Alk while vinegar dosing and sps

[swk]

Hopefully this is the correct place for this inquiry. If not, mods feel free to move wherever appropriate.

My alk is ROCK SOLID at 9, according to Red Sea coral pro testing. Any day of the week it is a solid 9. I dose kalk in my ato.

However, I also carbon dose and am aware that to some this is too high of a number for alk

My question is do I interrupt the stability to drop the alk to a traditionally, more suitable number in line with recommendations while carbon dosing, or do I stay consistent and let it stay where it is? The reason I posted this thread here is my tank is largely sps and wanted the input of experienced sps keepers primarily.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[hedgedrew]

You get stn or burnt out tips??? I know I do if my alk goes above 8.5 with vodka vinegar. Depends also on how strong light is and if you also using gfo.

 

[hedgedrew]

Btw. If you changed salts to regular red sea in blue bucket that alk is much lower. Runs 8. So it would shift your tank down with water changes slowly and you can back off on alk dosing while you do it.

 

[swk]

Sorry - I meant to say that the alk test results were with Red Sea pro test kits.

I do however use coral pro salt and just bought another bucket. I could drop the alk by not dosing with kalk for a while and then resume kalk to maintain the dose.

No burnt tips, but I do have problems with birdsnest, but not my acros and montis.

 

[hedgedrew]

Birds nests get burned out fast from big light also.

 

[hedgedrew]

If your carbon dosing I don't see the reason to have a 10 11 plus kh salt. My recommendation is to swap that salt for the blue bucket. Its a more balanced salt anyway.

 

[swk]

If your carbon dosing I don't see the reason to have a 10 11 plus kh salt. My recommendation is to swap that salt for the blue bucket. Its a more balanced salt anyway.

I'm afraid that's where my inexperience comes Into play.....