KH - What’s the Magic # and WHY!?

[Strangewaterchange]

Thanks, and will do that with a water change today.

It may be best to slowly bring it up to that over a couple weeks to avoid stressing any life

 

[Rmckoy]

7-7.5 dkh

stability means a lot more than maintaining a specific number .
So if your salt mixes at 8 dkh and you want dkh at 10
You have to dose to bring it up . Or try to maintain numbers outside balance .
why not save a little money and let it naturally be stable and only dose your daily consumption ?

 

[EakTheFreak]

7-7.5 dkh

stability means a lot more than maintaining a specific number .
So if your salt mixes at 8 dkh and you want dkh at 10
You have to dose to bring it up . Or try to maintain numbers outside balance .
why not save a little money and let it naturally be stable and only dose your daily consumption ?

Well, that’s a fair point but why are the consistent votes at 8.5-9.0?

Must be something magical about those numbers!

 

[Garf]

Well, that’s a fair point but why are the consistent votes at 8.5-9.0?

Must be something magical about those numbers!

Because I don’t trust our dosing pumps, and don’t wanna go too low when they fail.

 

[X-37B]

Well, that’s a fair point but why are the consistent votes at 8.5-9.0?

Must be something magical about those numbers!

Funny, their is no magic in reefing, lol.
You can run your tank at any level you want as long as its stable.
When certain well known vendors preach numbers then the masses follow.
When they preach that the oceans alk is 8-9 people also follow.
Such is the nature of the beast.
Their are many misconceptions in the hobby.
I run alk of 7.2. If it goes to 7.5 no issues.
If if it goes to 6.5 no issues. I have been at both but maintain 7.2 95% of the time.
I hear this all the time at lfs.
They run 9-10. We get better growth at that range.
I get just as good of growth at 7 alk as they do with less issues.
Their is more to reefkeeping than alk.
Just strive to keep it within the range you decide on and you will have success.

 

[Rmckoy]

F

Because I don’t trust our dosing pumps, and don’t wanna go too low when they fail.

faster growth , higher consumption of alk and cal .

When I buy frags . Knowing most I’ve dealt with maintain 7-8 dkh .
Seeing as mine is stable at 7-7.5
stability being the magic why raise it amd risk losing anything to sudden alk increase

I don’t have to dose anything ,
It’s stable the way it is ....
If it’s not broken , why fix it or try speeding nature

 

[EakTheFreak]

I’m thinking about lowering from 10.0 to 9.0 just so I can dose less.

I wish I had enough time and patience to do my own experiments on PH & coral growth.

Still sounds like stability is king but the variance in KH has my mind spinning

 

[TexanCanuck]

How do you get continuous digital kh readings like this?

A combination of Apex controller and their Trident measuring system ... I use the standard/recommended setup which measures Alk four times a day and CA and MG twice a day.

I also added the DOS system which then automatically adjusts how much I dose based on the readings in our to keep KH and CA as stable as practical

Best investment I ever made!

 

[Metcho]

I test my alk daily at 5pm with Hanna checker. Doser is ran but adjusted when it fluctuates cause of me fragging acros. I keep the alk between 7.5-8.0 there’s no magic number tyat will work for everyones tank cause there all setup different with different living creatures and corals. You have to find what works for your tank. Those alk values are where my tank thrives I’ve tried higher but things looked bad.

 

[mkwarner77]

mine seems to like it between 8-9

 

[EakTheFreak]

mine seems to like it between 8-9

8-9 is the hot spot according to the votes!! I get that all tanks are different but very interesting

 

[PALEMBANG]

Maybe Long Time

Salinity 1.023
CAL 430
MAG 1400
Phosphate 0.10-.15
Nitrate 80-90

I can't Set new corals.but old one growing great

 

[EakTheFreak]

8.5-9.0 still have a major lead. Wish I would have asked what salt mix’s everyone uses??

I use Fritz RPM the red box with elevated levels. I’m not sure I will keep that salt if I decide to drop from 10.0 to 9.0 dkh.

What salts are you reefers that voted 8.5-9.0 using?