Reef Newbie? Here is the foundation of your Reef Chemistry knowledge.

[acroholic]

If anyone here is new and wants a solid foundation to know what is going on with your water, what the significant parameters are, how they work, and what to test for, this following four part series by Randy Holmes Farley is easy to read and comprehend, and is written for someone new to the hobby. I read these articles before I set up my reef tank. This comes from the Reef Central Reef Chemistry Forum:

The "How To" Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 1: The Salt Water Itself
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php"><span style="color: #22229c;">http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php</span></a>

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented
[IMG]http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php"><span style="color: #000088;">http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php</span></a>

The "How To" Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 3: pH
[IMG]http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php"><span style="color: #000088;">http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php</span></a>

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners,
Part 4: What Chemicals May Detrimentally Accumulate
[IMG]http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/rhf/index.php"><span style="color: #000088;">http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/rhf/index.php</span></a>

And here is the entire series of Reef Chemistry articles, which addresses almost any questions anyone would have. A great resource for anyone.

[IMG]http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=102605">http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=102605</a>

 

[tim8111]

Not that I am claiming to be an expert chemist or anything but, I am hosting work shops on these very same topics. http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=28092">Here is the thread</a>

Thanks,
Tim

 

[cr500_af]

I need to attend your workshop... unfortunately I'll be at the beach when you have the one on chemistry. Reading that "easy to comprehend" article made my head hurt slightly. And I actually did well in school. I need to learn to study again after all these years!

 

[ralph atl]

+2
great stuff that I often have used, and I have often given out.

 

[elfloyd]

Thanks for the links! Just finished part one where he suggests a salinity of 35ppt or 1.0264. Doesn't this seem a bit high?

 

[theplatypus]

elFloyd;333743 wrote: Thanks for the links! Just finished part one where he suggests a salinity of 35ppt or 1.0264. Doesn't this seem a bit high?

I've always run my tanks at 1.026.

 

[ralph atl]

1.026 is what I run, always.

 

[elfloyd]

Very good! I noticed some of the TOTM are in the neighborhood of 1.023, and my Coralite Hydrometer suggests a range of 1.020 - 1.023.

 

[theplatypus]

elFloyd;333749 wrote: Very good! I noticed some of the TOTM are in the neighborhood of 1.023, and my Coralite Hydrometer suggests a range of 1.020 - 1.023.

I believe that most oceans are around 1.025-.027 with variations due to rainfall, freshwater rivers etc.. Do yourself a favor and ditch the hydrometer. A refractometer is far more accurate and cheap compared to other things required for this hobby.

 

[elfloyd]

kool!

 

[acroholic]

My SG is between 1.025 and 1.026 always. Yup....get a Refractometer. Plastic ones are junk.