Reef Builder 600g SEACHEM

Reef Builder™ - 600g - SEACHEM

- Increases carbonate alkalinity (KH) with minimal impact on pH
- A blend of carbonate sources that will not lower pH as only competing bicarbonate products can
- Will not deplete calcium, magnesium, or strontium

Overview

Reef Builder™ increases carbonate alkalinity (KH) without immediate impact on pH. With long-term use, there will be a tendency to stabilize at pH 8.3. When used as directed, Reef Builder™ does not deplete calcium, magnesium, or strontium, which generally tend to precipitate with increasing alkalinity. Reef Builder™ and Reef Buffer™ can be used together. Use Reef Builder™ to increase carbonate alkalinity without affecting pH. Use Reef Buffer™ to increase both carbonate alkalinity and pH. Reef alkalinity should be maintained at 3–5 meq/L (8–14 dKH). Alkalinity should not drop below 2 meq/L.

Sizes: 50 g, 300 g, 600 g, 1.2 kg, 4 kg

Instructions

Beginner

Use 3 g (1/2 level teaspoon) per 150 L (40 US gallons) twice a week.

Dissolve in at least 250 mL (1 cup) of freshwater.

Check alkalinity every 2 weeks and adjust the amount or frequency accordingly.

For precise dosing, use the Seachem digital spoon scale.

Advanced

Check alkalinity (use MultiTest™ Marine pH & Alkalinity to test alkalinity levels), then follow the addition schedule above until alkalinity is adjusted to 3-6 meq/L (8-17 dKH).

Each 3 g/150 L will increase alkalinity by about 0.25 meq/L.

The amount or frequency can be adjusted, but do not exceed 12 g/150 L per day.

Then, use as needed to maintain alkalinity.

Expert

After determining the rate of alkalinity consumption, set up a continuous drip system.

Use the following formula (or skip the calculations and use our dosing calculator) to determine the amount to add to your top-off water: m = 0.08va (m = grams to add to top-off water, v = tank volume in liters, a = amount to increase alkalinity in meq/L).

For example, if you want to increase your alkalinity by 1 meq/L in a 200-liter tank, you would add 0.08x200x1 = 16 g to the top-off water.

[For reference: 1 gallon = 3.8 liters, 6 g = 1 teaspoon].

Considerations

Use the MultiTest™ Marine pH and Alkalinity to test alkalinity levels.

Reef alkalinity should ideally be maintained at 3-6 meq/L (8-17 dKH).

Alkalinity should not drop below 2 meq/L.

It is advisable to make large adjustments slowly to avoid overshooting the target level or shocking corals and invertebrates.

Dissolve in at least one cup of freshwater.

DO NOT OVERDOSE: Excess alkalinity can increase the loss of calcium, magnesium, and strontium. Do not mix directly with a calcium, magnesium, or strontium supplement. Ideally, calcium and carbonate additives should be added every other day or at least 30 minutes apart.

FAQ

What is the difference between Reef Builder™ and Reef Buffer™?

While both products affect pH and alkalinity, the primary function of Reef Buffer™ is to affect pH, whereas the primary function of Reef Builder™ is to affect alkalinity. When pH is the primary concern, use Reef Buffer™. When pH is not an issue, use Reef Builder™ to adjust alkalinity.

When I dissolve Reef Builder™ at the prescribed 4 teaspoons per gallon in RO water, the resulting solution is cloudy and doesn't clear up upon settling. Sometimes, I also find that some of the material is very stubborn to dissolve. Is this normal?

When dissolving at the prescribed concentrations, it is normal for the solution to be somewhat cloudy. Add Reef Builder™ to your RO water, stir for a few minutes, or let it sit for about 10 minutes, then add it to your tank. It will dissolve quickly at this stage. Pre-dissolving Reef Builder™ is primarily recommended as a gentler method of distribution (instead of just putting the dry product directly into the tank) and not as something you would dose (in which case, you would want everything to be dissolved). It is also normal for small amounts of material not to dissolve if you let the RO or DI water and Reef Builder™ solution sit overnight... small amounts of calcium carbonate can sometimes form in the bottle, and it is this material (chalk) that is very insoluble.

How can I mix Reef Builder™ for use in an automatic dosing system?

_____ (x) ____ (amount you want to increase the alkalinity each week) ÷ 0.25 meq/L (amount a standard dose increases alkalinity) = ____ (a) _____ (how many doses you would need per 150 L to increase the alkalinity by (x))

___ (a) ____ (see (a) above) × 3 g (standard amount of grams per 150 L) = ___ (b) ____ (amount of grams per 150 L needed to increase the alkalinity by (x))

____ (y) ____ (the volume of your tank) ÷ 150 L (standard dose volume) = ____ (c) ____ (number of doses you need for (y))

____ (b) ___ (see (b) above) × ___ (c) ___ (see above) = ____ (d) ____ per week

Divide by 7 to get the daily amount

For your reference: We found that 1 teaspoon of Reef Builder can be successfully dissolved for every 150 ml of liquid. These calculations would yield 6.6 teaspoons (or 33.3 g) per 1 L of liquid. These are just estimates based on our results, and results may vary in a larger volume of water.