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of calcium and clams (was something about salts)



Hi all

Since my name was dragged into this I though I would 
comment as tired as I am (way past my bed time...).

Crushed coral is pretty much calcium carbonate and 
magnesium carbonate (with very little phosphates). Shell 
grit is the same but has more phosphate.

TO get the Ca and Mg to dissolve the carboante has to be 
eaten away by acid (H+). YOu get an equillibrium 
similiar to the below:

Ca/MgCO3 2H+ <=> Ca/Mg2+ + 2HCO3-
As not all the Mg/CaCO3 dissolves you end up with a 
pretty stable buffer system---which is GOOOOOD.

In bare tanks I will add a slat mix of CaCO3, MgSO4 and 
NaHCO3 and bingo presto instant buffer solution.

TO get the Mg levels to that as Lk. Tang you will pretty 
much have to saturate the tank with MgCl or sulphate. 
The sulphate might be a better idea as the plants will 
take it up over time (so will algae...). They will also 
take up the phosphates from shell grit. The Pottasium 
(K) can be got from KCl or from K2HPO4 or K3PO4 or a mix 
there off. This is also a good buffer system but will 
deterioate over time as the PO4 is taken up by plants 
and ALGAE (Ahg!).

The comments about molar equivilants is very correct. 
using mg/l is not a very good way to go about it.

At the end of the day all you really need is a high pH, 
stable ph and hardness and good conductivity to make any 
Tang. fish haapy. Oh yes, also lots of O2.

Don't worry to much about high Cl concentrations. You 
need a very high [Cl] before it becomes dangerous.

If you can send me the data from Brichard's book I can 
do the math for you. In fact I would appreciate it any 
how.

Bye

Tyrone Genade
tyronegenade at yahoo_com
http://www.tyronegenade.0catch.com

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P450 Lab, Biochemistry Department
University of Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa
Ph: +27-021-808-5876, fax: +27-021-808-5863
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"No, the LORD has told us what is good. What He requires 
of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love,
and to live in humble fellowship with our GOD." 
                                                Micah 6:8
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