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  1. C

    Phosphate build up

    Yes, that is what we are really talking about anyway. Yes, I have heard this theory and do not buy it. Neither did the microbiologists I spoke with. Granted that the end sediment will go to the bottom of the bed and be un-usable for food after being completely utilized. However, this should...
  2. C

    Salt the question, once again!

    Borate is frequently added to commercial Alk boosters. It will contribute to total alk, but is not used much by marine animals. Borate is added to buffer more effectively in the 8.1-8.4 range when mixed with carbonate/bi-carbonate buffer systems. In natural sea water Borate is very small in...
  3. C

    PH, ALk, Ca, NH4 help please

    Ok, bringing up the alk will not generally reduce calcium. Calcium and alk in this sense are indepenent. The only way bringing up alk can reduce ca is if it causes precipitions, which isn't really bad but is not what you want. Carbonate/bicarbonate will increase pH. Calcium itself will not...
  4. C

    PH, ALk, Ca, NH4 help please

    This should help. I would imagine that the NH4 is coming from an incomplete cycle. If you recently added some new fish or somesuch, this could be the case. I wouldn't expect NH4 to come from the pH additive itself. The change in pH may have altered the ratio of NH3 to NH4 but I wouldn't...
  5. C

    Phosphate build up

    I'm not sure there is any hard fast rule. It will depend upon how much bio-load you have in your system, what sort of rock you have etc. I would suggest that if your nitrates are staying very low that you have enough rock. If you are having problems with nitrates, you probably need more.
  6. C

    PH, ALk, Ca, NH4 help please

    why do you have NH4 in your system? How old is it? NH4 should be basically zero in an established tank. Are you precipitating any CaCO3? I suggest kalk instead of a two part additive, that way alk and ca stay balanced. What is value of alk and ca?
  7. C

    Phosphate build up

    I Don't know the answer for that??? It depends upon porosity and the size of the grains. Rule of thumb is 2-4 inches but opinions vary. I would say more than 4 is a waste maybe. I use a mud based substrate and have about 3 inches in about 2/3rds of a 15 gallon sump with a 75 gallon main...
  8. C

    Phosphate build up

    P fits because the fish/animals eat food, food has P, food/P is excreted by fish. The more fish, the more P you put into the system. P is only a single nutrient, however, but others are similar. However, phosphate is what algea loves so hence the problem. The more bioload, the faster your...
  9. C

    Phosphate build up

    If this is true then it may be possible to prevent a DSB from crashing by doing regular partial substrate changes. If phosphate is removed by taking a small section of substrate out and replacing it with new at some frequency, that provides a faster rate of export than phosphate is being added...
  10. C

    Phosphate build up

    Yes, and what about the bacteria populations? Since the total population is limited by phosphate and there is more room in flask two, I would expect the bacteria to start slowly migrating into the second flask, and thus reduce the population over time in the 1st flask via competition for...
  11. C

    Phosphate build up

    No membrane, phosphate and everything else can flow freely from flask to flask
  12. C

    Phosphate build up

    Ok, here is the next question. Imagine we are back at the two flask system from before. In one flask, we have a bacteria infested sandbed ready to crash. In the other flask we have a nice pristine and sterile substrate. The ball valve connnecting the flasks is closed. No more phosphate can...
  13. C

    Phosphate build up

    LOL...I don't have the answer. I have to stall you guys so I have time to figure out the next step... ;) Really though...I am stumbling through this and learning along the way. Not even sure my idea will work well. I think so though. Many here have more experience and knowledge than I. I...
  14. C

    Phosphate build up

    Yes..low feeding...good husbandry. That is as Mike says. This will help to stave off and slow the advance of extra bacteria and algea. However, I have another theory. I'll pose another thought experiment later. Any other ideas in the mean time??
  15. C

    Phosphate build up

    Well first, whether they are an advantage or not, many of us have them so it is important to deal with them. Second, I would suggest that a DSB can help to provide biodiversity in the system that is advantageous for a number of reasons, one of which allowing a higher bio-load into the system...
  16. C

    Phosphate build up

    My net went out last night, just after I had composed a long reply. I lost it. Will get back to it today...C
  17. C

    pH help

    I second that...where is your ALK at?
  18. C

    Salt the question, once again!

    Yea, I agree. I don't think phosphate concentrations would be a big driver to change salts. I think most are pretty low in P. I think consistency and ease of use are the biggest drivers for a salt...C
  19. C

    Phosphate build up

    Don't know, never thought about it. Lots of aluminum. Would probably work though...I'll stick to mud though..C
  20. C

    Salt the question, once again!

    It is likely that this method is not quite right. Inorganic phosphorous is not P, by itself. Typically, when measuring inorganic Phosphorous, the number is reported "as PO4". That would mean that the molecular weight for PO4 should be used instead of P by itself. However, it is not specified...
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