Alkalinity at 7

[Dimmy007]

Alkalinity is testing at 7.0.

110 gallon tank
90 days old
Fish include:
2 clown
1 goby
1 foxface rabbit fish
1 blue tang
3 snail
1 crab
1 soft coral polyp -starting to look sickly

Salinity at 1.026 testing with refractometer. Used the saline for calibration. LFS also tested salinity and it is at the same.

Using instant ocean reef crystals


Testing with Red Sea kit. Also at LFS and testing at the same.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

What's the emergency? Alkalinity = 7 dKh is just fine.

Salinity at 1.026 testing with refractometer. Used the swine for calibration. LFS also tested salinity and it is at the same.

Can you clarify what you used to calibrate? You mentioned you used the swine to calibrate, but I'm not aware of any pork-based calibration methods for refractometers.

 

[Dimmy007]

What's the emergency? Alkalinity = 7 dKh is just fine.


Can you clarify what you used to calibrate? You mentioned you used the swine to calibrate, but I'm not aware of any pork-based calibration methods for refractometers.

Lol. Saline. Autocorrect

 

[Dimmy007]

Lol. Saline. Autocorrect

Shouldn’t alkalinity be around 10?

 

[shub]

as long as its stable your perfectly fine.... you just don't want it jumping around..... that will cause you problems.... its actually better lower bc you have less risk of alk burn problems

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Lol. Saline. Autocorrect

LOL. I figured it wasn't swine, but I didn't think it was "saline" either. Had to ask

No, alkalinity certainly doesn't have to be around 10 dKH. Many people choose to keep it higher because it can help with pH and corals tend to calcify a bit faster at higher alkalinity and calcium levels. But there's no rule that it has to be around 10. In fact, the trend over the last few years is actually toward maintaining lower alkalinity around 7 dKh instead of 10 dKh or so.

Corals and fish can be happy at almost any value between 7 dKh and 11 dKh. The big thing is stability. Whatever your alkalinity is, it shouldn't vary too much.

 

[Diego Manoel]

Hi Dimmy, Alk can range between 7 to 11 depending on the aquarium system you have, 7 is ok, of corse you can raise a bit, but SLOWLY or you will really have problems

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

It depends on what type of system and corals you plan to have. Basically if you keep low nutrients then Alk around 7-8 is good. With higher nutrients you can keep Alk above that. Alk at 7 shouldn't cause a problem with the soft coral that you have. You can certainly raise it slowly over several days if you'd like.

 

[Perry]

No emergency at all, I have had a mature sps reef with over 50 plus acros thrive at my intended target alk of 6.8 dkh. Just do not overthink the concern and make subtle adjustments. Cheers

 

[Dimmy007]

Thanks for the response. I was just worried be new at this still. And again autocorrect. It was salinity calibration fluid. Not saline.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Def retest. In a new tank with not much going on , (coral) your ok.
With IO having an alk of 11-13 to keep up your alk by simple water changes.
IMO , 8 is not a bad target. Lower with no stone corals is fine , also with just softies too.
I use natural seawater woth an alk of 7.5. My mixed salt is 8. But I also use an auto doser for cal and alk becuse I have a large amount of stone corals.

 

[oceanrider]

agree. soft polyps are easier....but if they are stressed, something is going on..

What are your other parameters > ??

Maybe added too little live rocks, adn too many livestock ? ( does not seem likely, but if nitrates are way high?)

when did you add the coral........maybe it is too much light..... you should start at bottom ................or too little light ?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Stability us key. Too many reefers get haunted by chasing alk and ph. Iften salt mixes have low content and hence produce low numbers.
Before assuming its low, i would have water tested by other aquarist or pet store to compare readings.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Stability us key. Too many reefers get haunted by chasing alk and ph. Iften salt mixes have low content and hence produce low numbers.
Before assuming its low, i would have water tested by other aquarist or pet store to compare readings.

Pretty much this.

The parameters of your system can run lower than what's considered the accepted norm, and have it thrive as long as those numbers are stable. If you spend too much time constantly chasing a number and making changes frequently, then it stresses the corals eventually can lead to bleaching and/or death. When making adjustments to your parameters, the most important thing is to go slow. if you want to raise say the Alk to 9 do it over the span of a couple of weeks by adding buffer or Kalk with just a little more than is required to maintain it where it's at now.