Alk and BB tanks

[gman0526]

Boomer what relation is there between sandbeds and Alk consumption if you know of any? I've noticed other fellow aquarists, me included, who opt to have a BB tank and there's a "trend" of having a significant drop in the amount of Alk we have to supplement our tanks.

Is it a relation between the abiotic reactions in the SB and alk consumption? I don't have any problems with this matter but would like to know why we're seeing this.

 

[Krish]

I'm no Boomer Jorge but I thought I'd just toss out some info on my setup. I'll base it on my 75gal setup that I just took down for the cube (seeing it was up the longest), but as most people know, my tank is bb. I did a water change of 10-15 gals every week, used Instant Ocean salt for my make up water (along with ro/di water of course) and supplemented the B-Ionic 2 part supplement in my tank every night. With that being said, yes I didn't have any corals whatsoever to use up anything in my water other than what could be used up by coralline and whatever lived in my LR, but by just supplementing 7.5ml of calcium to the tank and 5ml of the Alk, my parameters would remain stable within the ranges I shot for. Not sure how far I'd end up having to go with things had I had a tank full of corals, but I figured I'd just toss out that little bit of info just for the hell of it I'd love to know as well though, what role sandbeds play in the scheme of things...

 

[DonW]

Boomer what relation is there between sandbeds and Alk consumption if you know of any? I've noticed other fellow aquarists, me included, who opt to have a BB tank and there's a "trend" of having a significant drop in the amount of Alk we have to supplement our tanks.

Is it a relation between the abiotic reactions in the SB and alk consumption? I don't have any problems with this matter but would like to know why we're seeing this.

Are you assuming bb tanks use less alk in relation to ca?

Don

 

[gman0526]

Actually this is what I'm (among others) observing since switching to BB a yr ago. :?: Which is why I come to Boomer to see if there's a relation between ALk and substrate.

Krish TY for your input too.

 

[DonW]

Actually this is what I'm (among others) observing since switching to BB a yr ago. :?: Which is why I come to Boomer to see if there's a relation between ALk and substrate.

Krish TY for your input too.

Just wondering, never heard that one. Mine stays in balance with the ca reactor being balanced. I'm sure there are reasons for imbalanced consumption but never attributed it to bb.

Don

 

[gman0526]

I've noticed that it's been more of an issue with those, like me, that do not have a Ca reactor and dose with 2 part products. So I guess that's something to keep in mind.

 

[shallowreef]

I use to dose the 2 part b-ionic and i never had as much luck with stability as i did with the calc reactor.

 

[Boomer]

Yes G, I would assume there would be or lets say maybe at certain times. A well run and sifted SB is going to contain allot of life forms pushing out organics/CO2 which may/will lower that Alk, with little Ca++ uptake. Second, BB tanks has much of nothing for the carbonates or even phosphates to react with==> no-Abiotic or little. Meaning, the formation of Mg++ or Ca++ carbonates and/or phosphates on the grain surfaces. Carbonate substrates will/can pull out carbonates/phospahtes along with other ions like Ca++ or Mg++. This is well known. However, once the system has been up for a long enough period that should stop, as the SB grains will be coated with bacteria/organics and Abiotic should stop. But you would still have that SB bioload. Also, don't forget about all of the other complex reactions that are taking place in the SB and not a BB, ie., nitrification, denitification, redox reactions, etc..

 

[gman0526]

Awesome answer, even I understood this. TY very much Boomer

And Don and shallowreef, TY for your feedback too.

 

[Bomber]

Alk is carbon. Bacteria and bacterial processes are the primary consumers of carbon and it take a lot of bacteria and bacterial processes to run a septic tank.

 

[Curtswearing]

Alk is carbon. Bacteria and bacterial processes are the primary consumers of carbon and it take a lot of bacteria and bacterial processes to run a septic tank.

Great posts everyone!!!

Alk = CARBONate hardness or KH

I've never had a BB reef tank. However, I had a 200g BB SPS prop/growout tank and, at least in my experience, it's clear that smaller amounts of LR and LS equals less Alk demand. As mentioned, the reason for this is primarily biological vs chemical.