Alkalinity and SPS

Dextereef · Apr 6, 2015

Happy Monday Everyone! Would you all mind just dropping a line here with your Alk levels and system you are running ( ULNS, mixed reef, sps dominated, etc...). I have heard so many different things from so many different people about Alk levels in SPS systems. From 13 to 8 dkh, from hobbiest to vendor, and everything in between. I know every system is different and has its own set of factors that contribute to the overall health of the system but I wanted to compile some quick high level data. Thanks!

I'm currently at 9.875 dkh and slowly rising on a mixed reef. I was running ULNS for a time with Alk around 8.2-8.5 and did not like the results and neither did my animals. Heading back to a more traditional route and animals are responding well.

-Logzor · Apr 6, 2015

I run around 9.5 with a heavily stocked mixed reef, but mostly SPS. This gives me some wiggle room if it drops or spikes. I've run as low as 7 and high as 14 but you get in the danger zone if it goes lower or high than those values.

I run a simple system, feeding + skimming. No products such as carbon, gfo, or additives other than 2-part/lime.

I'm guessing you're using the hanna meter? Not sure how else you'd get down to an accuracy of .875.

d2mini · Apr 6, 2015

I have no measurable nitrates.
Been adding more fish and trying to feed a little more.
Running my LPS/SPS reef at around 8.0 dkh.

diablomaster9045 · Apr 6, 2015

I run my reef at 8.2-8.4 dkh on my sps reef.

AdamNC · Apr 6, 2015

Ideally I try to maintain about 8-9dKH and manually dose about every other day. SPS dominant with 2 LPS, 2 Zoa colonies and an RBTA.

Dextereef · Apr 6, 2015

-Logzor said:
I run around 9.5 with a heavily stocked mixed reef, but mostly SPS. This gives me some wiggle room if it drops or spikes. I've run as low as 7 and high as 14 but you get in the danger zone if it goes lower or high than those values.

I run a simple system, feeding + skimming. No products such as carbon, gfo, or additives other than 2-part/lime.

I'm guessing you're using the hanna meter? Not sure how else you'd get down to an accuracy of .875.

I've reduced the "Stuff" on my system too. Quit GFO, quit aminos, feed well, skim wet, still run a carbon bag in the corner of my sump, kalk in the ato and only need to dose Alk. Cal is maintained with two 15g w/c monthly. Yes, I use a hanna checker. I was using a red sea for alk but couldnt get good readings. I do use red sea kits for cal and mag with no issues.

preston469 · Apr 6, 2015

I have a mixed reef, sps dominate I keep my alk around 8 ish to lower great colors and growth.

Battlecorals · Apr 6, 2015

Other than ro/di purity Alk is the only parameter i am extremely anal about . This is truly an area where stability goes a long way. any target from 7-10 is good as long as you nail it down. I often sound like broken record on the phone with people but the only way to really do this is to test daily. no matter how your supplying calc and alk, testing alk daily and tweaking accordingly is essential to long term success. at least with sps

My systems run the gamet from skimmerless and filthy to squeaky clean and i run about 8.5 on all four of them all tested daily without exception. its one of the easiest tests to do and in my opinion the most important. I could go on and on but ultimately once alk is locked in a lot of other things tend to fall in line.

atlfishes · Apr 6, 2015

Battlecorals said:
Other than ro/di purity Alk is the only parameter i am extremely anal about . This is truly an area where stability goes a long way. any target from 7-10 is good as long as you nail it down. I often sound like broken record on the phone with people but the only way to really do this is to test daily. no matter how your supplying calc and alk, testing alk daily and tweaking accordingly is essential to long term success. at least with sps

My systems run the gamet from skimmerless and filthy to squeaky clean and i run about 8.5 on all four of them all tested daily without exception. its one of the easiest tests to do and in my opinion the most important. I could go on and on but ultimately once alk is locked in a lot of other things tend to fall in line.

What alk test kit do you prefer?

Battlecorals · Apr 6, 2015

been using saliferts a while now. I used to swear by the old lamotte but i got a to lazy waiting for the pills to dissolve. lol

FarmerTy · Apr 6, 2015

Used to keep mine at 8.0 dKh but been running 7.0 dKh lately. I agree with battlecorals, just keep it consistent and you're set. I test every 2-3 days, chart my results, and adjust my calcium reactor accordingly.

I've run an SPS dominant system for the last 4 years.

JFrar · Apr 6, 2015

Good thread, I've been searching for my sweet spot and trying hard to get used to dosing daily which I do(I need a doser) . I have a mixed reef but over time it's becoming sps dominant. Been dosing daily and trying for 8-8.5 but seem to be having a hard time leveling that out and find myself around 7.5 often....think I should be testing more often like BC said above... Think I'll do that now

JFrar · Apr 6, 2015

Just tested a ~7.9 lol

MikeyB · Apr 6, 2015

I keep all SPS and i keep mine at a steady 7.5

d2mini · Apr 6, 2015

tybota said:
I test every 2-3 days, chart my results, and adjust my calcium reactor accordingly.

Same here.

swk · Apr 7, 2015

I test every day. Was using salifert as I think it has the most obvious end color change I recently got a hanna alk checker and have been thoroughly converted. The best hanna checker out there. I think the others are junk, but that's neither here nor there...

I keep alk at 7.3-7.7

I dose with a litermeter 3 setup and i freaking love it. Doses over 150x a day so no little swings throughout the day, just rock solid alk and cal supplementation.

My nitrates are around .5-1, but po4 is .1-.14 and my corals have never looked better

Dextereef · Apr 7, 2015

Not to go too deep into the chemistry of it all....if consistency is the key is there really no reason to have it at a certain level? ....except for avoiding the bottom and ceiling?

swk · Apr 7, 2015

Dextereef said:
Not to go too deep into the chemistry of it all....if consistency is the key is there really no reason to have it at a certain level? ....except for avoiding the bottom and ceiling?

No, there are reasons to keep it at a certain number. Mainly for those dealing with uln systems. If alk goes above 8, many people experience burnt tips on their sps corals. Some would say that lower alk (7-8) aids in better coloration in sps corals, whereas higher alk may lead to faster growth. Not sure any of that is confirmed by anything other than anecdotal observation....

However, burnt sps at high alk with low nutrients is well documented imo

-Logzor · Apr 7, 2015

Dextereef said:
Not to go too deep into the chemistry of it all....if consistency is the key is there really no reason to have it at a certain level? ....except for avoiding the bottom and ceiling?

I agree. I've never dealt with the burnt tips issue, but neither have I run an ULNS. So aside from the issue of burnt tips, relative to higher alkalinity levels with UNLS, consistency is key and avoiding the bottom and ceiling, I see no reason to over complicate this, regardless of how much we feel the need to.