Ionic Balance Saltwater Reef Aquarium – There are pairs, trios, quads and on up, they all work together, are needed by each other, accent each other and are often needed by each other. So balance each group and they will line up for proper overall system ionic balance. We will review the groups as I see them.

Discuss element ionic balances, dependencies and relationships to each other, when adding one need to add a complimentary element to work correctly.

First #1 – Environmental – So this group works this way.

• pH and Alkalinity – This is the first order of stability that must be mastered or all is for naught. To do this, you must first get the temperature as stable as possible, then maintain a constant Salinity / Specific Gravity, then drive to targets. So as it goes a stable temperature will yield a constantly reliable salinity/ specific gravity by controlling and maintaining the level of carbon dioxide (carbonic acid) as a constant, then dose PJS  pH- or pH+ as needed to attain desired levels.
• Salinity – as Constant as possible, add top off daily. Next Salinity or Specific Gravity this is the concentration of salts in solution and as noted the temperature can alter readings. Just because your salinity is spot on, doesn’t mean the proper balance / ratio of each base element salts make up that salinity. Salinity is altered by temperature of the water.
• Temperature – within a range of 3 degrees. Starting with Temperature, this has to do with the ability to carry oxygen, higher means less oxygen, lower has better saturation ability. More oxygen, less carbon dioxide or less oxygen, more carbon dioxide. Now Caron dioxide turns to carbonic acid neutralizing alkalinity and drives pH down. Temperature will also effect Salinity levels by altering the density of water.

Second #2 – Reef Base Elements Ionic Balance – the Start of everything.

• Chloride, Sodium, Sulfur – Knowing this Ionic balance allows you to check and cross check this trio of Base Elements and maintain the ionic balance for everything else to work together correctly. The chemicals you select for dosing elements play a huge role in the influence of these three. This is due to the fact of what the carrier is for the end element you are dosing, these three are the main carrier salt byproducts for individual chemicals and can accumulate. They must be taken into consideration when selecting the chemicals you plan to use for ALL other elements currently and are planning on being dosed.
• Chloride is on top at 19750, 1.81 times Sodium and 21.95 times Sulfur
• Sodium is next at 10900, .55 times chloride and 12.1 times Sulfur
• Sulfur is last at 900, .456 times Chloride and .826 times Sodium

Third #3 – Reef Major Elements Ionic Balance

• Florine to Calcium ratio is 1:300
• Strontium to Calcium ratio is 1:50
• Calcium 20ppm higher than Potassium
• Bromine and Copper

Fourth #4 – Reef Minor Elements Ionic Balance

• Barium, Potassium, Calcium, Strontium

Fifth #5 – Reef Nutrients Ionic Balance

• Phosphate to Nitrate ratio is 1:100

Sixth #6 – Reef Trace Elements Ionic Balance

• Iron and Manganese

There are sub Ionic balances in each group for elements,  these will be all be broken down and discussed in greater detail in their represented menu category page.

 

WORKING ON IT