Where do you keep ALK

[hkgar]

I keep mine in a jar in the pantry. NO, just kidding.

I have been keeping it at about 9.5 and CA at 440. I also dose vinegar at 100 ml per day. I am running GFO and carbon.

Last test was nitrates at 2 and phosphates at 0 (Hanna phosphorous test kit read 6).

I just read something in the reef discussion forum that if dosing carbon ALK should be kept at 7.5 particularly for Acros.

So where are you Acro keepers keeping ALK if you are dosing carbon. If you are not dosing carbon what are you doing to maintain low nitrate and phosphates and at what levels are you satisfied.

 

[swk]

I dose about 30ml a day of vinegar in an 85 gal system.

Alk is 7.5

 

[xtlosx]

I keep my Alk at 8.6-9, Calc at 440 and Mag at 1400. I do not carbon dose though at all, so the higher Alk drives growth.

 

[PaleHorse]

8-12

 

[cheezybuda]

With carbon I run it at 7.5-7.9

 

[animalkingdom]

8 to 9 ish with calc at 420-440

 

[swhobbie1]

Target 8 but test kit reads 7-8, cal 420-460, no direct carbon dose to tank

 

[epicurus84]

Hmm, for some reason i always run faily low i aim for >7. Most of the time it hangs around 7.

 

[MBMAX]

8.4-8.9 very stable

 

[lazy_reefer]

i keep mine around 7

 

[Epicreefer]

I try for 8-8.5 alk and 1 no3 0.01-0.05 po4. Sps like it lps are ok but like some feeding too.

 

[chri]

7.5 to 8

 

[Reefvet]

Natural seawater is 6.5 dKH. I use NSW exclusively and dose to raise it to 7 in SPS tanks. I get wonderful color and growth.

Higher Alk will increase growth but typically color is not as good.

Stability is the key. Whether you choose to raise it, or keep it near NSW levels, keep it stable and you'll have no problem growing SPS.

 

[downbeach]

I'd been running BP's for a few years, and kept my numbers at typical surface ocean values. So, dosing Ca and Alk, along with a Kalk drip overnight: Ca @ ~ 420, Alk @ ~ 7 dKH, Mg @ ~ 1350. pH between 7.9 and 8.1

 

[JPMagyar]

As close to 7 as possible since 7 is roughly the norm on most reefs from whence my favorite SPS hail

 

[jda]

7.2 is where I settled out.

 

[tmc1313]

8.7-9.0 for me

 

[jdm1114]

7-8 dkh

 

[trueblackpercula]

between 8 and 9

 

[dotcommer]

8 to 9 for me.