what is basically relation between calcium,magnesium,ph,alkaline and iodine?

[nybatu]

actually i was wondering what can i do to have stabile numbers and what should be my numbers on these, i didn't know i can test my iodine. also purple up and kent marine calcium was my last purchase for reef tank. i put both 1 full cup (5 ml) to my tank and i turn off my skimmer 1 hour.

[Seppish]

From what I was told and understand is that in order to even bring calcium up, you need to bring up the Magnesium. The mag. acts as a binder or something for the calcium. Keeping your alkalinity up (or carbonate hardness...samething) keeps your PH in check, they are directly related to each other, for instance tonight I tested my water for both KH and PH, well the KH was low (at about 7), so I immeadietly knew the PH was going to be out of wack, and sure enough my PH was at 8.0. Kalkwasser will control both KH and Calcium ( and PH) but is dangerous stuff if you don't know what you are doing. I bought a jug of it, but still haven't touched it cause I am unsure on what to do with it. Don't waste your money on Purple up, if Coraline is going to grow it will grow. My advice s bring up the magnesium then the calcium and get Kent Superbuffer to raise the KH when it drops to control the PH. PLEASE ANYONE ELSE READ THIS AND MAKE SURE I AM RIGHT THIS IS MY FIRST "SCIENTIFIC POST"

[inwall75]

Iodine doesn't have any relation with any of the other above elements

Calcium and Carbon (alkalinity or CARBONate hardness) are on a see-saw with each other. Proper Magnesium helps the see-saw swings of these two elements stay smaller which is good thing. Hopefully, that makes sense. Proper alkalinity levels has an effect on how much pH swings up or down. So, while Calcium doesn't directly impact pH.....if you overdose it, you are going to drive down your kH which will then impact your pH.

This anology is factually wrong in some areas but it's still quite useful as it helps people visualize it.

The Marble Analogy

Fact: it is only possible to dissolve so many solids into a given volume of water (calcium, carbonates, and everything else). At the risk of oversimplifying the dynamic, imagine a bowl that holds one hundred marbles representing the total dissolved solids in seawater in a given system. If red marbles represented calcium, and blue marbles represented carbonates (alkalinity), the bowl can still only hold one hundred marbles no matter what mix of color they are. Now, if seventy marbles were the equivalent of 400-ppm calcium and the remaining marbles were blue, the only way to increase calcium would be to displace alkalinity (to remove blue marbles). In troubled systems, the misapplication of calcium supplements (dosing suddenly or to excess) is known to cause a sudden precipitation of carbonates (the alkalinity falls/crashes) that is commonly referred to as a “snowstorm”. It is instigated by the influx of a large or rapid amount of calcium entering the system that spikes the pH immediately surrounding carbonate molecules and causes a crystalline precipitation (fallout). In keeping with our analogy, a “snowstorm” would be like taking another bowl of one hundred red marbles (calcium) and trying to pour it into the original bowl of mixed, colored marbles (balanced calcium and alkalinity). The result is the displacement of all blue marbles (carbonates/alkalinity) and the overflow of excess red marbles beyond the one hundred marble limit. The ramifications of this in an aquarium is a crash in water chemistry and water quality that cannot be corrected while the chemical reaction occurs. Dosing more supplements to try to correct the imbalance (or even doing a concurrent water change with hopes of dilution) will only serve to feed the chain reaction. Tragically, the “snowstorm” must be allowed to finish and an aquarium system is traumatized in the process.

To safely avoid dangerous imbalances in the Ca-Alk dynamic, aquarists simply need to avoid pushing either component to an extreme end or both simultaneously high. Instead, think of the relationship as a Hi-Lo situation within the safe ranges. Within the accepted ranges (350-450 ppm Ca and 8-12 dKH Alk), one parameter can be pushed to a high end while the other is allowed to stray toward the middle or lower end. Any reasonably mix of the two will still provide more than enough of both elements for successful calcification. More importantly, consistent levels of both are far more supportive of growth in calcareous organisms than the inconsistent but high average of either component otherwise. Many aquarists enjoy phenomenal growth in their reef creatures with rather modest Ca and Alk levels. Indeed, consistency with all aspects of aquatic husbandry is more conducive to success than random high points.

CalcAlkMar

[lunatik_69]

From my understanding, ph, alk/dkh are related(cousins) then theres Cal and Mag. A good level of Mag will help in having stable Alk and Cal. Alk and Cal are oppisites, if you have Cal high, then you'll have low Alk and visa versa. Of course these three elements are only important if you have a reef tank. Iodine doesnt play a role in this story, unless you dosing it and MUST test for it. The general rule is, if your going to does it, you MUST test for it. Luna

[Tangster]

I was thinking the same thing with the Iodine .. I have yet never found a reason to dose that . And when I did try it many yrs ago all I ever saw an increase in was algae..

What I'd use as an analogy would be the Calcium and Carbonate ions are charged differently one being positive the other negatively pretty much like cleaning magnets Now if you try to force then together for storage or use and you have them opposing themselves on the opposite poles they will just fly apart and not want to bond up you'd have to nail them together(: Pretty much like the Ca and Carbonates do then you align the magnet polarity plop they get jammed up and jelly tight .. And will hang together like two ticks on a hound dog.. The magnesium is the special secret sauce (: or ingredient that turns them to align up.

[rayjay]

A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH

With respect to iodine, Randy Holmes-Farley no longer doses iodine as he has been unable to determine any need for it in reef tanks. When it comes to chems in a reef, who else would know better than he?

[rayjay]

Actually, I should have posted the link to his "sticky" on Reef Chemistry Links, as I believe it to be the single most important page on the internet for my hobby. It has been moved from his old forum to the archives at RC.
Link to Randy's Links

[Tangster]

Originally Posted by rayjay

A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH

With respect to iodine, Randy Holmes-Farley no longer doses iodine as he has been unable to determine any need for it in reef tanks. When it comes to chems in a reef, who else would know better than he?

I guess it was 95 97 or so He jumped all over me for stating Iodine was not needed he had data as to its needs as part of NSW But he had just gotten into the hobby with his big 90 LOL and that data site was just kicking off. Well I guess I can rest easy now (: I guess ten yrs of experience has taught him the differences between a tank and a real ocean ? Thats why I guess I'd read the dribble if I did not no better ?

[wildreef]

Originally Posted by Tangster

I was thinking the same thing with the Iodine .. I have yet never found a reason to dose that . And when I did try it many yrs ago all I ever saw an increase in was algae..

Iodine has been noted to reduce algae growth , I dose mine and have absoulutly no unwanted algea .
Amoung other benifits, iverts such as shrimps/ordamental shrimps need iodine to molta s well as most soft corals suach as leathers.
I have been speaking with *geekafied* on this iodine matter ( i didint realize it till he noted after he's seen my tank )
Either by having a good dsalt mix + adding iodine for the correct iodine ppm or salt mix (stand alone) that has the correct amounts already present .
he'd asked if i dosed for it , and thus i replied yes , and we both agree as well as some others it doe's help control/kill algae growth.

[amcarrig]

Originally Posted by wildreef

Iodine has been noted to reduce algae growth

Where?

Have you read this article?

Chemistry and the Aquarium