Low alkalinity a problem?

Yamaha1634

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 17, 2022
Messages
186
Reaction score
78
Location
Wallasey, UK
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Had my Fluval Evo set up for 4 weeks now so still early days, been testing basics and watching the cycle up till now but today I started testing for a few more parameters. Noticed that my alkalinity looks low, outside of recommended levels anyway.

Stocking so far is 2 clownfish and a duncan coral, I also have a pajama cardinal in QT who won't be added for at least another 2 weeks yet.

Everything appears to be happy so i don't have any immediate concerns but below are my parameters if someone could comment if anything stands out as needing to be addressed?

Salinity 1.026 (crept up, will slowly lower to 1.024)
Temp 25.8*C
PH 8.0
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 0.25
Nitrate 10
Calcium 430
Magnesium 1320
Alkalinity 7.8

PH,Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate are all with an API kit, the ammonia has read 0.25 since before I added any fish and has been steady every day pretty much so I'm not concerned and believe this to be well below 0.25 in reality.

Calcium, Magnesium and Alkalinity are all with Red Sea kits.
 
I wouldn't call Alkalinity of 7.8 dKH "low". Tropic Marin Pro Reef salt runs at around 7.3 dKH, and prior to their contamination fiasco it was one of the most popular salts on the market. Just depends how much you want to buffer your ALK swing. Personally I like to keep it at 8 dKH.
 
I agree 1.026 is fine however if it crept up from 1.024 then probably want to make sure keeping up on those top offs so it is not swinging up and down between topoffs.
 
I agree 1.026 is fine however if it crept up from 1.024 then probably want to make sure keeping up on those top offs so it is not swinging up and down between topoffs.
Have an ATO, it crept up as one batch of water I bought from my LFS was at 1.028 and I didn't check before doing a water change.... Learned my mistake and I'm bringing it back down slowly!
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%

New Posts

Back
Top