That does not sound like the ones that I use. I use Sea Lab 28 calcium
blocks. They are designed ONLY to add calcium and strontium to the water.
These do not claim to control water chemistry, or eliminate major water
quality problems or anything like that. Just calcium.
Shane C.
-----Original Message-----
From: Guy Molinari [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2001 5:54 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: Alk and pH questions...
I think these are what Shane is talking about. I have bought them
online at pet warehouse for 19.99
I have also seen them in the tanks at my LFS
http://www.petwarehouse.com/product_images/321781.jpg
<http://www.petwarehouse.com/product_images/321781.jpg>
Controls water chemistry and eliminates major water quality
problems! Limits phosphates, ammonia, and heavy metals; buffers pH; and
provides a constant supply of vital calcium, as well as all other essential
trace elements and microelements.
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[ mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ]On Behalf Of Shane Clays
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2001 9:42 AM
To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]'
Subject: RE: Alk and pH questions...
I like them a lot. They have been around for a long time, and
honestly,
might be hard to find because b-ionic and such have done a much
better job
marketing their products (does anyone on this list carry them?). I
get them
at the LFS. Basically, they are a small block of calcium and the
larger the
tank, the more blocks you use. My 70 gallon uses 4 of them per week.
It is
nice because you plop them in the system, and then the only thing
you need
to worry about it your alk. You, of course, have to keep an eye on
your
calcium levels, but once you get a pattern established, you will
know when
to replace the blocks, and how much alk buffer to add daily. I have
them in
my sump. They also add strontium to the tank.
It takes a month or so of measuring calcium and watching the blocks.
Soon
you see a pattern of days where your calcium will go up a bit (after
the
addition of blocks), will level off and then as the blocks dissolve,
calcium
will drop. The goal is to know how many blocks to add to get calcium
to
level off at 420-450 ppm, and then when that starts to drop and you
need to
add more. I also watch my pH. If my pH starts to go up higher than
normal,
that is an indicator to me that the calcium levels are starting to
drop. I
then will test and add more. The nice thing is that if you find
your
calcium levels are not where you want them, you simply add another
block or
add less next time. I was struggling with the whole pH/alk/caclium
thing
then after I started using these, it has been smooth sailing (well,
except
for my recent concern of my alk being to high).
Honestly, these are probably the easiest calcium/alk system that I
have ever
used. I am sure a reactor would be even easier, but my pocket book
does not
think so, right now. Speaking of pocket book, these blocks are a bit
pricey.
I spend about 25 bucks every 6 weeks to keep the calcium blocks in
my 70.
Then I have to buy pH/alk buffer as well. To me, they are well
worth it.
Very reliable easy system to use.
IMO
Shane C.
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2001 9:21 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: Alk and pH questions...
Havent heard of calcium blocks, what are they, are they
easy to
use and
control the calcium levels with??
Steve
---------- Original Text ----------
From: "Shane Clays" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, on 5/31/01 9:49
AM:
Calcium is running about 420-450. I add a pH/alk buffer in a
2
gallon drip
daily. That keeps my alk up, and then I use Sea Lab calcium
blocks
for the
calcium. That keeps calcium steady at 420-450. I think it
has just
been the
addition of the buffer daily that has caused the alk to
rise. I have
noticed
that it rose slightly from week to week, and would counter
that by
skipping
addition of buffer one day a week (my tank uses about .20
meqs of
alk per
day). I had recently switched products. I think the new
product is a
little
more effective than the other and thus caused the alk to
rise more
than I
expected. When I did my test this weekend, it was higher
than
normal, but my
calcium was still at 420. Now that the alk has gone down
(back down
to 3.6
over 3 days) my calcium is around 440ish. I have started
adding the
buffer
again, and am watching it to see how fast it causes the alk
to rise
back to
the 4-4.5 meqs level. Since this is acceptable, I am no
longer
worried about
it!
Thanks,
Shane
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2001 8:31 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: Alk and pH questions...
How is your calcium Shane, if my understanding of
water
chem is
right a low
calcium could cause alk to rise.
Steve
---------- Original Text ----------
From: "Shane Clays" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, on 5/31/01
9:19
AM:
Thanks. I figured as much, and based that question
on the
assumption
that an
alk of 4.6 was way to high for a reef tank. Now that
I am
not
concerned
about that anymore, I have started my normal daily
dosage of
pH/alk
buffer.
My problem was I thought I needed to bring the alk
down, and
I knew
that
when I did so, the pH would drop as well, so I
wanted to
keep the pH
up
while the alk dropped. No worries now though!
Thanks again,
Shane C.
-----Original Message-----
From: DBW [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 7:18 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Alk and pH questions...
Shane,
>Also, are there any good products to help
keep pH
up
without
affecting the
>alk?
No such thing. You mess with one, you mess
with the
other
too.
If you are having low pH problems, and have
satisfactory
alkalinity
levels,
then you should be looking at gas exchange
not
adding
something else
to
"fix" the problem.
Catch ya,
DBW | The Caretaker, OZ REEF
Marine Park
Melbourne | http://ozreef.org/
<http://ozreef.org/>
Australia | [EMAIL PROTECTED]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
When the only tool you own is a hammer,
every problem begins to resemble a nail.
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