How much alk is suggested on sps?
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tonyespinoza1
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It depends on what you are trying to do. Red Sea came out with a chart for enhancing colors and accelerated grown. That being said I keep my Alk at 12.6, Ca 465, Mag at 1380
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SouL_Shaker
Active Member
I have plates , milleporas , acroporas , rim plate , hammer corals , brain , torch coral , leathers , rose anemone and collecting nps corals.
But %67 sps dominated .
tonyespinoza1
Active Member
As long as you keep everything consistent you will be okay. When you fluctuate your levels that's when come into problems.
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SouL_Shaker
Active Member
How about high nutrient sps aquariums ? I have nps corals and scallops also.
As long as you keep everything consistent you will be okay. When you fluctuate your levels that's when come into problems.
Downbeach
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I kept a predominanty SPS mixed reef for many years, with numbers close to NSW, with an Alk of ~7.5dKH Ca of ~420 and Mg @ ~1350. I didn't want to run with elevated numbers (Ca/Alk) for a few reasons; first was the fact that the higher you run those numbers, the greater the potential of abiotic precipitation, the more you have to clean your pumps, heaters, etc., especially since I also dosed kalk. Next is the fact that I was carbon dosing(pellets), and didn't want to run the risk of burnt tips on my SPS. I wasn't interested in accellerating the growth, and was more interested in getting the best coloration on the corals. The cost of the additional dosing that would be needed was also a factor.
Eckolancer
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I like 9dkh, 450, 1500 higher mag seems to help my colors with rapid growth and keep nuisance algae away.
redfishbluefish
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Here's my take on alk levels......I think it's more important to have consistancy. So pick a number and maintain that number, whether it be 7 to 12 dKH. I shoot for the low end 7.5 - 8 and hold it there, and my stuff is growing like a weed. I've gotten to the point I can't even give it away, it's growing so fast.
What you don't want are alk swings, high - low - high - low, etc. I believe that stunts/damages the coral.
What you don't want are alk swings, high - low - high - low, etc. I believe that stunts/damages the coral.
NeverlosT
SPS nut
My opinion, stay low. 7-8 dKh, especially if you are running biopellets, Less chance of burnt tips as another already mentioned.
Whenever my SPS look upset, first thing I check is the ALK, and it is usually because it crept up.
I have no idea how some of you are running 12 dKh. If I did that my tank would kick the bucket.
Whenever my SPS look upset, first thing I check is the ALK, and it is usually because it crept up.
I have no idea how some of you are running 12 dKh. If I did that my tank would kick the bucket.
Reef_Junkies
Active Member
Anyone have any luck keeping 9 dkh while dosing NoPox? I had several sources suggest 7 dkh (NSW) but I've been worried about it dropping unexpectedly so I've been maintaining it around 8.5-9. Lost one Acro colony due as it started to have burnt tips and STN.
Reef_Junkies
Active Member
I started running GFO because I had a Cyano outbreak in the refugium only which leads me to believe that I have phosphates in the water even though my test say it's only 0.02. I may have to get one of those Ultra Low Phosphorous Hanna Checkers since I have bad eyes and can't distinguish the color charts 100%. Nitrates are at a steady 2-5ppm. I only feed fish once a day, and I have a good amount for a 150 gallon (3 yellow tangs, clown tang, 3 anthias, 2 diamond gobies, mandarin Goby, 3 wrasses) They are all within 2" - 3" so I don't think it's a overstocking problem. Ammonia and Nitrites are 0 all day everyday.
Reef_Junkies
Active Member
Also, in my last post I mentioned I use Red Sea NoPox for Nitrate and Phosphate control.
Jp978
Active Member
I keep my alk at 7 to 7.5 I have biopellet and gfo on my tank. I have a low nutrient sps dominate tank colors have been coming in real good and growth has been great. Salt makes a difference on what your doing in your tank also I use Red Sea non pro because the alk runs at 7.7/8.4 other brands like Red Sea pro, reef crystals, run high all 11 to 12 range. It's all depend on what your corals look like in your tank and what you are looking to achieve.
