POLL - Alkalinity - What do you keep your tank at?

[that Fish Guy]

I am curious to see what most people keep their Alkalinity at since most guides say between 7-11 or 7-12

Whereas they always say 450 exactly for Calcium and 1350 for Magnesium.

Please participate in the Poll.

Please Post why you keep your Alkalinity at that Level too.

Less then 7.0
7.0
7.5
8.0
8.5
9.0
9.5
10.0
10.5
11.0
11.5
12.0
Above 12.0

 

[that Fish Guy]

So what are your reasons for keeping the Alkalinity where you keep it?

Why did you choose that particular number?

 

[tmz]

It meets the needs of the animals in my system .

Could be a bit higher or lower; the 9.5 provides a margin for consumption without risk of it going too low. nsw is around 7dkh. Wahtever target you choose within the 7 to 11 range should be maintained consistently.

Whereas they always say 450 exactly for Calcium and 1350 for Magnesium.

That's not true. The recommended ranges are:

caclium380 to 450;some go higher, nsw is around 400ppm

magnesium 1250 to 1350; again some go higher; nsw is 1280ppm.

 

[BrentH]

I'm around 8 because I carbon dose and also tropic marine pro is at that level so when I do water changes it doesnt fluctuate

 

[tmz]

I also carbon dose vodka and vinegar and have for over 5 years. I don't run PO4 or NO3 at zero though.

 

[swk]

I chose 7.5 dkh.

I carbon dose and have the best results overall around this number. I have had faster growth at this lower alk level than when I was keeping it closer to 9.

I aim to keep Ca around 410-430 as well.

 

[jason2459]

I dose kalk in my ato and vinegar through out the day. My alk stays around 9 and calcium around 420-430. But I don't really try to hit those numbers. It just happens with what I dose and water changes. I haven't put much thought in trying to raise or lower either.