Acclimating from 7 dKh to 9 dKh

[crazyfishmom]

Hello all!

My tank parameters are:

Alkalinity: 9.1 dKh (Trident)
Calcium: 455 (Trident)
Magnesium: 1387 (Trident)
pH: 7.84-7.99 (Trident)
Temperature: 79-80 F (Trident and separate probe)
Phosphate: 0.03-0.06 (Hannah)
Nitrate: 4-6 (Hannah)

My question: I am receiving some SPS frags today (mini colonies so larger) and they’ve been kept at an alkalinity of 7. I normally buy frags that have been kept between 8-9 and haven’t had any problems in that range but I am worried about such a large dKh shift for these animals and want to do my best for them. I don’t really think trying to acclimate over 3 days is feasible. What else short of that can I do?

Thanks for any wisdom you might be able to offer and any thoughts in general!

 

[The_Paradox]

I try to get mine on the rack after a dip as soon as possible then leave them alone and I keep my tanks around 11kh. I’m usually more concerned with light acclimation than alk. From shipping they are already going to be ***** so I’m in camp “deal with it”.

 

[crazyfishmom]

I try to get mine on the rack after a dip as soon as possible then leave them alone and I keep my tanks around 11kh. I’m usually more concerned with light acclimation than alk. From shipping they are already going to be ***** so I’m in camp “deal with it”.

That’s fair; mine normally go to the rack quickly as well and kept at around 100-150 par for a few days and then slowly moved up in the tank. That’s been working out well for me. I bleached a lot of frags trying to place directly in their final location in the DT but have finally learned that lesson! Thanks for the response!

 

[jda]

You can just do it. If they don't make it, it will not be from this, IMO. I have never found these type of things to matter at all when getting frags. Constant and persistent alk swings over a longer period of time are more of an issue, IMO.

 

[crazyfishmom]

You can just do it. If they don't make it, it will not be from this, IMO. I have never found these type of things to matter at all when getting frags. Constant and persistent alk swings over a longer period of time are more of an issue, IMO.

Makes sense. Thanks for the response!

 

[RockBox13]

Don’t lower your dKH. Keep it higher to stabilize pH at 8.3-8.4. Minimize acidification in your tank with beneficial bacteria (Microbacter), blow detritus off of rocks and gravel vac your sand bed. Make sure your skimmer is working properly and use carbon.

 

[crazyfishmom]

Don’t lower your dKH. Keep it higher to stabilize pH at 8.3-8.4. Minimize acidification in your tank with beneficial bacteria (Microbacter), blow detritus off of rocks and gravel vac your sand bed. Make sure your skimmer is working properly and use carbon.

I didn’t and definitely wasn’t trying to. I like it at 9. Works well for my system. The mini colonies did great without going through crazy acclimation!