I cannot emphasize enough, fish-only, softie, lps, sps---check your alkalinity.

[Sk8r]

A good safe range is 7.9 to 8.3 on the dkh scale. I keep mine at 8.3.

If it's off, ain't nothin' happy. It's far, far, far, far, far more important than ph. Your ph meter can generally gather dust---but you need to track the alk with a numerical test, and keep it in that window.

 

[ZeeSparrow]

Your post and your signature are a bit conflicting on this point, Sk8r.... newbies may be confused.

 

[Sk8r]

Up to 9.3 is fine, and some like to keep it there. But in general, the more important number is 7.9 as the floor. If it gets below that you will have upset fish and cranky fish.

I keep a damsel tank. They're touchy about territory, and if I let my alk sink, there'd be fights and nipped fins. Low alk in particular is bad for fish and doesn't make corals happy.

I honestly wish we emphasized alk tests right along with the salinity/ nitrate/ammonia message we deliver to new hobbyists during setup. If everybody started out watching alkalinity along with nitrate and ammonia, imho, we'd have far few fishy problems.

 

[RobTheReefer]

Your post and your signature are a bit conflicting on this point, Sk8r.... newbies may be confused.

That's not the worst part. I'm a programmer, and the missing closing quotation mark in his signature is driving me crazy. lol :spin2:

 

[gone fishin]

I agree Sk8r. I don't know how many threads I have seen about someone trying to buffer pH and getting themselves in trouble with alkalinity.

What do authors know about punctuation. :fun5:

 

[Dmorty217]

I have never check for PH in my marine tanks, not when I started and not now.

 

[Sk8r]

Just for you, I'll fix the quote mark.

 

[Scorpius]

So the ocean needs alk added to it? :lol: My alk is 8.7dkh, but anywhere from 7-10 DKH has worked in my tank.

http://www.marinedepot.com/reef-tank-parameters.html

 

[Sk8r]

I much doubt the ocean is uniform throughout. Being in the range where corals grow is a good thing. Mine happens to be 9 at the moment (I've changed salt brands and also am in process of recovering from a 178 hour power out, so the chemistry is far from spot on. Not doing too badly, however.)

 

[JMorris271]

That's not the worst part. I'm a programmer, and the missing closing quotation mark in his signature is driving me crazy. lol :spin2:

HIS signature is actually a HER signature (jftr)

 

[kamiar]

how to you keep alkalinity low ? the saltwater mix that i make for water change is 14dkh
my tank is 13 dkh at the moment

 

[Sk8r]

THat can be a problem with sps corals, and maybe with others. I just, myself, changed salt mixes to Instant Ocean, having gotten a wonky batch that had my corals upset with a sky-high magnesium level.

Search 'alkalinity 14 dkh' and you'll find a number of threads on the problem.

Alk problems are often a ghosty sort. Things survive, but don't do as well.

 

[droog]

how to you keep alkalinity low ? the saltwater mix that i make for water change is 14dkh
my tank is 13 dkh at the moment

Good question, and a common one (search on this site for examples). A few approaches (from easier to harder)

1] Change your salt mix to one with lower alk
2] Do small PWC or continuous small water changes
3] Dose muriatic acid to your freshly made makeup water (with extreme care!!)

I chose [1] - switched to RedSea Blue bucket. If my Alk is trending upwards I cut my salt mix with a batch of TM Reef Pro salt that has very low levels.

Stability is more important than the number itself.

Dosing 2-part or use of Kalkwasser helps maintain stability.

-droog

 

[jraker]

That's not the worst part. I'm a programmer, and the missing closing quotation mark in his signature is driving me crazy. lol :spin2:

oh god, i just noticed that. i do programming also...