Red Sea's Alkalinity Recommendation - 11.5??

[Coolnesscomplex]

Hi guys, the Red Sea Foundation B formula recommends that PH in a Mixed Reef should be at 11.5. Is this really true?? It seems far different than the 8.3 I see mentioned on this forum all the time. Is that just because most people have SPS-dominant tanks? I do not, just LPS and zoas.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[DHak]

Hi guys, the Red Sea Foundation B formula recommends that PH in a Mixed Reef should be at 11.5. Is this really true?? It seems far different than the 8.3 I see mentioned on this forum all the time. Is that just because most people have SPS-dominant tanks? I do not, just LPS and zoas.

Thanks in advance!!

Alkalinity and pH are different. Alkalinity can be kept as high as 11 for faster calcification however, a medium range of 8 to 9dkH is what I would recommend. pH should remain as stable as possible but 8.1-8.3 ideally. A pH of 11 will kill the tank likely.
Bulk Reef Supply has a great video on YouTube about higher alkalinity and calcium levels and how coral growth is impacted.

 

[Coolnesscomplex]

I appreciate this advice and will probably follow it, but I’m so confused that Red Sea would recommend a value that could possibly crash my tank. It’s tough to make a decision to ignore the manufacturer’s recommendations!

 

[hart24601]

In the era of ultra low systems higher alk seemed to cause burnt tips on coral, so the overall hobby started to recommend lower and lower alk levels, however if not running ultra low nutrients generally driven by carbon dosing all in the 11 range isn't that wild of idea. It can be seen as almost a credit to red Sea for recommending those numbers in spite of the general forum recommendations since high alk does boost growth as BRS showed.

 

[DHak]

An alk of 11 wont kill the whole tank if brought up gradually. My comment on crashing the tank was regarding pH which may have just been a typo in your original poost.

 

[Coolnesscomplex]

Yes I was just watching the BRS video about elevated levels here.
But they cautioned viewers to be really careful and be smart about it and as a new reefer, I’m definitely going to take their advice and just raise the alkalinity by 1 dKH per month to be safe.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[hart24601]

Good call! In the end it's not a big deal just keep it stable! Imo it's good practice to keep levels at what your preferred salt mix is so should you need to do an emergency waterchange the alk matches.

 

[IslandLifeReef]

Yes I was just watching the BRS video about elevated levels here.
But they cautioned viewers to be really careful and be smart about it and as a new reefer, I’m definitely going to take their advice and just raise the alkalinity by 1 dKH per month to be safe.

Thanks for the feedback!

What salt are you using? If you are using a salt mix such as RedSea Black bucket that mixes to around 11 dKh, then I would try to keep my tank at those levels.

If you are using a mix such as RedSea blue bucket that mixes to around 8 dKh, then I would try to keep my tank at that level.

IMO, it's all about the salt mix you are using.

 

[Pete Hammersley]

Hi guys, just come across this post from a while back while googling the same question. There seems to be some people saying far left is good, at 8 dkh, and some saying the far right of 11.5 is good? Is there much value to shooting for the middle at 9.5 / 10 dkh?
I’m just confused why Red Sea programme for mixed Reef suggest 11.5, however an sps dominant tank (which would have a higher alc requirement) only recommended at 8? This does not stack up in my mind, any ideas?

 

[BeejReef]

Some of the posters from this summer hit on it pretty well. If you're running low nutrients... like you need a hannah ulr and your nitrtates are under 5, some people run into problems burning their coral.

On the other hand, BRS did a pretty convincing video series where elevated (10+DKH) levels seemed to equate to higher alkalinity uptake by corals and growth. I personally see a lot of value in aiming for the middle. I try for 9 to 9.5 dkh myself. Simple logic that if I screw up, I have plenty of room for error on either side.

Why any manufacturer recommends a certain level... who can really say.

It's hard to dispute the "maximizer" logic of filtering like crazy while supplementing heavily... also pushing parameters to the knife's edge with 8x a day automated testing. I'm certain their coral grows faster than mine.

I'm not running a commercial grow out system though. I have some fish and coral in a tank in my dining room.

 

[Pete Hammersley]

Some of the posters from this summer hit on it pretty well. If you're running low nutrients... like you need a hannah ulr and your nitrtates are under 5, some people run into problems burning their coral.

On the other hand, BRS did a pretty convincing video series where elevated (10+DKH) levels seemed to equate to higher alkalinity uptake by corals and growth. I personally see a lot of value in aiming for the middle. I try for 9 to 9.5 dkh myself. Simple logic that if I screw up, I have plenty of room for error on either side.

Why any manufacturer recommends a certain level... who can really say.

It's hard to dispute the "maximizer" logic of filtering like crazy while supplementing heavily... also pushing parameters to the knife's edge with 8x a day automated testing. I'm certain their coral grows faster than mine.

I'm not running a commercial grow out system though. I have some fish and coral in a tank in my dining room.

I agree, there is only a certain level we can reasonably expect to achieve as hobbyists, but I do enjoy understanding the science behind it all too which is why I was intrigued by red seas recommendations. How can an sps tank be suggested at 8dkh, with ultra low nutrients, but the mixed Reef tank suggested at 11.5 dkh and regular low levels. What is the link between the two?
As for BRS videos, I think I have seen every one about 5 times, I love the science behind the theory which most other youtubers don’t provide.