Alk swings and SPS browing out...Just how bad is it?

[sahin]

Just how bad are Alk swings on SPS colour? Do the swings really cause SPS to brown out?

I ask because I've had 3 really bad Alk swings in the past few months where the Alk dropped to below 4.5dKH... Usually run at 7.4-8. :mad2:

Some SPS have browned out...however, at the same time I dosed KZ Coral Vitalizer so I cant be sure it is the Alk swings...:mad2:

I have been unwell; it was a combo of not taking regular Alk readings and Alk also having run out once.

I've always kept the Alk level stable so this is actually new to me, hence I am looking for 1st hand experience.

I've had no STN/RTN etc so I've been lucky, but a few SPS have browned out whereas others havent changed at all.

Growth has definitely slowed down though. :sad2:

 

[ct_vol]

I've had two significant Alk swings in the past year. The worst occurred about a year ago when the solenoid on the regulator of my calcium reactor crapped out on me. With that one I had browning and lost a few corals. It probably took two or three months to recover. A few weeks ago I ran out of CO2 while I was out of town and I just had a bit of browning, but the swing wasn't as significant. My tank is already showing signs of recovery. Stability is key. I now keep a spare regulator and tank on hand for emergencies. I just have to be home to implement the emergency protocol.

 

[Tweaked]

I will say that from my experience the alk swings caused my coral to brown out and or die. In addition, coloring them back up has been a long journey and hard to be patient looking at brown coral while others you just purchased are not. All of my acros have returned to their glory except one, which of course is one of my favorites. The vivid rainbow acro still after six months has not fully regained its color.

 

[Isladelmar]

Are you using a calcium reactor or dosing ?

 

[HiImSean]

Just wondering how quick of a swing it was?

My alk was hovering around 8.5dkh when I initially set it up in December. Everything has been doing well but pH was dropping. I tested my alk Sunday and it was at 6.5dkh. all my SPS have been growing well and showing nice PE and color during this time.

I am in the process of putting together a CA reactor but I am going to start dosing baking soda in the meantime.

 

[sahin]

I've had two significant Alk swings in the past year. The worst occurred about a year ago when the solenoid on the regulator of my calcium reactor crapped out on me. With that one I had browning and lost a few corals. It probably took two or three months to recover. A few weeks ago I ran out of CO2 while I was out of town and I just had a bit of browning, but the swing wasn't as significant. My tank is already showing signs of recovery. Stability is key. I now keep a spare regulator and tank on hand for emergencies. I just have to be home to implement the emergency protocol.

Thanks for the input. I've been very lucky in that I havent lost anything. But my Alk drop was pretty bad. I hope everything colours up sooner than 3 months! :facepalm:

I will say that from my experience the alk swings caused my coral to brown out and or die. In addition, coloring them back up has been a long journey and hard to be patient looking at brown coral while others you just purchased are not. All of my acros have returned to their glory except one, which of course is one of my favorites. The vivid rainbow acro still after six months has not fully regained its color.

Thanks. Some of my Acros are VERY colourful still. I had only a few that were browned out before the Alk drop...now I have a few more. :facepalm:

Vivids Rainbow is a very tough coral to colour up...however when it does colour up, it looks amazing. I'm a member on at least another 10 forums (crazy I know... :lol and I've only come across a few who manage to get that coral to colour up.

 

[sahin]

Are you using a calcium reactor or dosing ?

I'm using a GHL Triple Doser to dose Ca, Alk and Mg Balling Lite components.

Just wondering how quick of a swing it was?

My alk was hovering around 8.5dkh when I initially set it up in December. Everything has been doing well but pH was dropping. I tested my alk Sunday and it was at 6.5dkh. all my SPS have been growing well and showing nice PE and color during this time.

I am in the process of putting together a CA reactor but I am going to start dosing baking soda in the meantime.

I'm not sure how quick the drop was. But I brought it back up within a day and half...which probably wasnt too clever at all either... :facepalm:

Normally its between 7.5-8 and that dropped to below 4.5 which is almost a 50% drop.

6.5dKH is just about still within NSW limits. My drop was way too low. I would definitely look to dosing either a 2 part, or Kalk may work temporarily as well.

 

[shih87]

I think if your KH drop 50% and you brought it back within 48 hours, but SPS only browning out.... that is a pretty good deal....

Most of cases I heard when KH drop and rapidly raise it up, it cause burn tips (immediately) or STN (one or even months after).

sahin, are you fully recovery from illness yet? We need you stay in RC and watch out our tanks for us

cheers,

shih87

 

[sahin]

I think if your KH drop 50% and you brought it back within 48 hours, but SPS only browning out.... that is a pretty good deal....

Most of cases I heard when KH drop and rapidly raise it up, it cause burn tips (immediately) or STN (one or even months after).

sahin, are you fully recovery from illness yet? We need you stay in RC and watch out our tanks for us

cheers,

shih87

Hello Shih, my alk did drop by almost 50% and I did bring it backup in less than 48 hours. No tip or base recession etc that people usually report.

As for my illness, I wont ever be fully recovered my friend. I'm taking medication to suppress the pain.

I love this hobby; wont be leaving anytime soon. :thumbsup:

 

[ssdawood]

Sahin i am a newbie. But from what I have read browning out is because of excess nutrients not alkalinity. Is it true that browning out can occur with alkalinity swing.

Also Sahin would you tell me how many point on dkh would count as swing.

Thanks.

 

[sahin]

Sahin i am a newbie. But from what I have read browning out is because of excess nutrients not alkalinity. Is it true that browning out can occur with alkalinity swing.

Also Sahin would you tell me how many point on dkh would count as swing.

Thanks.

See thats the thing: Many people here attribute coral browning with Alk swings AND excess nutrients. My PO4=0.02ppm and NO3=0.2ppm.

I've not experience crazy Alk swings before hence why I was asking for 1st hand experience; not something that people have just read on a forum.

I believe most will say less than 0.5dKH is fine. Over 1dKH is a swing. I had around 3.5dKH drop. So that would be termed as an Alk swing by most SPS keepers.

 

[Kirkwood77]

i think it is all related to time... SPS can tolerate ALK levels much lower than our standard level of about 8.5dKH.. they won't be as healthy but they won't RTN or STN.

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Alkalinity in my tank dropped from 7.7dKH to 5.65 dkH within 24 hours due to blockage in tubing. I brought alkalinity back to normal within 48 hours. There was absolutely no change in my corals' appearance (i.e. colouration and PE) during this period.

 

[ssdawood]

Alkalinity in my tank dropped from 7.7dKH to 5.65 dkH within 24 hours due to blockage in tubing. I brought alkalinity back to normal within 48 hours. There was absolutely no change in my corals' appearance (i.e. colouration and PE) during this period.

I am not saying this will happen to you. But sometimes the after effects can show upto two weeks.