buffers???

[Cosine]

In my current 30g I keep only softies and I've never tested for calcium and alk

However, I think I will get some test kits for these levels and try to bring them up to the correct amounts. I figure it will be a more like the natural environment so all my inhabitants should/could benefit.
Does this seem like a good idea?
Also I believe I may add some LPS eventually so they'd need to calcium to be correct right? Also it should be good practice for future tanks that I may have which may contain sps corals.

Basically two questions.
1-Would it be beneficial to my fish and soft corals to get these levels right?
2-What's the best way to do it? Buffers? Kalkwasser?

suggestions please

thanks!

[Twitterbait]

I have used Kent buffer when i need it but for the most part i have found the Sealab 8 blocks to work very well. Remember even soft corals need calcium so you will want to put something in.

[tdwyatt]

Originally Posted by Cosine

In my current 30g I keep only softies and I've never tested for calcium and alk..

Basically two questions.
1-Would it be beneficial to my fish and soft corals to get these levels right?
2-What's the best way to do it? Buffers? Kalkwasser?

Maintaining adequate buffer and calcium are beneficial for octocorals (softies) as not only do they need to have these substances to maintain water quality but they gain their structural integrity buy making spicules within their tissue. These spicules are what give many octocorals their toughness or tissue turgor as well as allow them to maintain a particular shape.
These substances are beneficial and would be best balanced first, then maximized using a two-part additive like B-IONIC or Kent's 2 part calcium and alkalinity additive. Once maximized, you should be able to maintain these levels by using kalkwasser in place of your daily top off on a regular basis.



HTH

[Cosine]

Tom once again thanks very much!
that's about the clearest answer I could hope for.
I'm gonna get it tested see where I am at then I'll fix it up
Is it best to bring it up to where it should be quickly or do it slowly
I would rather go slow, just seems safer, less shock (if that's a risk) but also doing it slowly will make sure I can bring it up safely without jumping it up too high

thanks Tom/Twitter

[tdwyatt]

Originally Posted by Cosine

...I'm gonna get it tested see where I am at then I'll fix it up
Is it best to bring it up to where it should be quickly or do it slowly
I would rather go slow, just seems safer, less shock...

For you to follow what is happening in your system, it would be MUCH better for you to purchase a calcium and an alkalinity test kit manufactured by Salifert or other reliable testing manufacturer. The great thing about Salifert kits is that they are easy to use, relatively cheap, use a titratiion methodology (avoids interpretation errors for color matching), and can be bought almost anywhere (especially on the 'Net). Having the test kits at home allows you to assure that your testing kit quality is good, that your methodology is correct, and that you'll have immediate answers when you need them at your convenience.


Slow changes are always best for water parameter changes unless there is an emergency in the system (high ammonia would be an example...)