Overview
Technical Background
This method of calcium and carbonate supplementation is advantageous to hobbyists interested in a simple and effective means of providing the very elements and molecules required for growth of reef-building organisms such as corals, clams, and their allies. Corals and other reef-building organisms require adequate and stable available calcium and alkalinity if they are to thrive, regardless of how perfect the remainder of their environment is. Under most conditions, the mineral that is secreted as skeletal material is known as Aragonite, composed mostly of carbonate and calcium by weight. Reef-building organisms must extract these substances from the surrounding water in order to secrete new skeletal material for growth. By maintaining the same ratio of calcium ions and carbonates in an aquarium as that found in natural seawater, these organisms have the necessary building blocks available in the proper proportions, even if the hobbyist chooses to maintain higher concentrations of these substances.
For maximum effectiveness of the Reef Code method, the magnesium concentration in reef aquaria should be adjusted to, and maintained between, 1,290 - 1,320 ppm before using these products (alone or together) or any other calcium and alkalinity products. Doing so helps prevent unwanted precipitation between calcium and carbonate ions.
The rate at which calcium and carbonates are extracted from the water is determined by the stocking density of reef-building livestock, type of lighting, and other conditions; therefore, each aquarium will have different requirements for the rate of supplementation. Once the rate of calcium uptake in the aquarium has been determined, the proper dosing rate of this product can be easily calculated.
Instructions and Guidelines
Basic:
Guaranteed Analysis
Reef Code A
Calcium (min) 1,774 mg/oz. (60,000 ppm)
Magnesium (min) 42 mg/oz. (1,500 ppm)
Strontium (min) 36 mg/oz. (1,200 ppm
Ingredients
Purified water, Calcium chloride, Magnesium sulfate, Strontium chloride, Magnesium chloride
Reef Code B
Alkalinity or Buffering Capacity (min) 8,400 dKH (3,000 meq/L)
Ingredients
Purified water, inorganic Carbonate, Bicarbonate, Sulfate, and Borate salts
Use our chemistry calculator to find out how much you need to add to your aquarium.
Brightwell Aquatics Aquarium Supplies
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