Reef crystals or instant ocean for sps reef

[NoahLikesFish]

Yeah thats a fine attitude for a lot of corals but stable KH is absolutely important for more delicate SPS.

couldnt u use a doser pump?

 

[Stain]

I use reef crystals. I run an alk of around 9. I dose esv 2 part and mag as well.

 

[Ross Petersen]

Yes I am aware. I was going this route for a while to save a few bucks but have since gone back to Red Sea blue bucket since it has lower KH. I was adding acid to the bucket and waiting a few days for the PH to slowly come back. I guess if your KH is almost 9 its not a big swing during water changes.

Hey. I was thinking the same. I run two tanks and my goal is to keep at a dKH in the 8-9 range.

I’m confused as to why so many salts mix to such a high dKH. Wouldn’t this stress SPS corals during water changes? I have little desire to add acid to new salt to optimize the alkalinity.

I wonder how much alkalinity drops in salt mixing stations over time. I recall BRS released a video on this and it can be significant. Maybe that’s part of the answer.

@Randy Holmes-Farley can you clarify here: how do people run tanks at an alk of 8-9 with salt that mixes to 10-11? Is dilution and smaller water changes the simple answer? I have a 125 gallon and 40 gallon setup (mixed with heavy SPS) and imagine alkalinity matching is more prudent with the smaller tank.

Thanks

 

[BAUCE]

Hey. I was thinking the same. I run two tanks and my goal is to keep at a dKH in the 8-9 range.

I’m confused as to why so many salts mix to such a high dKH. Wouldn’t this stress SPS corals during water changes? I have little desire to add acid to new salt to optimize the alkalinity.

I wonder how much alkalinity drops in salt mixing stations over time. I recall BRS released a video on this and it can be significant. Maybe that’s part of the answer.

@Randy Holmes-Farley can you clarify here: how do people run tanks at an alk of 8-9 with salt that mixes to 10-11? Is dilution and smaller water changes the simple answer? I have a 125 gallon and 40 gallon setup (mixed with heavy SPS) and imagine alkalinity matching is more prudent with the smaller tank.

Thanks

I've actually used a product called Seachem acid buffer which is a powder you add to the water. You still have to wait a few days for the PH to rise back up but at least its safer to use.

 

[Opus]

Hey. I was thinking the same. I run two tanks and my goal is to keep at a dKH in the 8-9 range.

I’m confused as to why so many salts mix to such a high dKH. Wouldn’t this stress SPS corals during water changes? I have little desire to add acid to new salt to optimize the alkalinity.

I wonder how much alkalinity drops in salt mixing stations over time. I recall BRS released a video on this and it can be significant. Maybe that’s part of the answer.

@Randy Holmes-Farley can you clarify here: how do people run tanks at an alk of 8-9 with salt that mixes to 10-11? Is dilution and smaller water changes the simple answer? I have a 125 gallon and 40 gallon setup (mixed with heavy SPS) and imagine alkalinity matching is more prudent with the smaller tank.

Thanks

Probably the majority of people are using water changes as their only way of raising alk.