SPS Keepers, What's your alk at?

[john37]

so last week i set up my CA reactor and it seems to stabilized my KH at about 7dkh using the salifer kit. Does this sound ok or is it still too low? Do you guys raise it by adding supplements or can i just raise the bubbles per minute? this is my first Ca reactor so sorry for the newbie questions....thanks.

 

[Jar*Head]

John, i have been running low DKH for almost two years. I used to have it at 6.5 and i try to maintain it at 7.0-7.8 but i am using Zeovit so may be a little different. If your dkh and Ca has been the same for a week. You should use additive to raise the level.

 

[ezcompany]

i don't have a reactor (24 nano) but use a kalk dripper and 2 parts. alk is at 7-8, i'm shooting for 8-9

 

[golfish]

I shoot for 10

 

[glaudds]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8393139#post8393139 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by golfish
I shoot for 10

Because I don't know any better, I try to keep it at 8, near NSW levels. What are the advantages of higher alk...better growth?

 

[Konadog]

If mine gets below 8, I seem to start having problems. I now keep it between 8.5 and 9.5.

 

[turtlespd]

I shoot for 10 also but always miss and hit 14! Now dont bite and try to run 14 is you are not willing to kill all yoru sps. Its a acient chinese secret.

 

[cthetoy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8394167#post8394167 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Konadog
If mine gets below 8, I seem to start having problems. I now keep it between 8.5 and 9.5.

What problems did you have when it's below 8?

 

[john37]

if i raise my bubble count will it raise alk?
or do i have to add a supplement to raise it?

 

[turtlespd]

add suplement! Ca reactors only sustain they dont increase.

 

[rickyfins]

I run mine at high 8 low 9 with calcium at as close as I can keep it to 440. Good growth at this level for me anyway.

thanks,

Rick

 

[john37]

ok, thank you.

 

[murphreef]

9-10

 

[Yinger]

7.7 here

 

[Bebo77]

ok.. how much does your alk fluctuate? i have mine between 7.3 and 8.0 does your guys alk swing that much?

 

[murphreef]

um it does change from time to time...

i used to run mine around 7-8 but my sps tips would die and be burnt from low alk and that was caused by my salt OPP having high borate causing my alk to be lower then it was testing at so now i use TM and i keep my alk at 9-10 today it was at 9.6 dkh

my calsium was at 400 today

i dont think swings really matter too much as long as they are within a point of each other

i can raise my alk using my reactor just up the bubble rate a l
lil and the drip rate of necessary

 

[rickyfins]

Alk can fluctuate, but shouldn't drastically do so. If it does, something is really wrong.

I am changing salts so I don't have the borate problem. I am thinking of using an IO and RC mix.

thanks,

Rick

 

[Konadog]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8395178#post8395178 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cthetoy
What problems did you have when it's below 8?

My corals would show signs of STN and die off. The problem was when it hit 8, it would drop past that very fast if I didn't catch it in time.

 

[F35-Joint Strike Fighter]

Here,

around 7.8-8.2.

 

[Gooli]

From my reading, it is best to keep the level in the middle of the ALK range in nature which is 7-11dkh. I thus keep mine at 9 dkh