Alkalinity

[leepink23]

So I will be adding my first sps tomorrow. My alkalinity is 9.2 on hanna checker and 8.4 on salifert. I use regular IO salt for water changes but dose 1/2 gallon per day Kalkasser, 2 tsp per gallon, for ph benefits. My phosphates on hanna ulr .01, nitrates with red sea pro 1-2. Should I cut back the kalkwasser strength or stop it? Or keep going as is? Ph is running 8-8.14 with kalk on apex. 7.8-8 without it.

 

[leepink23]

Tank has been running around 2 years. I have 4 fish. Only corals currently are a variety of zoas.

 

[leepink23]

Anybody?

 

[leepink23]

I did decide to stop the Kalk dosing last night. My ph only dipped to 7.9, and I have read the apex could be reading low. My alk was 9.0 this morning. So I am going to leave it off and check daily. I also read that Kalk dosing can inhibit my Algae Turf Scrubber growth, so maybe that will increase and start taking up the CO2 at night and balance the PH out.

 

[CodyRVA]

Since you made a change, give it more time and test regularly before adding any coral. Your ALK is a tad high for that low of nutrients, but just my .02. Keeping your ALK stabile is more important; let your tank settle after that change then add your SPS and see how it does. What SPS were you considering? Adding a frag or two really won't have an impact on your system. Once those SPS really start growing you'll notice a higher demand for dosing of CA and ALK. Don't forget to maintain proper MG as well.

 

[leepink23]

Since you made a change, give it more time and test regularly before adding any coral. Your ALK is a tad high for that low of nutrients, but just my .02. Keeping your ALK stabile is more important; let your tank settle after that change then add your SPS and see how it does. What SPS were you considering? Adding a frag or two really won't have an impact on your system. Once those SPS really start growing you'll notice a higher demand for dosing of CA and ALK. Don't forget to maintain proper MG as well.

I have several frags coming in today, I am not going to make any other changes and just leave the kalk off and test daily, and I agree its a little high, I had been thinking it was 8.4 because that is what Salifert is reading but just got the hanna checker yesterday. Mg stays around 1500. Below is the frags I am getting.
6. Green Hulk Acro
15. mystic sunset monti
16. green birdsnest
22. blue digitata
29. joe the coral
43. tyree minefield cyphastrea
45. miyagi tort

 

[CodyRVA]

Just monitor your parameters closely. As stated, swings will be much worse so as long as you keep it stabile they should do alright. Definitely keep an eye on CA demands, thats a nice pack you're getting, your CA demand will definitely go up assuming everything thrives.

 

[leepink23]

Just monitor your parameters closely. As stated, swings will be much worse so as long as you keep it stabile they should do alright. Definitely keep an eye on CA demands, thats a nice pack you're getting, your CA demand will definitely go up assuming everything thrives.

I am going to check daily. Do you think I am making a good decision to just leave kalk off and monitor.

 

[CodyRVA]

I am going to check daily. Do you think I am making a good decision to just leave kalk off and monitor.

My PH usually runs at 7.8, so by no means do you need 8.0+ to keep SPS. If that's the only reason you're doing KALK then i think you're find to stop dosing it. I'm personally not a fan of KALK, I find it easier to maintain PH with macros and adjust your ALK dosages as needed.

 

[leepink23]

My PH usually runs at 7.8, so by no means do you need 8.0+ to keep SPS. If that's the only reason you're doing KALK then i think you're find to stop dosing it. I'm personally not a fan of KALK, I find it easier to maintain PH with macros and adjust your ALK dosages as needed.

Thanks! I am hoping as my algae turf scrubber grows it will help the ph as well.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So I will be adding my first sps tomorrow. My alkalinity is 9.2 on hanna checker and 8.4 on salifert. I use regular IO salt for water changes but dose 1/2 gallon per day Kalkasser, 2 tsp per gallon, for ph benefits. My phosphates on hanna ulr .01, nitrates with red sea pro 1-2. Should I cut back the kalkwasser strength or stop it? Or keep going as is? Ph is running 8-8.14 with kalk on apex. 7.8-8 without it.

I'd keep doing what you are doing and monitor alk a couple of times a week.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am going to check daily. Do you think I am making a good decision to just leave kalk off and monitor.

Is OK to stop it, but why choose to do so?

 

[leepink23]

Is OK to stop it, but why choose to do so?

I have been told my alkalinity is to high for the sps I am adding with the lower nutrients. This was the main reason to stop. I was using it for ph.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don't believe 9.2 dKH is too high with 0.01 ppm phosphate and 1-2 ppm nitrate, but if you want it lower, it's fine to stop dosing the limewater, or dose less.

Certainly if you see burnt tips on sps corals, I'd dose less.

 

[leepink23]

I don't believe 9.2 dKH is too high with 0.01 ppm phosphate and 1-2 ppm nitrate, but if you want it lower, it's fine to stop dosing the limewater, or dose less.

Certainly if you see burnt tips on sps corals, I'd dose less.

Thank you, I think I may dose less, change to 1 tsp per gallon. I stopped overnight but I think I will restart it before adding my sps and keep monitoring. I don't want to make crazy changes.

 

[Ashish Patel]

new tanks will be very sterile resulting in very low nutrients. Therefore, first sign of your corals paling you need to feed heavier or dose amino acids. let them get used to the tank by putting them in low light area for few days and bring them up. My first 7 SPS corals all suffered because of low nutrient and high lighting. I would say parameters such as ALK they can take many ranges - Just keep your Alk stable around 8.5-9 and you should be fine.... Lighting and nutrients are most important for survival (without nutrients the corals algae will starve, too much light they will bleach/pale). Start low and work your way up...

 

[leepink23]

My tank is approximately 2 years old, just really starting with sps. I have 2 radion xr30 gen pro 3 at 50% max.

 

[Kent12456]

I don't believe 9.2 dKH is too high with 0.01 ppm phosphate and 1-2 ppm nitrate, but if you want it lower, it's fine to stop dosing the limewater, or dose less.

Certainly if you see burnt tips on sps corals, I'd dose less.

"Burnt tips on sps corals"
Although I'm keeping a few, I have limited experience with sps, what do burnt tips look like?

 

[leepink23]

I plan to put them at the bottom at first, its a 150 gallon 48x30x24 tank.