Alk readings..

[JVH]

So I invested in a hanna checker for phosphate since its so hard to read the shades of blue and the Alk test since alkalinity is so important. The test I did tonight came up with 173. That I needed to multiply by 0.056 so that gave me 9.7 dkh

So according to some charts that's bad for fish and not good enough for SPS.

What is acceptable for a mixed reef tank?

 

[twilliard]

You are just fine
Mine is 160 so right at 9DKH

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I recommend 125-200 ppm calcium carbonate equivalents (7-11 dKH; 2.5-4 meq/L) for a mixed tank that is not a ULNS system (ultra low nutrients).

The fish info is not correct if it says 9.6 dKH is bad for them.

This has more:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/o...-reef-aquarium-by-randy-holmes-farley.173563/

 

[JVH]

I recommend 125-200 ppm calcium carbonate equivalents (7-11 dKH; 2.5-4 meq/L) for a mixed tank that is not a ULNS system (ultra low nutrients).

The fish info is not correct if it says 9.6 dKH is bad for them.

This has more:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/o...-reef-aquarium-by-randy-holmes-farley.173563/

Thanks Randy! Ill definitely check that out today! It doesn't really say its bad but it show a recommendation that is much, much lower! I guess it was my assumption if it was that far off it must not be good.

 

[ls2ttgto]

General range of Alk is around 7-9.5dkh, just keep your parameters stable and see what works best for your tank. I usually keep mixed sps and lps in 8-9dkh year round.

 

[SifuMemphis]

My SPS tank is around 10.7. Find something that works for you, and keep it very stable. I've seen some people run an amazing SPS tank with 12dkh. In my opinion, it's all about stability.

 

[JVH]

My SPS tank is around 10.7. Find something that works for you, and keep it very stable. I've seen some people run an amazing SPS tank with 12dkh. In my opinion, it's all about stability.[/QUOT

Thank you! I am finding that out! At the moment I'm dosing by hand and not testing every single day so sometimes when I test my calcium will be good to times in a row so then I won't test and of course that's the data drops so I need to get an apex and some kind of monitoring/dosing system.. I'll see him was up to about four 420 and now it's dropped to 320 very frustrating so of course I'm going to be changes as well but those were my latest readings I need to work on stabilization!