High alk not sure why

[Jonathan Troutt]

hey guys did some testing tonight. And my all is slightly above 9dkh it has been running 7.5 - 8 since the tank has been set up. My calcium is at 450
ph is 8.1
Nitrates are 2ppm
Everything is growing fine. I just added my first sps because everything had been stable.

I know as calcium drops alk goes up but my calcium has stayed stable. 480-450. But I have never seen my alk go above 8dkh I do not dose anything. Thoughts on this? Tried a google search but nothing came up.

 

[trido]

Different bucket of salt? Did you test a second time after getting a high reading?

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

Nope been running off the same bucket. And no I didn’t do a second test.

 

[Camaro Show Corals]

What test kit

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

Salifert on all my test kits except for ph. Ph is an API. Gonna be getting a Hannah

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

hey guys did some testing tonight. And my all is slightly above 9dkh it has been running 7.5 - 8 since the tank has been set up. My calcium is at 450
ph is 8.1
Nitrates are 2ppm
Everything is growing fine. I just added my first sps because everything had been stable.

I know as calcium drops alk goes up but my calcium has stayed stable. .

No, that is an oversimplification that is not generally true.

What salt mix? It probably just reflects the alk in your salt mix, unless you are using tap water for top off (it can contain alk and/or calcium).

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

Fair enough I am using IO salt mix. And I have an RO/DI at home still showing 1ppm as well.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

IO has alk well above 9 dKH so each water change will raise it. [emoji3]

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

Well now ok did not know that. Should I use a different salt. I’ve read that high alk is bad for sps. Is this true?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Well now ok did not know that. Should I use a different salt. I’ve read that high alk is bad for sps. Is this true?

It's not true, as written.

High alk and very low nutrients is bad. It can lead to burnt tips.

High alk and high nutrients may make them grow faster and is a fine strategy.

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

Ok so when you say high nutrients how high are you talking. I’ve been trying to keep my nitrates between 2ppm and 5ppm

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If nitrate is at least 2-5 ppm and phosphate at least 0.01 to 0.02 ppm, then alk up to 11 dKH should be fine.

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

Awesome thanks. My phosphate is always non detectable with the kit I am using. I am eventually going to get all hanna meters. Thanks for the knowledge!!

 

[Randy Ruiz]

I always thought dkh in the 9 range should be fine.

 

[Randy Ruiz]

I always thought dkh in the 9 range should be fine.

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

The only reason I asked is because I read something on sps coral and success. In that article it was saying that dkh higher than 8 was bad. So I figured better safe than sorry and just ask about it. You know prolly a little to nervous but I don’t want this little guy to die.

I am really liking it and picked it up for 10 bucks. If I can be successful with it I’m gonna get some more.

 

[trido]

Take a look at my tank thread.... My Dkh has been as high as 16 twice in the last year. NOT that I'm saying that is OK, but a dkh of 9 IMO is great. I try to keep mine between 9-11. I feed real heavy to keep nutrients up and SPS grow fast. Randy has posted some great SPS facts in his short statements above you can take every one of those to the SPS bank.

 

[domination2580]

Just a quick pointer... if it has no sump, like an all in one tank, urea harder to keep up nutrients without algae taking foot

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

Well I will take note and remember then. I appreciate the help and information. Thanks again!