What Alk is best?

[boozeman27]

Hi! So I am currently cycling my reefer 525 and I'm on day 23. Zero ammonia but high nitrites and nitrates still. My question is what should my alk be? I have nothing in the tank except a cpl crabs and 2 clown fish. (They have only been in the tank for 5 days) I used the red sea reef mature kit to cycle and it says I should be targeting 8.4 dkh, but since I am using RSCP salt, my alk has been 12.1 or so. During the red sea reef mature process I targeted 12.1 as my value instead of 8.4, since that is what I started at. I have read a ton on here and see that the majority of people target 8-9dkh, so basically am I using the wrong salt? Should I let my alk drop to 8.4 or so, or should I switch to a salt that mixes to 8.4? I will be adding some soft corals in the next 30 days or so, so I want to set my parameters correctly now. Any help is greatly appreciated!!

 

[CodyRVA]

In the future leave critters out of the tank while it cycles. You can change to the regular Red Sea salt, no need for you to be using the potent stuff at this point. Right now, I wouldn't worry about ALK, plenty of other things going on. ALK really depends on your nutrient levels IMO; lower nutrients require a lower ALK, higher nutrients can allow for higher ALK. Ultimately, stability is king; don't chase magic numbers. When your tank stabilizes, wherever your ALK might be... 8 or 9, just make sure you keep it constant unless something else calls for an incline or decline in ALK.

 

[Tank2379]

Yeah you shouldn't worry about Alk right now during the cycle process. Right now you should worry about getting the cycling done before adding any critters. Once you start adding corals or when the time comes to add then start checking Alk to see where your levels are at then adjust from there.

 

[boozeman27]

I waited an extra week to add the clowns past what red sea suggested. They said add fish on day 10. I have had zero ammonia since day 10 or 11ish. My nitrites are still at 1.0 but that was the same as they were in the qt so I figured the water parameter were the same, it was ok to move them to the dt on day 18. Fish seem to be doing just fine and ammonia has never been above zero since the initial spike per seneye and red sea test kit.

 

[boozeman27]

I just wonder if I should keep adding the alkalinity to maintain the 12.1 dkh or let it drop and maintain it at 8.4? My red sea reef mature program has completed and it tells me to keep adding alk to maintain my target.

 

[CodyRVA]

You should be getting all the ALK you need from simple water changes. Only when you have a well stocked reef do you need to concern yourself with dosing ALK. For what it's worth I think 12 dKH is high, but thats my .02

 

[Tank2379]

I just wonder if I should keep adding the alkalinity to maintain the 12.1 dkh or let it drop and maintain it at 8.4? My red sea reef mature program has completed and it tells me to keep adding alk to maintain my target.

Are you planning on adding coral anytime soon? Alk should be test for that then. Also I would keep your alk around 7-8 dkh, 12dkh seems a bit high but is doable and some corals can respond differently to high Alk.

 

[boozeman27]

OK that makes sense. So I will stop adding it but monitor it daily. If it drops significantly I will start adding again. Thanks

 

[boozeman27]

So is RSCP salt the wrong salt for me?? Should I switch to the regular salt that targets 8.4?

 

[NickNiz]

I like to keep mine between 8.5 and 9... I had an incident a few weeks ago where my alk somehow reached 12.5. No clue how it got so high, since I don't dose and my LFS always keeps their reef water at 8-9dkh... A lot of color change happening in corals, and a chalice experienced RTN... Not sure if from alk, or just a hermit scratching and starting an infection.

 

[Tank2379]

So is RSCP salt the wrong salt for me?? Should I switch to the regular salt that targets 8.4?

Its fine if you are going to adding corals in the future.

 

[NickNiz]

I would recommend using RSCP only when your reef is more stocked and established... the only reason I use it (when I'm not lazy and make my own saltwater) is because my 12 gallon is overstocked and my alk/cal decrease pretty quickly.

 

[CodyRVA]

I would recommend using RSCP only when your reef is more stocked and established... the only reason I use it (when I'm not lazy and make my own saltwater) is because my 12 gallon is overstocked and my alk/cal decrease pretty quickly.

+1, no need to use that salt right now.

OK that makes sense. So I will stop adding it but monitor it daily. If it drops significantly I will start adding again. Thanks

This isn't how you manage any of your parameters, be proactive not reactive. A 1.0 dKH drop in ALk can be dangerous for many SPS corals. As mentioned before, stability is king. Weekly testing should show fluctuation in ALK by maybe .3 dKH at the most. You want your ALK to remain constant... hope this helps!

 

[Nellynel21]

Alk between 8-9.
Use the regular red sea for now.. if you planning to stock your tank with allot of corals thenbyou switch to the PRO salt ..
If you going to keep a high nutrient tank ,meaning high nitrate and phosphate do t worry about high alk .. minds is on 10. Plenty of sps

 

[boozeman27]

Thank you everyone for the helpful info!

 

[Waters]

Assuming you will be keeping coral, your ALK level will be highly dependent upon how much nutrients you have in your water. You can keep higher ALK levels as long as you have lots of nutrients....otherwise you want to keep it lower. Generally speaking, the higher the ALK, the faster coral grows which will require the extra food. If that food isn't available, your coral will suffer. I prefer to keep mine around 8.4.

 

[Greybeard]

I used the Red Sea reef mature kit(s) to get the bio filter going in my new reef. First time I'd ever used anything but a salad shrimp... I must say, it works pretty well.

One of the things that comes with the kit is their 'Kh Coralline Grow' product. This raises alkalinity... with my kit, it said to target an alkalinity of 8 dKH.