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ritter6788
Coral Fraud Private Eye
Just checked mine. 9.4 dkh with a Hanna. Nearly spot on with my new salt mix.
Have You Checked Your Alkalinity Today?
- Thread starter ritter6788
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Pkunk35
Valuable Member
Awesome write up, Ritter, I check my alk everyday!
Currently running very stable at 8 but I'd like to get it stable at 9 dkh. Over how long of a period would one take to increase dkh by this amount and still be safe for all reef inhabitants?
Currently running very stable at 8 but I'd like to get it stable at 9 dkh. Over how long of a period would one take to increase dkh by this amount and still be safe for all reef inhabitants?
Pkunk35
Valuable Member
My salt mixes at a higher alk than my tank...do you think i should raise my alk over time to try and match my salt mix? I use Red Sea Pro and find it mixes a little high in Ca and Alk at 1.026 spg.
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ritter6788
Coral Fraud Private Eye
I try to keep my tank's alk the same as the new salt mix.
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ritter6788
Coral Fraud Private Eye
This can get out of hand quick if you have growing sps colonies and clams. Since getting rid of my blue clove polyp infestation my sps corals have taken off in
growth again. My alk dropped from a steady 9 to 6.5 in less than a week. I'm testing everyday right now until I can raise the alk and adjust my dosing pump.
Test and test often. Water changes can't keep up with a fast growing system.
growth again. My alk dropped from a steady 9 to 6.5 in less than a week. I'm testing everyday right now until I can raise the alk and adjust my dosing pump.
Test and test often. Water changes can't keep up with a fast growing system.
xcorallusx
unregistered
I think the only way you can get away with kalk on a fast growing sps tank is to use fans to help evaporate the water faster.
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ritter6788
Coral Fraud Private Eye
What is the alk of your newly mixed saltwater? Some salt mixes have a high alk to begin with (Red Sea for example has an alk ~12 dkh). If the salt mix doesn't have a high alk then there is no way for it to increase unless you're adding something to increase it like baking soda or commercial pH buffers.
1fishmonger
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gmoney243
2500 Club Member
You should specify red sea coral pro. Regular red sea salt runs around 9dkh its what I use and love it. Nice write up btw. I think a lot people problems comes from unstable alk and once daily dosing of 2 part. Esp when bleaching sps and they can't figure out why.
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ritter6788
Coral Fraud Private Eye
Noted. Thank you. I haven't used either Red Sea salt but I knew one had a really high alk.
goody
Well-Known Member
So I recently switch from using NSW to mixing RSCP. As mentioned, this salt mix has a high alk level. If I want my DT to have an alk level of 9dkh, am I going to run into problems doing weekly water changes with this salt? I know I can switch to a salt that is closer to the desired alk level, but I have heard good things about RSCP.
Do I need to bring down the alk level before adding to tank? If so, how do I do this?
Do I need to bring down the alk level before adding to tank? If so, how do I do this?
lakeviewink
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the write-up. The only three consistent tests I do are Alk, Mg, and PHOs
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ritter6788
Coral Fraud Private Eye
If you want your DT to have an alk of 9 I would seek out a different salt. Your alk may not change much at first but after several water changes you could see an increase in alk depending on your stony coral load, size of tank and % of water change. If your corals aren't using much alk then you will definitely see an increased alkalinity with water changes using RSCP.
Really the only way to lower alkalinity is to let it fall on it's own or do water changes with a lower alkalinity salt.
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goody
Well-Known Member
Thanks ritter. Tank is 150g and I do 20% WC. It is sps dominant, with over 90 frags and colonies. Since I just recently switched to RSCP, I will definitely test my alk a lot more frequently.
CraigG
Active Member
Just out of curiosity I know this is kind of personal preference but what do you all believe to be the best value of Alk in DKH to run a sps tank at to obtain the best growth rates when using a calcium reactor? Also +1 on at least weekly testing and daily testing when dialing in.
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ritter6788
Coral Fraud Private Eye
I prefer sps tanks on the low side of alk, 7-9 dkh. Any higher in low nutrient systems and alk burn can occur in sps tanks.
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ritter6788
Coral Fraud Private Eye
I use Reef Crystals mixed at 1.026 and get an alk on average of 9 dkh. I got a bucket once that mixed up at 10 dkh but usually is right on 8-9 dkh.
