EDIT: I just checked and I haven't tested alk this tank since 1/6 and it was 6.4. I only tested today out if curiosity because of how well the Duncans are doing and the pectinia perked up overnight. They probably just like the flow and lighting better and alk has nothing to do with it. I can't imagine alk at 5.5 dkH is good so I'm going to start bringing it up with water changes and will report back.
I tested 4 tanks today and was pretty surprised with the results. 3 were tanks that I've been testing regularly results were as expected, alk mid to low 8 dkH on all. NO3 and PO4 where they normally are.
Another tank is a 40g breeder that has been running for a couple of months. It has livestock from a tear down and another tank that was basically an overflow tank. I run a hob filter and an ATS that is working overtime and needs to be cleaned every few days. No skimmer and very minimal water changes of 1-2g every 7-10 days just to vacuum algae that grows in a few spots on the sand. Im using regular IO on all the tanks and dose nothing to the 40g. Test results on the 40 using Hanna were NO3 8.8, PO4 0.32,
and alk 5.5 dkH . The first test was 5.6 dkH the second 5.4. What I find strange is everything is thriving.
The pectinia lower left was in another tank and was not inflating so I moved it down here last night and it was already inflating before lights even came on.
This monti has been in 2 tanks trying to revive it and in this tank its rebounding. I never saw red in the other tanks.
Even this acro colony isn't complaining
The duncans are really thriving as are the softies
The only one protesting is a monticap but die off is just on one section and is showing some new growth elsewhere.
I guess I'm just confused and looking for an explanation why the low Alkalinity seems to be having a positive affect on all the coral since its really the only major difference between the 4 tanks. Pretty much all I've read says alk between 7-11 dkH was fine so I target 8-9
I tested 4 tanks today and was pretty surprised with the results. 3 were tanks that I've been testing regularly results were as expected, alk mid to low 8 dkH on all. NO3 and PO4 where they normally are.
Another tank is a 40g breeder that has been running for a couple of months. It has livestock from a tear down and another tank that was basically an overflow tank. I run a hob filter and an ATS that is working overtime and needs to be cleaned every few days. No skimmer and very minimal water changes of 1-2g every 7-10 days just to vacuum algae that grows in a few spots on the sand. Im using regular IO on all the tanks and dose nothing to the 40g. Test results on the 40 using Hanna were NO3 8.8, PO4 0.32,
and alk 5.5 dkH . The first test was 5.6 dkH the second 5.4. What I find strange is everything is thriving.
The pectinia lower left was in another tank and was not inflating so I moved it down here last night and it was already inflating before lights even came on.
This monti has been in 2 tanks trying to revive it and in this tank its rebounding. I never saw red in the other tanks.
Even this acro colony isn't complaining
The duncans are really thriving as are the softies
The only one protesting is a monticap but die off is just on one section and is showing some new growth elsewhere.
I guess I'm just confused and looking for an explanation why the low Alkalinity seems to be having a positive affect on all the coral since its really the only major difference between the 4 tanks. Pretty much all I've read says alk between 7-11 dkH was fine so I target 8-9
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