Alkalinity Levels

[ReefDaddyz]

Have a question about alkalinity. My system is fairly new I have a RS Reefer 170 it has 6 fish and a few smaller pieces of coral. My Alk sits at 7.2 and has always been there. I’m using Fritz Blue box salt and have an RODI setup. I’m going to test the Alk of the water I’m changing next time to see where it sits at.

My question is should I dose something to get it at 8-9 then just monitor it weekly or just let it sit around 7.2?

 

[MarshallB]

Monitor it. What is the ALK in your freshly mixed water? I only started with a few lps frags, but once coralline algae started to take off I had to start dosing 2 part. As long as its over 7 you should be fine. 7.2 is pretty close though.

I was having some pretty wild PH swings, so boosting alk to around 9 has reduced my swings.

 

[Fiesty]

I would suggest dosing Kalk on even intervals all day and night at an amount just under your daily evaporation level. for an example, I do this in my 200 gallon system once every hour for a total of just over 1 gallon per each day. I mix to max saturation for my system (I have lots of corals and clams) but u could start with a half rate of kalk mixed in RODI water and see how your system handles it? Then adjust accordingly and as your needs change. This also doubles as an auto top off for most part and then i just run a simple line from RODI to float to make up any additional water needs. Has been a simple and reliable system for me for many years.

 

[Reef.]

Have a question about alkalinity. My system is fairly new I have a RS Reefer 170 it has 6 fish and a few smaller pieces of coral. My Alk sits at 7.2 and has always been there. I’m using Fritz Blue box salt and have an RODI setup. I’m going to test the Alk of the water I’m changing next time to see where it sits at.

My question is should I dose something to get it at 8-9 then just monitor it weekly or just let it sit around 7.2?

I believe there is no set level to keep the tank at apart from a base level of 7kh, seems from my research you pick a number and try and keep it there, depending on your salt level of KH will determine what lvl may be easier to keep the tank at.

 

[ReefDaddyz]

Monitor it. What is the ALK in your freshly mixed water? I only started with a few lps frags, but once coralline algae started to take off I had to start dosing 2 part. As long as its over 7 you should be fine. 7.2 is pretty close though.

I was having some pretty wild PH swings, so boosting alk to around 9 has reduced my swings.

I haven’t checked the new batch yet I will this weekend. I have been doing 10% weekly. My pH seems to be stable but I don’t check all the time. I know that Alk will buffer pH to keep it up.

 

[homer1475]

I purposely keep my tank at 7.5. While anything above 7 is fine, I would raise to at least 7.5. Gives you a little wiggle room between too high, and too low.

 

[Reef.]

I haven’t checked the new batch yet I will this weekend. I have been doing 10% weekly. My pH seems to be stable but I don’t check all the time. I know that Alk will buffer pH to keep it up.

I thought it was the other way around? More KH lower ph?

this is a topic I’m just getting into myself so following.

 

[ReefDaddyz]

I thought it was the other way around? More KH lower ph?

this is a topic I’m just getting into myself so following.

From what I have seen if your pH starts to drop Alk will act like a buffer to raise it up and keep it there so now your Alk will start to drop. There is a video on this I will try to find and post it here.

 

[MarshallB]

I thought it was the other way around? More KH lower ph?

this is a topic I’m just getting into myself so following.

It depends on how you boost your alkalinity. Dosing Soda Ash will raise PH and help buffer it. I was falling below 8 before I started dosing, now I never fall below 8.1.

 

[ReefDaddyz]

I thought it was the other way around? More KH lower ph?

this is a topic I’m just getting into myself so following.

 

[Reef.]

just watched about 20mims of that video, he started off by saying he was going to make it simple...didn’t work for me, he tried to cover too many topics in one go.