Chasing alkalinity in a Fish Only

[piranhaman00]

Since sodium is the largest concentration cation in seawater by more than a factor of 20, it doesn't concern me if it rises some, especially in a fish only. Even in a reef tank, normal water changes go a long way to offset the rise in sodium and chloride. Craig Bingman shows the changes here:

Chemistry And The Aquarium: Boron In A Reef Tank

This article also discusses the sources and sinks for boron in reef tanks, and shows that while typical tanks may be slightly depleted in boron with respect to natural levels, most are not so significantly depleted that any correction is required. Nevertheless, how to test for and supplement...

reefs.com

What about people running reef tanks that never do water changes?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What about people running reef tanks that never do water changes?

If the ion balance concerns you, then use a two part product like ESV-B-ionic or Balling, which do not cause ion imbalances.

 

[Letterkenny]

If the ion balance concerns you, then use a two part product like ESV-B-ionic or Balling, which do not cause ion imbalances.

What are your thoughts on dosing as well as Alk/calc for a nem only tank? Any reason why you could go no water changes for a nem only tank with or without dosing?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What are your thoughts on dosing as well as Alk/calc for a nem only tank? Any reason why you could go no water changes for a nem only tank with or without dosing?

If you also want coralline in the tank you will have to dose calcium and alkalinity.

Anemones have the same sorts of trace element needs as soft corals. I'd want to add these somehow.

i also think maintaining alk can be important since they will potentially be getting carbon for photosynthesis from bicarbonate.

 

[Letterkenny]

If you also want coralline in the tank you will have to dose calcium and alkalinity.

Anemones have the same sorts of trace element needs as soft corals. I'd want to add these somehow.

i also think maintaining alk can be important since they will potentially be getting carbon for photosynthesis from bicarbonate.

Would TM All for reef be sufficient? Might be more difficult to determine consumption I suppose to automate it. For trace elements, I think I saw somewhere that the need is quite infrequent water changes of lower volume to satisfy this (apologies if I was reading out of context). Thoughts on minimum requirements for a 45?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Would TM All for reef be sufficient? Might be more difficult to determine consumption I suppose to automate it. For trace elements, I think I saw somewhere that the need is quite infrequent water changes of lower volume to satisfy this (apologies if I was reading out of context). Thoughts on minimum requirements for a 45?

I wouldn't.

While I do not accept their assertion as strongly as they make it, Tropic Marin folks claim that the formate won't break down via bacteria but rather is taken up directly by corals.

Thus, without any corals, it may be hard to dial in the alkalinity since the formate is not detected as alkalinity.