Alk level, Does it matter?

[Eddie7144]

Now that I have a monitor, I keep mines at 8.1 to 8.3 not sure ilof the benifits chemistry wise but the few sps I have are doing great, good color and people is very good so I guess there is something to keeping steady alk levels

 

[Amps Reef Life]

For me I always keep mine at what my salt levels are. My salt runs at 9 on a fresh batch of made water. So I maintain my tank at that level. That allows me not to worry about water changes spiking my levels. It's all about stability for sps coral.

 

[flintian]

Interesting conversation. Thanks for all of the great information. Over the last year or so I dialed my Alkalinity in at 9.5 dKH, Calcium 450 and Magnesium 1,350 using Randy's 2 Part recipe (Thanks Randy). This is done through a Dosing pump. But recently, my Alkalinity started rising slowly to about 10.3, Calcium 460 which was probably caused by my Magnesium being depleted over a month or so without being replenished which is to be expected. However, what I don't understand is since I decided to lower my Alkalinity to 9.0 and now that I drastically cut the amount and frequency of my daily Alkalinity and Calcium dosing, I've only seen a small drop to 9.9 and 450 over the course of a few weeks. Before, if I went a day without dosing, my Alk would drop almost a full point from 9 to 8.2. I am now dosing 1/3 of what I used to dose and my levels seem to be holding steady. I test Alkalinity with a Hanna Checker and the Reagent I was using is not on the recall list. I also, just bought more reagent and tests were confirmed. I have had no major tank change or die-off of coral. Am I missing something? Oh, and just in case someone asks, I have been using the same batch of 2 part throughout this time period, so I don't think it is due to the solution being stronger.

240 gallon mixed reef

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The higher the alk you try to maintain, the higher the demand, both from corals and coralline algae, and from abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate. So that may be why you need to add less.

 

[flintian]

Thanks Randy, I'm a big fan of your articles.
That sounds like a possibility. I guess I am surprised that it is taking so long to naturally drop down when just a few months ago I felt like my levels would collapse if I missed a day of dosing.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Do the corals seem to be growing more slowly, or might the abiotic precipitation be slower now for a variety of reasons?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

BTW, thanks!

 

[flintian]

Randy, honestly, I switched to Radions from Halides over a year ago and although my tank overall has been doing well I really haven't been thrilled by my coral's growth.

Since the switch, I haven't had any major issues and for the most part my levels and husbandry have been very consistent (not great but very consistently good). About the only thing that is growing well in my tank over the last few months is Coraline Algae and my 3 clams (one is over a foot long). Obviously, I think both accounted for most of my Alk/Ca consumption over the last year.

For some reason I think abiotic precipitation has slowed over the last month or so and I can't figure out why. I haven't changed or done anything differently over the last year.

Perhaps another symptom of something being off is I have had a number of Zoa frags melt on me recently and in the past my Zoa's usually grow crazy.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Changing whether your home windows are open can impact the pH which can impact coral growth and abiotic precipitation. :)

Open windows --> more demand

 

[that Reef Guy]

Alk is the Most Important Thing to Test for.

It gets used up Much Much Quicker than Calcium or Magnesium.

Most People Keep their Alkalinity between 8 and 9

Alot of Acro Dominated Tanks will go as Low as 7

I keep Mine at 8.5

Stability is Key for Corals.

I have 6 Tanks and Test and Dose Alkalinity Every Day on All 6 Tanks.

One of the Tanks that has alot of LPS I Check and Dose Twice a Day.

Since doing this My Corals have been Much Much Healthier and Happier and they Grow Much Much Faster.

Remember Stability is Key.

 

[that Reef Guy]

My API reef test kit said my dKH was 12-13. Is that way too high? Is that an issue? I've been adding a pH up (pH @8.4) so maybe it's related?

Don't use API.

It is is sooo inaccurate.

I have seen it off by as much as 4 Points and that is Ridiculous.

I would use a More Accurate Test Kit like Salifert.

 

[flintian]

thank you again Randy for your feedback. PH was my thought as well and lately the windows have been closed with the AC on. I will test and monitor it daily to see what happens.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

OK, that might be it.

Good luck!