against sudden changes in daytime and nightime of PH value, caused by carbon dioxide and the activity of the plant.

Let’s analyze those 3 elements:

MAGNESIUM

Magnesium is one of the most abundant ions in the seas around the world, it is essential for biological processes in all animals and plants, as part of the exoskeleton in animals and is essential for photosynthesis in plants. The corrected concentration of magnesium range is 1250 to 1350 mg / liter.

CALCIUM

Calcium is important for the balance in sea water and the proper calcification of exoskeletons and endoskeletons of many corals. Its concentration is determined by the salt concentration, that is, Calcium increases with increasing salinity and density. But if we get closer to saturation of the salts, you will see a milky water, like fog. Instead a good indicator that the dissolved calcium is correct and balanced with magnesium and KH, it is the continued growth of coralline algae rose-colored on glasses, pumps and rocks. The corrected range concentration of Calcium is 360 and 450 mg / lt.

dKH OR ALKALINITY

As for magnesium and calcium, a correct KH value is essential for the growth of hard corals SPS, LPS and molluscs becoming itself a part of the skeleton, the composition of KH is represented largely from carbonates and bicarbonates of calcium and magnesium, is measured in the amount of acid necessary to produce a shift of pH, which converts all bicarbonates (HCO3) in carbonic acid (H2CO3). Being this involved in the transition from bicarbonates (soluble) in carbonates (insoluble) then having a “dissolution power”, in the right quantities, we need to balance the amount of calcium and magnesium that we want to dissolve. It is therefore recommended the maintenance of this value between 7 ° and 11 °.

In summary, your aquarium skills will be to keep all three of these parameters in high quantity, but not too high enough to produce precipitation. You will have to make regular doses of calcium as the levels of this element decreases along with KH as can occur with frequent measurements, this makes us understand that if we want to raise the level of calcium in the aquarium solution to facilitate the growth of corals we are obliged to pick up the KH.

Finally our aquarium would be perfect in a situation of:

CALCIUM 420 mg/lt.

MG 1280 mg/lt.

KH 7° – 8°

PH 8.1 – 8.2

Those are all variations: