Water chemistry & parameters

Plumbing a reef system—pipe sizing, bulkheads, unions, check valves, and leak-proof best practices.

How to drill glass for a bulkhead overflow—tools, hole-saw selection, tempered-glass checks, and safety.

Saltwater reef chemistry basics: alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, nitrate, phosphate, salinity, temperature.

What alkalinity is, why it matters for coral growth, how to test, and how to dose safely.

Calcium's role in coral skeleton building, ideal ranges, testing methods, and supplementation.

Magnesium stabilizes alkalinity and calcium—when and how to supplement in marine reef systems.

Phosphate sources, how it interacts with alkalinity, GFO media, and balanced nutrient approaches.

pH drivers in marine systems—CO2, alkalinity, photoperiod—and whether to chase a number.

Instruments (refractometer vs hydrometer), target ranges, calibration, and why consistency matters most.

Oxidation-reduction potential: what it measures, typical ranges, and whether to monitor it.

What ICP-OES measures, how to interpret results, sampling best practices, and which labs to use.

Calcium chloride + alkalinity buffer: how two-part works, brands, dosing calculators, and when to upgrade.

How kalkwasser supplements calcium and alkalinity, dosing via ATO, and pH benefits.

How a calcium reactor works—CO2, media, effluent tuning—and when it makes more sense than two-part.

Hans-Werner Balling's three-part + trace system—principles, recipes, and practical adjustments.

Strontium, iodine, potassium, iron—which traces matter, which are hype, and how to avoid overdosing.

How to mix synthetic salt—RODI water, aeration, heating, target salinity, and aging time.

Why reverse-osmosis deionized water is essential, unit sizing, membrane life, and TDS targets.

How to use a TDS meter, when to replace membranes and DI resin, and inline vs handheld models.

DI resin types (mixed-bed, color-changing), replacement frequency, and optimizing cartridge life.

How to raise or lower dKH without shocking corals—drip methods, timing, and maximum daily swings.

Using organic carbon to feed bacteria that consume NO3/PO4—methods, risks, and monitoring.

Refractometer calibration with 35-ppt solution, hydrometers, and digital instruments—accuracy matters.

Denitrification in reef tanks explained — practical guide for saltwater reef keepers.

When is my reef tank cycled? — practical guide for saltwater reef keepers.

Biopellets for reef tanks explained — practical guide for saltwater reef keepers.

Bulkhead fitting guide for reef tanks — practical guide for saltwater reef keepers.

Peristaltic vs diaphragm dosing pump — practical guide for saltwater reef keepers.