High alk or high cal?both or none

[Mrfresh]

I'm really getting into sps and I read so many mixed answers...
What do u think and if u have pics of ur tank and ur levels I would love to see...


Some say:
High alk with mid/low cal 11dkh 350cal
High alk with high cal. 11dkh 500cal
Low alk with high cal. 6-8dkh 450 cal
Low alk with low cal. 6dkh 350cal


Now I just got my BRS dosing pumps and am trying to figure out what levels I want to keep and how much I will need to dose of each to keep that level.
Other random info
It a 90 gallon display
40 gallon sump. Skimmer return pump and fug with miracle mud
Mag 7 return pump. Super under powered
4 lrg power heads inside for a lot of flow inside the tank. No stag water spots...
100lb of sand
150lb of live rock...
I was running my alk at 10dkh and cal I had a hard time getting over 350... That's why I'm letting it drop right now to 8.5 dkh and cal to 450. Not sure if I want to try and get cal at a good level and raise the alk again or just keep It there...I know once the pumps are going and I can keep them at stable levels sps will also improve...
A water change every week 10 gallons
Tropic marine pro salt.

Please let me know what u think thank you...

 

[Mrfresh]

I guess what I'm asking what do u keep ur reading at?
How fast do ur sps grow?
Can u post pics?

Thank you.

 

[trogdor]

Since I carbon dose I keep my ALK low at 7-7.5, CA at 440 and Mag at 1300. I too use BRS dosing pumps and love them. I have great SPS growth using ecotech Radions on a 60g cube.

 

[trogdor]

Forgot to post pic... Tank still pretty new (2months old).

 

[Mrfresh]

Thanks
Yeah it seems like the target alk level is about 7.5 with 450cal and walker just a little dirty...

 

[Singlefin]

I try to keep it close to seawater. In the middle. Alk 8-9 ca. 450. Can see purposely running it high or low. That's dangerous. You might want a little breathing room incase your numbers unknowingly get high or low.

 

[Mrfresh]

Singlefin what's ur growth rate like?

 

[Dowtish]

I am of the theory of lower Alk as well. The ocean is typically around 7dkh, I keep mine at 7.8-8.0 dkh. I also run bio-pellets and it is suggested to keep your alk low while carbon dosing. But even if I didnt, I would run my alk around 8, just so I have some wiggle room if things swing at all.

Also the relationship between alk and calcium and mag is a little confusing at first, and I wont say that I still completely understand it. But since you are just starting to use dosing pumps, I would suggest reading up on the relationship of these parameters. You typically should be dosing aboutthe same amount of alk and cal. For instance, let's say if you are trying to keep 10dkh and having to dose more alk than calcium, then your calcium is naturally going to drop. And you will be fighting to get your calcium above 420-450. And vice versa, if you suddenly dose more calcium then your alk will drop. you have to find the balance of your tank needs.


I keep these links bookmarked:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php
[URL]http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php



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[Mrfresh]

So from a couple different articles I have read I think I am going to for:
Alk 7.5 stable no bounce
Cal 500 stable no bounce
Phos .03


I always thought u wanted 0.00 for phos but what I have read people say that there corals turn pale when there phos was 0.00
And that the color came back when phos went up to 0.03 to 0.05... So I guess that's my new target.