Just tested the tank and...

[Joshsmit56001]

Dkh - 8
Calcium 500

Are these levels ok or should I lower my calcium and raise my Dkh?

Josh

 

[jimsta]

yeah do that

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

I would raise the dKH to 10 or 11 and let the Ca drop by itself. If you have some Ca users in the tank just dose Alk to keep the Alk up until the Ca drops to about 430 and then keep up the Alk and Ca using a balanced dosing scheme. BTW your Ca may drop just by raising the Alk due to some precipitation.

 

[CeeGee]

Natural sea water has a dKH of 8 why would you want to raise it?

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8107599#post8107599 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CeeGee
Natural sea water has a dKH of 8 why would you want to raise it?

I like to keep the dKH a little higher because it seems to stabilize the ph a little better. Also with the Ca at 430 (again higher than NSW) a dKH of 10 to 11 is better balanced. From my limited experience my SPS dominated tank seems to better and grow faster and have better color at these levels. I have been told that at these higher levels calcification takes less energy from the corals.

 

[mg426]

I hear 7 to 11 dkh and 380 to 450 PPM ca as being the safe range quite a bit.

 

[drummereef]

Yup. 8 is going to show more pH fluctuation. Try not to go over 11. What brand test kit are you using for the tests?

 

[CeeGee]

I have heard from many SPS keepers to keep your DKH at 8 no higher than 9 no lower than 7. I try to keep my levels as close to NSW that I can. I figure if it is good enough for nature it is good enough for me.