How low do you keep your alkalinity and why?

[Scott.h]

Problem I see here is the constant dosing, nutrient fluctuations, possibly inconsistent husbandry(just a guess). Seems you can't decide on what parameters to keep. Often times reefers pick up dosing methods(balling, zeovit, Af) for nutrient control and to gain the edge on color. Problem is getting things just right. Trying skim, fuge, atf, reactors, chemical filtration plus dosing ABC and 123 with bio this and that bla bla. You'll never find a happy medium.

No, it has had a dosing pump going since day one. My system has had the best of everything on in before livestock was introduced. I've shut off all the fancy stuff to increase nutrients, and to be more in tune. My water changes are 10% the same time every week, and have been since day one. That's not what's going on.

Keep in mind I currently have 3 systems, 2 in the past, and have been in the hobby since '03. I didn't start the thread to find out where everyone keeps their alk. I prefer to keep mine 8-8.5. I realize the need to want to go higher, or lower, but I had a specific minor problem that I was chasing.

Since I'm used to keeping my kh in the 8 range with higher nutrients, low nutrients, nitrate dosing, and really low alk is new ground for me. More less, I'm looking for info on people that keep their kh lower then 7, and or nitrate dosing.

 

[reeferfoxx]

No, it has had a dosing pump going since day one. My system has had the best of everything on in before livestock was introduced. I've shut off all the fancy stuff to increase nutrients, and to be more in tune. My water changes are 10% the same time every week, and have been since day one. That's not what's going on.

Keep in mind I currently have 3 systems, 2 in the past, and have been in the hobby since '03. I didn't start the thread to find out where everyone keeps their alk. I prefer to keep mine 8-8.5. I realize the need to want to go higher, or lower, but I had a specific minor problem that I was chasing.

Since I'm used to keeping my kh in the 8 range with higher nutrients, low nutrients, nitrate dosing, and really low alk is new ground for me. More less, I'm looking for info on people that keep their kh lower then 7, and or nitrate dosing.

Yes I later noticed a post prior to that. My apologies. You stated you had a consistent level of .01 po4 i suggested a lower alk level assuming things stay the same.

 

[Scott.h]

Yes I later noticed a post prior to that. My apologies. You stated you had a consistent level of .01 po4 i suggested a lower alk level assuming things stay the same.

It's really hard to put a number on Salifert kits. I've never used a Hanna, almost bought one, but read of a lot of problems with them. Basically my goal isn't really a number, but consistently. I feel for both no3 and po4, as long as I can see a tinge of color with both, I'm good. Sometimes with the blue I have to put 10 ml of water next to it to see the color difference. So I'm guessing at .01.

 

[reeferfoxx]

It's really hard to put a number on Salifert kits. I've never used a Hanna, almost bought one, but read of a lot of problems with them. Basically my goal isn't really a number, but consistently. I feel for both no3 and po4, as long as I can see a tinge of color with both, I'm good. Sometimes with the blue I have to put 10 ml of water next to it to see the color difference. So I'm guessing at .01.

I put a lot of faith in the hanna po4 checkers. Maybe too much? But from what I hear, they sometimes release bad batches of regents. This type of error happens with almost every product we buy. I run into this type of error with reef salts more often than regents. Personal preference I suppose?

Basically my goal isn't really a number, but consistently.

+1. Unless your high end sps are dying lol

 

[Scott.h]

I put a lot of faith in the hanna po4 checkers. Maybe too much? But from what I hear, they sometimes release bad batches of regents. This type of error happens with almost every product we buy. I run into this type of error with reef salts more often than regents. Personal preference I suppose?

