Higher dkh and carbon dosing

abraha · Jun 8, 2019

I run carbon dosing via NOPOX and I keep the recommended dkh at 8.0.
I recently watched BRS investigates showing higher dkh, Ca and Mg equals faster growth (see link below).
My question is: Could I continue carbon dosing and run higher dkh ? I am thinking 9 maximum.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vide...ated-reef-tank-parameters-brstv-investigates/

Thank you!

AdamNC · Jun 8, 2019

Ideally no. You want to stay in the 7.8 - 8.1dKh range. From personal experience a higher dKh will yield burnt tips on SPS and fading and shrinkage on LPS. I currently run about 8dKh and use NoPox daily and have good color on my SPS and max inflation on my LPS.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 9, 2019

Its fine to dose organic carbon at any alkalinity as long as you are careful that nutrients do not drop too low and become limiting to coral growth.

Faster coral skeleton growth than tissue can keep up may be the cause of burnt tips on some SPS corals.

abraha · Jun 9, 2019

Thank you Randy.
So what is the rationale behind the widespread 8 dkh recommendation for carbon dosing.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 9, 2019

abraha said:
Thank you Randy.
So what is the rationale behind the widespread 8 dkh recommendation for carbon dosing.

The rational for low alk (not 8 dKH, but more generally, closer to 7 dKH) is that burnt tips come from excessively low nutrients and higher alk. Carbon dosing often leads to very low nutrients, but certainly not always. Mine never did.