Edit: SOLVED.
Hi there, I've got a new 13.5 gallon nano with frags (probably closer to 12 with sand and rock) in a super high CO2 environment where PH normally sits around 7.6 at about 7-8 Alk. (Adding a CO2 scrubber can get me up to about 7.7, but this is still unacceptable. You yourself (RHF) said that even at 7.8, coral growth is pretty much stagnant, and NSW doesn't generally dip to 7.8). Over the past week, based on your advice and research, I've slowly increased my alkalinity from about 7 to 12, which brings my PH to about 8.0, and this is a number I am good with. However, I'm having to dose an additional 2 dKH [Edit, now up to 3 dKH] every day just to hold alkalinity at 12 (this can't be right--I've only got about 4 small SPS frags and 4 small LPS frags!) My calcium is usually high, ranging from 480-560, so I feel like alkalinity isn't actually getting taken up that quickly--if it were, I'd see calcium being consumed at the same rate, yes?
My question is, should I keep dosing Foundation B for right now to hold alkalinity at 12 and PH at 8.0? If so, will my calcium build up over time--and is that okay? Will my coral eventually start up taking calcium too, and level out this alk-calc relationship? (And then I'd start 2-part dosing something like Tropic Marin's All for Reef?)
I've read all your articles on ReefKeeping, and for some reason, I'm not picking up what you're putting down Also, hope folks don't reply with "don't chase a number." While I generally agree with that, 7.6-7.7 PH is not a number I can accept, given the available research, especially with a new tank where I'm trying to grow out frags. In a year or two, I'd be fine with this coming back down to around 7.8 if I didn't want to keep pursuing growth.
Hi there, I've got a new 13.5 gallon nano with frags (probably closer to 12 with sand and rock) in a super high CO2 environment where PH normally sits around 7.6 at about 7-8 Alk. (Adding a CO2 scrubber can get me up to about 7.7, but this is still unacceptable. You yourself (RHF) said that even at 7.8, coral growth is pretty much stagnant, and NSW doesn't generally dip to 7.8). Over the past week, based on your advice and research, I've slowly increased my alkalinity from about 7 to 12, which brings my PH to about 8.0, and this is a number I am good with. However, I'm having to dose an additional 2 dKH [Edit, now up to 3 dKH] every day just to hold alkalinity at 12 (this can't be right--I've only got about 4 small SPS frags and 4 small LPS frags!) My calcium is usually high, ranging from 480-560, so I feel like alkalinity isn't actually getting taken up that quickly--if it were, I'd see calcium being consumed at the same rate, yes?
My question is, should I keep dosing Foundation B for right now to hold alkalinity at 12 and PH at 8.0? If so, will my calcium build up over time--and is that okay? Will my coral eventually start up taking calcium too, and level out this alk-calc relationship? (And then I'd start 2-part dosing something like Tropic Marin's All for Reef?)
I've read all your articles on ReefKeeping, and for some reason, I'm not picking up what you're putting down Also, hope folks don't reply with "don't chase a number." While I generally agree with that, 7.6-7.7 PH is not a number I can accept, given the available research, especially with a new tank where I'm trying to grow out frags. In a year or two, I'd be fine with this coming back down to around 7.8 if I didn't want to keep pursuing growth.
Last edited: