Why do some of you not like higher ALK?

[crutch12]

Hi All

I'm getting back in with a 14 gallon BioCube after a long break. My intention is to put 2 small clowns, a cleaner shrimp, some crabs, and eventually some LPS like a frogspawn and hammer in the tank. I had this tank running successfully about 10 years ago with that setup. After replacing the bulbs, pump (rio 800), and fans I am ready to go again.

Cycle completed with 16 pounds or so of Live rock from the LFS and about 15 pounds of live sand which he "cleaned" for me at the LFS with his water. At this point now I have the two clowns and the crabs and a shrimp in the tank and they have been doing well for over a week.

My initial water was made with the standard Red Sea salt and mixed in the store. Have done some small water changes with this water from the LFS and parameters seem to be in check. Usually get down to about 2ppm Nitrate after changing 1.5 or 2 gallons.

After reading through the Red Sea marketing and bottles I was seduced and decided I wanted to use Red Sea Coral Pro salt and start making my own water. I notice that the ALK (and calcium) will be higher though using this salt, and wonder what the pros and cons are. Red Sea seems to indicate this is needed for LPS. I started dosing now with my current water to prepare for the switchover to RSCP salt using the Red Sea 3 part CA,ALK,MG. Im testing testing and my ALK and CA are coming up, but now I am starting to wonder if that is what I really want.

I see some people say they don't like ALK up around 12 or so and calcium up around 465. Why?

Thanks

[thegrun]

While your stony corals will grow faster with high alkalinity and calcium, your colors will be better with your alkalinity around 8.5 and calcium in the 425 range

[Greg 45]

Because everyone follows trends. You need to monitor your system to it's needs. If you go back a few years high alk was in the 16 dkh.

[crutch12]

Thanks!

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by thegrun

While your stony corals will grow faster with high alkalinity and calcium, your colors will be better with your alkalinity around 8.5 and calcium in the 425 range

I agree.

[PirateLove]

Honestly, with your 14 gallon, you do not need to dose. Especially if you only want to keep frogspawn. I have a 15 gallon tank, use reef crystals, and only rely on water changes. My frogspawn are eff'n huge and thriving. Just keep it simple.

[Flagg37]

I don't worry so much about the actual number but try and focus more on stability.

[crutch12]

Originally Posted by PirateLove

Honestly, with your 14 gallon, you do not need to dose. Especially if you only want to keep frogspawn. I have a 15 gallon tank, use reef crystals, and only rely on water changes. My frogspawn are eff'n huge and thriving. Just keep it simple.

That is my goal, yes. I thought I'd dose for a week or two before I changed over to the Red Sea Coral Pro or maybe Reef crystals so the water in the tank was closer to what I plan to put in new. I bet probably also unnecessary..but made me feel better about it

Thanks

[JammyBirch]

Originally Posted by Greg 45

Because everyone follows trends. You need to monitor your system to it's needs. If you go back a few years high alk was in the 16 dkh.

This is the conclusion i've arrived at...i used to run higher Alk numbers because of what i was reading, but my SPS were not happy with it. I set my tank up to run as close to natural sea water as possible and noticed a difference in growth and color.

I keep my alk at ~8dKh and calcium at ~400 but don't measure it much anymore. The ALK is the only thing i keep my eye on these days.

I use reef crystals so the levels are higher but it 's only used for 20% water changes...works great for that. I dose the tank twice a week with 2 part.

[theatrus]

Higher alkalinity levels can allow stony corals to put down more skeleton in a shorter period of time. Contraindications to this are people who run ultra-low nutrient tanks and maintain a lot of small polyp stony corals - these tend to turn pale or bleach in the combination of high alk and low nutrients.

I used to run all the way at 12dKh, but now run about 8.5dKh. For what its worth, the Red Sea salt is good. I'd favor it over Reef Crystals.

[crutch12]

Originally Posted by theatrus

Higher alkalinity levels can allow stony corals to put down more skeleton in a shorter period of time. Contraindications to this are people who run ultra-low nutrient tanks and maintain a lot of small polyp stony corals - these tend to turn pale or bleach in the combination of high alk and low nutrients.

I used to run all the way at 12dKh, but now run about 8.5dKh. For what its worth, the Red Sea salt is good. I'd favor it over Reef Crystals.

Thanks, sounds like using the Red Sea Coral Pro is not a bad idea to start with then. Since Ill probably put a few small LPS like frogspawn, maybe a brain, in a couple weeks and would initially want them to grow more than anything. I don't think I can really do SPS in my tank with stock lighting from what I read.

[theatrus]

Sticking with one salt for a period of time is best, since once you are "in range" stability is ideal.


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