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Water
chemistry is more important in marine life. They are
highly sensitive to changes. The pH for marine life
are higher then most of the freshwater life as they
have high KH level. Water that is suitable for marine
life should at lest have 8.2pH and 9-12dKH and salinity
of 1.020 – 1.023 (30-35ppt). Salinity is the measurement
of amount of salt dissolved per kilogram of sea water.
In advance modern reefs keeping we will also have to
understand the chemistry of Ca (calcium), Sr2+ (Strontium),
Iodine, silicates, PO4 (phosphate) and some other trace
elements in order to be successful. |
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| Salinity |
| The most common method
to use for determination of salinity is by using a hydrometer.
Hydrometer works by checking the density of water. The
density of the water depends highly on its temperature,
hence for some temperature the reading of dissolve salt
might not be accurate. For example a density of 1.022
correspond to a salinity of only 31.5ppt at a temperature
of 20ºc, but to 35.7ppt at 30ºc. Normal hydrometers
are usually calibrated to be use in temperature of 25ºc.
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| The example in the graph
shows that at a temperature of 20ºC and a density
of 1.024 the salt concentration is 34ppt. |
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| PH |
| pH can be defined as the
negative common logarithm of hydrogen ion concentration.
Pure water consists of hydrogen and hydroxide ions and
has the chemical formula H2O. Hydrogen causes an acidic
reaction while hydroxide causes a basic (alkaline) reaction.
Hence when both ions are in balance then we will have
a 7.0pH neutral while if there is more hydrogen ions the
water will become acidic but on the other hand water with
more hydroxide will be basic (alkaline). |
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| Carbonate
Hardness |
| KH or carbonate hardness
is actually a buffer capacity of water. Which is alkaline
reserve or acid-neutralizing capacity? High KH level will
maintain a higher pH range. KH will also take reaction
with carbon dioxide and form Hydrogen Carbonate which
is easier to be utilize by plants for photosynthesis then
free carbon dioxide. |
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| Calcium |
Calcium is
very important in reef keeping as most of the organisms
which we keep need calcium ions to form their skeletons.
It helps to explan why the concentration of calcium in
aquarium is consumed rapidly. In natural sea water, there
is about 420ppm of calcium concentration.
There are a few methods in supplying calcium to a reef
aquarium. Kalkwasser, Calcium Chloride and by using a
calcium reactor we can resplendish the calcium that have
been consumed by organisms. Calcium Chloride can be used
easily to add in calcium in a reefs tank. A little quantity
of it is enough for a high increase of calcium concentration
but chloride ions will be left in the tank and for long
term usage it will disturb the balance of ions. Therefore,
Calcium Chloride is safer to use as an adjust agent then
maintain. Kalkwasser can safely be use as calcium maintaining
agent in reefs aquarium as it will not disturb the balance
of ions. But the preparation process of a kalkwasser is
difficult and lots of kalkwasser have to be use. Kalkwasser
have to be dissolve in a large amount of water before
to be use. Kalkwasser are hard to dissolve in water and
a device such as water pump have to be use to dissolve
it. After the dissolving process has been done, the solution
has to be left to stabilize. After a few minutes, the
solution will form some kind of counting on the surface
of the water and some left over in the bottom. Only the
water in the center can be use and it have to be drips
into the aquarium slowly as too fast might result in a
sudden raise of pH.
Calcium reactor is currently the best method of supplying
calcium for a reefs aquarium. The idea is by pumping CO2
into a chamber fill with limestone or crush corals. This
well results in an acidic condition in the chamber and
melted the limestone/crush corals thus produces calcium. |
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| Fresh water fish only: |
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| Aquatic plants: |
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| Marine fish only: |
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| Coral reefs: |
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