Low alk= better color?

allsps40

allsps40

New member
My alk is around 10 and stays stable. I use higher alk reef salts as most are made that way. I heard that a lower alk can bring better color?
 
I've never noticed a difference in color in my sps but for some reason if I raise my alk to 10 the corals aren't very happy. Seems to just be my tank though.
 
I think you'll find that good colors can be kept at just about any range from 6.5-12. Check all of the past TOTM. It's all over the place. Stability is the key.
 
Agreed. Color depends mainly on nutrient control, lighting, and correct and stable parameters. So as long as your Alk is within acceptable standards an remains stable it can be ruled out as an issue for coloration. Some have noticed higher Alk relates to faster calcification and so faster growth. But the devils in the details as higher alk also has its downsides. Randy has an article about it in reefkeeping magazine. I keep mine between 8 and 9. On a side note, allsps40, do you work on cars? I could've sworn I read a post or something of yours and read that. I do body work.
 
I have notice more color when i lowered my light cycle to 5 hour of day light only, my colors were faded when i ran them 8 hours. And i notice more growth to running them 5 hours a day.
 
I don notice the green in my corals shows up much better when my ALK is greater than 7. I top off with Kalk which does not keep up with my needs and I can always tell when my ALK gets low by looking at a couple corals, mainly my green caps. after a couple days of dosing baking soda, the green comes back. I dont really notice it in other colors though.
 
RynosReef said:
Agreed. Color depends mainly on nutrient control, lighting, and correct and stable parameters. So as long as your Alk is within acceptable standards an remains stable it can be ruled out as an issue for coloration. Some have noticed higher Alk relates to faster calcification and so faster growth. But the devils in the details as higher alk also has its downsides. Randy has an article about it in reefkeeping magazine. I keep mine between 8 and 9. On a side note, allsps40, do you work on cars? I could've sworn I read a post or something of yours and read that. I do body work.
Click to expand...

Agreed :thumbsup:
 
RynosReef said:
Agreed. Color depends mainly on nutrient control, lighting, and correct and stable parameters. So as long as your Alk is within acceptable standards an remains stable it can be ruled out as an issue for coloration. Some have noticed higher Alk relates to faster calcification and so faster growth. But the devils in the details as higher alk also has its downsides. Randy has an article about it in reefkeeping magazine. I keep mine between 8 and 9. On a side note, allsps40, do you work on cars? I could've sworn I read a post or something of yours and read that. I do body work.
Click to expand...

Yep I and an auto repair tech ASE bla bla. Yeah I need my car repainted.
 
batt600 said:
I have notice more color when i lowered my light cycle to 5 hour of day light only, my colors were faded when i ran them 8 hours. And i notice more growth to running them 5 hours a day.
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I have found the same thing. 8 hours was to much for my corals and they did not like it. Running mine 5.5 a day, big difference.
 
in lighting i've has finaly found the saturation point and once you figure that out the colors are great and great thing is you wont be waisting energy lol. my alk always at 10-11 and i have great color when i was around 8 the color was there but does not pop as much when i got it at 10 to 11
 
Alk really depends on your system if you run a ULNS you have to keep your alk at 6.5 to 8 any higher will cause stn at the base . An ULNS mean not even algae can survive in your tank because all nutrients have been striped from the water. nutrient systems need a dkh of 9 to 11 .
 
batt600 said:
Alk really depends on your system if you run a ULNS you have to keep your alk at 6.5 to 8 any higher will cause stn at the base . An ULNS mean not even algae can survive in your tank because all nutrients have been striped from the water. nutrient systems need a dkh of 9 to 11 .
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Why do you say nutrient systems need a dkh of 9-11?

Are you saying they will not thrive lower?
 
ive been running carbon dose systems for years Starting with zeovit 7 years till now with prodibio+ vinegar.. I can honestely tell you that if you go up to 9kh anf above you might experience some issues. again, every tank is different as we all know .
i personally try to stay between 7,5-8,5 range.
 
after reading about ULNS I come to conclusion I lost few of my acros due to high ALK. I didn't know I run ULNS so I push alk up for better grow to over 10... and booom! STN. I was puzzled on the cause of my problem until I read about alk issues in ULNS... then I got test kit for low range nitrate and I got 0. So there is something in ULNS against high ALK. Based on my tank 'personality' I wouldn't go more then 8.5 now. I don't run any zeo* and no carbon dosing.
 
frctlimg said:
I think you'll find that good colors can be kept at just about any range from 6.5-12. Check all of the past TOTM. It's all over the place. Stability is the key.
Click to expand...

+10,001. Stability is key to good color. Doesn't matter much where it's at, but where it's going.
 
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