+1. Unless your high end sps are dying lol

I know a lot use the Hanna checker. I may end up with one because I'm a gadget guy. To be honest in one of my other tanks I used to chase numbers. I quit. I had a low po4 issue and scrapped the gfo, quit carbon dosing, and test rarely. But dose 2 part 2x a day. Cocktail mg in my weekly 10% water change and it works. Not because of laziness, but because things looked healthier. I don't know what happens chemically once a tank is fully mature, but I don't have any issues in that tank and I'd guess the nitrates to be 40 and the phosphate to be .1 or higher. A new tank fighting algae issues, etc is a different story, hence my ability to run reactors etc. I feel like a lot of the equipment, numbers chasing things are marketing hype. Every tank seems to be different too. Like some run kh higher then 10. I never could and I knew that before forums or you tube existed. But I whole heartedly believe some do. Why can they, I don't know.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I know a lot use the Hanna checker. I may end up with one because I'm a gadget guy. To be honest in one of my other tanks I used to chase numbers. I quit. I had a low po4 issue and scrapped the gfo, quit carbon dosing, and test rarely. But dose 2 part 2x a day. Cocktail mg in my weekly 10% water change and it works. Not because of laziness, but because things looked healthier. I don't know what happens chemically once a tank is fully mature, but I don't have any issues in that tank and I'd guess the nitrates to be 40 and the phosphate to be .1 or higher. A new tank fighting algae issues, etc is a different story, hence my ability to run reactors etc. I feel like a lot of the equipment, numbers chasing things are marketing hype. Every tank seems to be different too. Like some run kh higher then 10. I never could and I knew that before forums or you tube existed. But I whole heartedly believe some do. Why can they, I don't know.

I think a lot of new reefers would envy your tanks outcome. I hear a lot of don't chase this or that and then we see 20 something threads on why this or that happened. It's difficult to give a rule of thumb and more so with new tanks. My first tank I did imported ocean live rock and that tank was awesome for the time I had it. I didn't chase numbers, fed liberally, no algae or cyano and every grew in it. Eventually the newbie reefer in me neglected some incoming frags and ended up with 5+ different pests. Decided my next tank would be clean dry rock and now its a waiting game. It needs more maturity. I think a lot of new folks go that route due to some "easy-to-do" videos and end up with numbers all over the place. Tank maturity comes with ourselves maturing with the tank. Trial and error for some and just time for others. Then a lot of other discussion pertains to pushing colors or optimizing growth and sometimes that comes with the cost of 'chasing numbers' lol I agree as well about equipment and marketing hype. But I get what you are saying and it's nice to be in a position of just letting things happen and enjoying the hobby without the headache.

 

[RussiReef]

I find a sweet spot for my ALK between 7.5 and 8.5 . My corals loves it

 

[Scott.h]

I think a lot of new reefers would envy your tanks outcome. I hear a lot of don't chase this or that and then we see 20 something threads on why this or that happened. It's difficult to give a rule of thumb and more so with new tanks. My first tank I did imported ocean live rock and that tank was awesome for the time I had it. I didn't chase numbers, fed liberally, no algae or cyano and every grew in it. Eventually the newbie reefer in me neglected some incoming frags and ended up with 5+ different pests. Decided my next tank would be clean dry rock and now its a waiting game. It needs more maturity. I think a lot of new folks go that route due to some "easy-to-do" videos and end up with numbers all over the place. Tank maturity comes with ourselves maturing with the tank. Trial and error for some and just time for others. Then a lot of other discussion pertains to pushing colors or optimizing growth and sometimes that comes with the cost of 'chasing numbers' lol I agree as well about equipment and marketing hype. But I get what you are saying and it's nice to be in a position of just letting things happen and enjoying the hobby without the headache.

Yeah the whole live rock vs dry rock thing is another deal. This was the first tank I started with mostly dry rock. I pulled the little bit of live rock from another tank. Aside from the pest issue you refer to, 9 dollars a lb vs 3 dollars a lb is a big difference. Quite honestly I may have somethig still leaching from that rock too. I may not be an alk issue at all. That would make more sense then dosing 2 part to 7.0 causing an issue. Time will tell I guess. If that's the case next time I'd at least let the rock sit soaking in a trash can for a while first. Either way though, a lot happens in that first year, despite hardware and knowledge, seems there is no rea shortcut sometimes.