Alkalinity 9 or 12 DKH

Ricco · Apr 16, 2018

Question where do you all keep you Alk 9 o12 at one point I was push for 12 on my 60. Recently my LFS said that's is high and I should keep it around 9. I've noticed at 9 I'm not getting any coralline algae growth. What do you think, raise or keep the same?

mahindra.dev · Apr 16, 2018

It depends. There is a new series going on with BRS where they are investigating if keeping Elevated levels help with coral growth. I keep mine at 9.5-10. Im still to see purple coraline but my rock is covered in green coraline. If things are working out for you, dont mess with it. But most say 8-10 is the standard.

Crabs McJones · Apr 16, 2018

Ricco said:
Question where do you all keep you Alk 9 o12 at one point I was push for 12 on my 60. Recently my LFS said that's is high and I should keep it around 9. I've noticed at 9 I'm not getting any coralline algae growth. What do you think, raise or keep the same?

I keep mine around 8. Don't get much coraline growth, but the corals are growing pretty quickly. 9 is also a good spot. If you do decide to lower it, do it slowly or your corals may get upset with you from to big of an alk swing.

mckinney0171 · Apr 16, 2018

I run my tanks at 12.5 dKH per Red Sea program advice.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 16, 2018

My recommendation is 7-11 dKH, with higher alk if your primary goal is faster hard coral growth.

This has more:
Optimal Parameters for a Coral Reef Aquarium: By Randy Holmes-Farley
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/o...-reef-aquarium-by-randy-holmes-farley.173563/

jasonrusso · Apr 16, 2018

I keep mine in the low 8s. My salt mix is at that level so I don't have to worry about a spike.

Also, the ocean is in the 7s.

coral-boss · Apr 16, 2018

mine stays pretty much at 8.2-8.5 on a daily basis. for whatever reason my corals didn't like the higher alk when I ran it near 12. just have to see what makes your corals the happiest and stick to that. I also have minimal coralline algae growth, it would be nice on the rocks but id rather have happy coral that coralline.

Ricco · Apr 17, 2018

Thanks all. I saw the BRS investigate and wondered should i move back up. I've bee down around 9 for awhile but once it dropped i did notice no more coraline growth. I'm starting a new tank build 120 and just wondered if i should look to increase it. Can't wait to see what BRS comes up with.

Thanks again.

Danh Ngo · Apr 17, 2018

Ricco said:
Thanks all. I saw the BRS investigate and wondered should i move back up. I've bee down around 9 for awhile but once it dropped i did notice no more coraline growth. I'm starting a new tank build 120 and just wondered if i should look to increase it. Can't wait to see what BRS comes up with.

Thanks again.

Keep mine at 7.8-8, running low nutrient tank, my sps tip will burn, if it alk over 8.5

themcfreak · Apr 17, 2018

I keep mine at 9 pretty consistently. Seems to be doing very well with coral growth, and I do have a little bit of coralline starting to grow here and there.