Corals are slowly dying and I can't figure out why??
- Thread starter jschottenfeld
- Start date
After reading lots of posts on different forums over internet it seems like in most cases if you have 0 nitrates NO3 and 0 phosphates PO4 your alkalinity must be at 7-8 dKH, people with Zeovit, Carbon dosing, sugar, vodka, GFO, etc. that at the end have low nutrient systems they have bleaching issues when the alkalinity becomes high (above 8 dHK).
I know that SPS need high alkalinity in reef tanks but in the ocean the alkalinity it is 7 dKH so keeping the alkalinity at about 7-8 dKH is your safest bet.
I know that SPS need high alkalinity in reef tanks but in the ocean the alkalinity it is 7 dKH so keeping the alkalinity at about 7-8 dKH is your safest bet.
ssick92
New member
Wow, talk about resurrecting a thread. I was reading from the beginning when I realized the post was from 2011 
But, I agree that the trend seems to indicate that if a tank has extremely low nturients, then the alk seems like it needs to be lower to avoid any burning or bleaching of the tips...
I've always kept my alk between 8-9dkh and haven't really had any issues at this level.
But, I agree that the trend seems to indicate that if a tank has extremely low nturients, then the alk seems like it needs to be lower to avoid any burning or bleaching of the tips...
I've always kept my alk between 8-9dkh and haven't really had any issues at this level.
I tend to agree that acropora kept kept in tanks with undetectable PO4 seem to encounter burnt tips based on a number of anecdotal accounts .
I suspect this effect is related to an imbalance in the calcification process as the coral uses phosphate for a variety of functions .For example, adenosine triphospahte(ATP) mitigates the calcification process while higher alk tends to accelerate it which may lead to more calclium carbonate precipitation without adeqaute control from the coral..
FWIW, with alk around 9dkh and PO4 in the 0.02 to 0.05ppm range I have not seen any burnt tips. I think maintaining some PO4 and NO3 is prudent, generally.when doing so ,alk higher than 7 is fine; though 7 is fine too, but at the low margin there is a greater risk of dropping too low with a risk of stn. Constancy in alk and nutrient levels is key IMO
I suspect this effect is related to an imbalance in the calcification process as the coral uses phosphate for a variety of functions .For example, adenosine triphospahte(ATP) mitigates the calcification process while higher alk tends to accelerate it which may lead to more calclium carbonate precipitation without adeqaute control from the coral..
FWIW, with alk around 9dkh and PO4 in the 0.02 to 0.05ppm range I have not seen any burnt tips. I think maintaining some PO4 and NO3 is prudent, generally.when doing so ,alk higher than 7 is fine; though 7 is fine too, but at the low margin there is a greater risk of dropping too low with a risk of stn. Constancy in alk and nutrient levels is key IMO
Last edited:
