Can You Mix The Following

[ZazG]

Hi all

A bit of advice please from all you senior chemists out there:

I have FINALLY got round to building my own topup system using a peri pump, float switch etc (total cost £less than £50 if anyone is interested), no more messing about with jugs at night etc etc :)

In the "bad old days" I used to top up using RO water mixed with EITHER

Seachem Reef Builder or

Seachem Marine Buffer or

Powdered Calcium Hydroxide

... in other words I used one product only on subsequent nights if required, depending on the actual pH, alkalinity etc, sat the jug on the tank lid, let it drip in, and went to bed.

Now I have this topup system, I am wondering if I can mix all 3 together and dissolve them in the topup tank, bearing in mind that it will need to be refilled every 8-10 days.

Any ideas on whether the chemicals will cancel themselves out / have any side effects /not work to their full potential etc etc :wacko:

All comments gratefully received!!!

[elliot]

You definately dont want to do that!!!! Adding all these chemicals sounds a little hit and miss for me... you want to be aiming for stability ..... brought about by maintaining your calcium and alkalinity in balance (see http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk )..... to calculate balance.

Once this is in balance, and so long as your magnesium is within range - you will find it very easy to maintain - as you can simply use Kalk to maintain your calcium and alkalinity (as it is balanced... and adds proportional amounts of calcium and buffer).

So... if I were you... I would make youself a bucket reactor... (use the search).. and use this for kalk addition. (Much cheaper than all the bottles too!)

BUT.. be very careful with kalk.. or it will all go AWOL.... also it is not advisable to use this on your auto top off.

e

[Andy Hipkiss]

Quick answer ... NO! Well unless you like a nice white snow falling out of the water. ;)

Really, limewater properly dosed will cope with all but a pure SPS tank if properly dosed (24.7 and slowly although you do need pretty decent evap) After that, well I personally prefer to supplement limewater with a Ca reactor. I know others go with just a Ca reactor although for me, limewater has so many advantages (e.g. pH control, PO4 reduction) that I view a Ca reactor as a top up device NOT the primary source of Ca and alk.


FWIW