Ionic Balances of Elements Saltwater Reef Aquarium –

There are Ionic Balances that start as pairs, then become trios, to quads and so on building up to a masterpiece of perfection. They all work together, are needed by each other, accent each other and are often required by each other. So come with me down this rabbit hole and I will introduce you to Alice. Understanding the balance of each element, then of the groups of elements and their proportion to each other. they will line up for proper overall system ionic balance. We will review the groups and all Ionic Balances as I see them, this is an epic journey, written and presented unlike anything else.

Discuss element ionic balances, dependencies and relationships to each other, when adding one, you create the need to add the complimentary elements to all 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. Salinity or Specific Gravity 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 salt is correct make up at that salinity. Salinity is altered by temperature of the water.
• Temperature – within a range of 3 degrees(example: 78-80), this has to do with the ability to carry oxygen, higher temperature means less oxygen, lower has better oxygen saturation ability.  Now more oxygen, means less carbon dioxide or less oxygen, more carbon dioxide when warmer, maybe has something to do with bleaching. Now excess carbon dioxide turns to carbonic acid neutralizing alkalinity and drives pH down. Temperature also effects Salinity levels by altering the density of water.

Second #2 – Reef Base Elements Ionic Balances – the Start of everything, needed by everything to work.

• 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 plays a huge role in the influence of the THREE, the Base. This is due to the fact of what the byproduct/carrier salts are for the end element you are dosing, these three Chloride, Sodium, Sulfate are the main byproduct/carrier salts, but there are many others, you must account for them. Each are from the individual chemicals and can accumulate and cause drift, creating an ionic imbalance. 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 Balances – Focused on the the development of skeletal formation and supports the transition elements.

• Alkalinity to Magnesium to Calcium
• Alkalinity to Calcium
• Alkalinity to Boron to Calcium
• Florine to Calcium ratio is 1:300
• Strontium to Calcium ratio is 1:50
• Potassium to Calcium 20ppm higher than Potassium
• Boron to Calcium
• Bromine and Copper
• Boron to Florine to Strontium
• And More

Fourth #4 – Reef Minor Elements Ionic Balances – The transition elements, support the bioavailability of all to be utilized in all skeletal to biological process.

• Barium, Potassium, Calcium, Strontium
• Iodine to Florine to Bromine
• And More

Fifth #5 – Reef Nutrients Ionic Balances – Full Circle, Perfect Circle! If there was a better way, Mother Nature would have done it that way!

• Phosphate to Nitrate ratio is 1:100
• And More

Sixth #6 – Reef Trace Elements Ionic Balances – The Nuts and Bolts that must be present. correct, in place and available.

• Iron and Manganese
• And More

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

 

ALWAYS WORKING ON IT.