alk issues as related to SPS?

[Reefflections]

So what are you trying to prove,with a Alk at 7.0.What is the advantage,you are trying to get?I have the purple monster over 5 years,and it has run at different levels 8.0 as high as 10 .
The PM isn't a rare coral amymore it will adjust to all conditions.Scene some even higher than that..NSW is at 8.so why you would even want to drop below that I don't get it?There are many tanks with various readings,at these tanks thrive in different conditions.The key is if you target 8 or 9 just keep it there don't change it.Your corals will adjust.but do it slow.

 

[The DOC]

The key is if you target 8 or 9 just keep it there don't change it.Your corals will adjust.but do it slow.

Agreed I do that very thing...but experiments are good...isn't that part of this hobby? Thats how many a reefer before us has gained awsome info and passed it down....

Ask Duston Dorton whats the point with experimenting....

I doubt nobody wants to get below that...but some can't get it up that high...thats where people with experience like you and I try to out of the kindness of our hearts give our 2 cent advice....thats part of 'the point' of my experimenting with Alk levels...Its a hobby man...have fun!

Doc

 

[Horace]

Alk varies pending on the ocean in question. NSW is often less than 8.0

 

[Reefflections]

Doc
I totally agree with you,as for experiments goes.It's finding the best range your corals.But when you have corals front different areas,their demands are different.Some corals color up better in the 8/9 range better.I've scene that with my own tank.When you go below the 8 range a few of my corals,lose their extreme intense colors.It's finding the half way mark for all corals,to make everybody happy It just seems that very few want to drop below the 8.0.Every tank runs different.That's what's nice about ALK,it doesn't have to be exact readings.You have a wide range to work with ,to get results.

 

[The DOC]

Some corals color up better in the 8/9 range better.I've scene that with my own tank.When you go below the 8 range a few of my corals,lose their extreme intense colors.

ahhhh...very pleasent words to my ears! Thats my point in this discussion all along reefer friend! Glad you to can verify what I've been saying at acro's losing a bit of intense color at a 7 dKH or below....increase to 8 or a bit more color comes back, but a lot slower than it lost it...

Well said RR!

Doc

 

[highquality]

My test kit says 8-10 dh. what the heck is dkh?

 

[Reefflections]

What's really strange,if you ever went diving.Eveything seems to be changing all the time.Flow is one thing,Temp.And probably even salt levels change threw out the day also.You could be diving,and run into a pocket of cold water blowing across the reef.Yet it doesn't effect the corals in anyway.Probably even Alk and Cal changes threw out the day on a reef.Yet in a system like we have.Anything likes this happens in our tank,we have a nightmare on our hands.But it seems that in the ocean,changes are going on all day long .You wonder how they can be stable at all,and grow like the do in the wild?Like the hurricanes are bad for the reeffs.Yet they do a good thing,as for cleaning the reef.

 

[The DOC]

Good observation reefer! Its all a common designer...makes the world go round...

Doc

 

[JER-Z]

my test kit (Seachem) measures in meg/L...

I just tested and I am at 6 meg/L. What is that in terms of kH. The Seachem test kit says measuring alk in kH should be discouraged. What is that all about?

 

[The DOC]

To convert meg/L to dKh multiply the 6 meg/L times 2.8

So you would have 16.8 dKH....WOW way to high! Might rechect that test...sea chem should give a contoll vial of solution to confirm your test kit is functioning properly....

Whats your calcium...? If you Alk is this high your calcium is way low as well....

Doc

 

[JER-Z]

wow i should probably retest...The test said Alk should be between 4-6 meg/L so I thought I was ok

Ca is 425

 

[Reefflections]

Yep,when you live where the reefs are you learn a lot.And see all this actions takes place.Kinda blows you away !
:eek1:

 

[The DOC]

If its 4 that alot better...6meg/l is super high!

Ya re-test...if your calcium is maintaing that proper level your Alk HAS to be pretty good...remember Ca moving so will Alk...stable calcium generally means stable Alk....

Doc

 

[JER-Z]

ok i must have done something wrong the first time around...

I just performed two more alk tests...both gave me 4 meg/l

 

[The DOC]

Reeflections where do you live friend? S. Florida?
Soiled huh...lol

I'm stuck in the wastelands of Kansas.....the only reefs here are ancient....probably died off about 4,300 years ago...I got petrified clams, and sea creatures alike all over my back yard! I even have petrified acropora found in the blue shale here in kansas!!!!

Doc

 

[The DOC]

Cool! Thats better...but still a 11.2 dKH....a bit high for my preference...I shoot for above 7 below 9.....stability the key my man!

Doc

 

[JER-Z]

Thanks DOC, once again you help me out...You are on a roll my friend!

i've been dosing 2-part in equal amounts...you think i should cut down on the alk part a bit?

Ca has been holding steady at 425 (Salifert Test)...I am a bit turned off from this Seachem Kit. Ammonia test was giving me false positives and i got all freaked out over a bogus test...Now the Alk test is causing stress lol.

I think I am going to go w/ all Salifert tests from now on...

 

[The DOC]

Hey friend, Thats why I joined RC ...I'm here to help..and ask nothing in return....I just joined RC but feel like I know many of you here as I silently read and enjoyed pics here at the sps forum for years..just never joined...

But everything I post is just my factual experiences...I'm like a 30 year old reef scientist! I am always conducting experiments to better the quality of my 8 home reef tanks, as well as give more educated advice to fellow reefers , that I much take pleasure in doing...do unto thers as you would have done unto you...go thing to live by!

I would back off on the Alk....I use sea chem like GARF does...been working for years!

A humble reefer;
Doc

 

[Reefflections]

Doc
Yes I do live here in Florida.But this isn't a place to live when the hurricanes,blow threw here?I say my prayers to King Neptune every year down here.I only have about 4 more months to go YIKES!

Wow ! Sounds like you "one of a kind" Blue acro you got there.If it's that old bro,you could make a killing on Ebay
Let me tell you my friend.If this keeps up down here.It also is going to be a waste land also.It's dieing off faster than we can keep up.It just a matter of time now.By the time they wake up,it will be to late. A sad day in Paradise.

 

[The DOC]

The planet is about to undergo massive changes!

Just wait and watch.....be standing on the right side!

Doc