The BEST reef chemistry you learned in 2024?

[rishma]

As 2024 comes to a close I think it would be nice for the reef-chemistry-curious crowd to share the most interesting or useful reef chemistry we learned this year.

It does not need to be cutting edge stuff, just one thing you found especially interesting or useful. That’s what makes it the BEST.

Here is mine:
For each 2.8 dKH of alkalinity consumed, about 18-20 ppm calcium and 1-2 ppm magnesium are also consumed.

There can be exceptions with sulfur denitrators or big swings in nitrate, but generally true!

This has been very helpful in understanding my calcium build up and magnesium needs while using kalkwasser and all for reef.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Good topic. I'll have to give some thought to my favorite things I learned here this year. There are certainly plenty.

 

[mjszos]

I learned that minor amounts of ammonia is good for coral. Seems contradictory to everything I’ve heard in the hobby, and I need to refer back to Randy’s info on this to become more well educated, but it was a neat thing to learn… I’m not quite ready to do anything with the info yet, but baby steps!

 

[reefluvrr]

For each 2.8 dKH of alkalinity consumed, about 18-20 ppm calcium and 1-2 ppm magnesium are also consumed.

I never thought that there was a possible relationship of a ratio of dkh:calcium:magnesium used that may occur in our tanks. I honestly thought all tanks will have different alk to calcium consumption.
Can I ask where did you find this info so I can look more into the details?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I never thought that there was a possible relationship of a ratio of dkh:calcium:magnesium used that may occur in our tanks. I honestly thought all tanks will have different alk to calcium consumption.
Can I ask where did you find this info so I can look more into the details?

It's a foundation of reef chemistry and the basis of most alk and calcium dosing products such as AFR and all two and three part systems, kalkwasser, and CaCO3/CO2 reactors. The basis is that coral skeletons are formed of calcium carbonate, with some magnesium incorporation (and much smaller amounts of other things). That chemical structure contains a nearly fixed amount of alkalinity (carbonate) relative to calcium and magnesium.

How a Two Part Alkalinity and Calcium System Works, and Why it Matters

How a Two Part Alkalinity and Calcium System Works, and Why it Matters By Randy Holmes-Farley This article is intended to help aquarists understand some of the important differences between the great variety of two and three part alkalinity and...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[rishma]

I never thought that there was a possible relationship of a ratio of dkh:calcium:magnesium used that may occur in our tanks. I honestly thought all tanks will have different alk to calcium consumption.
Can I ask where did you find this info so I can look more into the details?

What Randy said

I think not knowing this led me astray for years, testing unnecessarily , dosing incorrectly, etc.

 

[rishma]

I learned that minor amounts of ammonia is good for coral. Seems contradictory to everything I’ve heard in the hobby, and I need to refer back to Randy’s info on this to become more well educated, but it was a neat thing to learn… I’m not quite ready to do anything with the info yet, but baby steps!

Good one! I learned this too and I’m using it

 

[reefluvrr]

It's a foundation of reef chemistry and the basis of most alk and calcium dosing products such as AFR and all two and three part systems, kalkwasser, and CaCO3/CO2 reactors. The basis is that coral skeletons are formed of calcium carbonate, with some magnesium incorporation (and much smaller amounts of other things). That chemical structure contains a nearly fixed amount of alkalinity (carbonate) relative to calcium and magnesium.

Thank you Randy for always taking the time to share your knowledge!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Thank you Randy for always taking the time to share your knowledge!

You're very welcome.

Happy Reefing.

 

[PotatoPig]

Mine:

1. The existence of Ammonia dosing. Easy and economical way to prevent bioavailable nitrogen from bottoming out. Thanks Randy for your posts on this!

2. That copper products are bound to amines (should have guessed from Cupramine) so show up as ammonia in a QT tank. This saved a lot of hair pulling trying to bring down ammonia during QT… Again, thank you Randy for the education on this.

 

[BryanM]

Right now it’s just that I found this site and forum. So much knowledge here, and I’m thankful for it!

 

[Dan_P]

This was good year demonstrating product claims for some products were nonsense. For example, there no such thing as a product that reduces ammonia in a saltwater.

 

[RelaxingWithTheReef]

After taking trace elements for granted for many years, I learned the importance of trace element supplementation. Regardless of what you use, AFR, TM AK, individual elements, etc. Some tanks may run fine with without supplementation, but my tanks really benefited from added trace elements. This was an absolute game changer for me.

I also want to thank Randy and all of the participants in this forum. The information available is simply priceless.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

This was good year demonstrating product claims for some products were nonsense. For example, there no such thing as a product that reduces ammonia in a saltwater.

That is a winner!

 

[rishma]

This was good year demonstrating product claims for some products were nonsense. For example, there no such thing as a product that reduces ammonia in a saltwater.

Oh? I missed this particular nugget!

 

[rishma]

Giving this a bump!

Don’t worry Randy, I promise people have learned some usefully chemistry this year. It’s just too hard for them to pick the BEST one to share.

 

[Pod_01]

For me it finally sunk in that ionic balance from 2/3 part systems like TM Original Balling / B-Ionic etc… does not address trace element consumption caused by corals. For that one needs some trace element supply like TM A and K. There is a lot of confusion on this topic.

Also finally I understand what is balanced 2/3 part system vs. unbalanced. I been using unbalanced system and I didn’t even realize it, some major elements were off all the time…

The discussion on broken buffer system was educational…

 

[waqas_01]

Don't let phosphate jump or drop drastically. It's always led to coral issues for me.

Probably applies to most parameters but this one sunk in this year for me with a few stints away from the tank.

I'm trying out Tropic Marin's Phosfeed too. I like the idea of insoluble particulate phosphate.

 

[rishma]

The discussion on broken buffer system was educational…

education is not the word that comes to mind..

I'm trying out Tropic Marin's Phosfeed too. I like the idea of insoluble particulate phosphate.

I had not heard of Phosfeed until the last couple of weeks. I use several TM products and I’m very intrigued by this idea.