Alkalinity, also referred to as carbonate hardness or buffering capacity, is essentially a means of quantifying the stability of pH in a solution, such as aquarium water. Alkalinity is of extreme importance in a marine aquarium, owing to the manner in which it influences pH. In an aquarium, weak acids formed by oxygen respiration and the decomposition of organic material gradually deplete alkalinity. If left unchecked, the alkalinity drops below a critical level and pH begins to fluctuate more wildly than is normally suggested (a daily pH shift of +/-0.2 is normal in marine aquaria), causing stress to livestock.

Alkalinity is also depleted by reef-building organisms during the production of aragonite (~60% carbonates by weight), and is therefore very important for their rapid growth.

Maintaining the alkalinity in marine aquaria between 7 - 12 dKH (2.5 - 4.3 meq/L) will generally maintain pH within the desired range. The rate at which alkalinity is depleted in a reef aquarium is determined by the stocking density of reef-building livestock, type of lighting, rate of water circulation, and other biological, physical, and chemical conditions; therefore, each aquarium will have different requirements for the rate of alkalinity supplementation. Once the rate of alkalinity depletion in the aquarium has been determined, the proper dosing rate of this product can be easily calculated.

It is recommended that a quality salt mix with the proper (not augmented) alkalinity and concentrations of major, minor, and trace elements be used to establish natural seawater parameters in the reef aquarium, providing a stable ionic foundation on which to build.

All Brightwell Aquatics liquid water care supplements are made with purified water and high purity materials. They develop formulae for aquaria based on empirical data, using observation and measurement rather than theory

Alkalinity, also referred to as carbonate hardness or buffering capacity, is essentially a means of quantifying the stability of pH in a solution, such as aquarium water.

In an aquarium, weak acids formed by oxygen respiration and the decomposition of organic material gradually deplete alkalinity. If left unchecked, the alkalinity drops below a critical level and pH begins to fluctuate more wildly than is normally suggested (a daily pH shift of +/-0.2 is normal in marine aquaria), causing stress to livestock.

Alkalinity is also depleted by reef-building organisms during the production of aragonite (~60% carbonates by weight), and is therefore very important for their rapid growth.

Maintaining the alkalinity in marine aquaria between 7 - 12 dKH (2.5 - 4.3 meq/L) will generally maintain pH within the desired range

pH is a measurement of the acidity of a solution, such as aquarium water. The pH of natural seawater ranges from approximately 8.2 - 8.4, however maintaining pH in the range of 8.1 - 8.5 on a daily basis has no negative impact on captive marine organisms.

To maintain stable pH within the desired range, the alkalinity should be maintained within a range of 7 - 12 dKH (2.5 - 4.3 meq/L). Aquaria with low circulation at the water’s surface, in which a CO2-injected calcium reactor is being employed, or in which a carbonate-deficient sea salt blend has been used, often have depressed pH. pH+ will bring pH in the aquarium back into the desired range.

Use as directed and do not exceed a pH value of 8.5, as this pH may be stressful and/or fatal to sensitive aquarium inhabitants. Additionally, changes to pH should be made very gradually, again to avoid stressing aquarium inhabitants.

It is not unusual for pH to fluctuate throughout the course of 24-hours between seemingly wide-ranging values (i.e. 8.1 at night to 8.4 during the middle of the day); this is a natural occurrence that is caused by changes in the rates of photosynthesis between dark and light periods. This situation is frequently encountered in aquaria with considerable growth of macroalgae (in the display aquarium or in a refugium).

One proven method of minimizing this daily pH-fluctuation is to implement a refugium that is illuminated on an opposite schedule to the lighting for the display aquarium (known as reverse-daylight photosynthesis). In this method, the refugium is illuminated at night when the display aquarium lights are turned off, and vice versa; a 1-hour overlap of having all lights on encourages a smooth transition and little change in pH. The result is that photosynthesis takes place 24-hours a day and keeps pH as stable as can be managed.

If pH levels are seen to be constantly below the desired level and alkalinity is within the proper range, increasing the circulation of water near the aquarium surface will often produce positive results; this practice increases the rate of gas exchange and encourages entrained CO2 to exit the aquarium before it has a chance to form the weak acids responsible for low pH and depletion of alkalinity.

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 Côde 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.

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.

250 ml treats up to 4,732 Litres

When used in equal amounts with Reef Code A, the calcium and carbonates being added are in the same ratio found in natural seawater