Carbonate hardness

CrayolaViolence · 07/20/2016, 07:29 PM

I was wondering what other felt the optimal level for Carbonate Hardness. My LFS guy keeps his at 10-12 while others have suggest no higher than 9. LFS guy says the LPS do better at 10 to 12.

I'm just wondering if there is a happy medium where SPS and LPS can get along with softies.

Ron Reefman · 07/21/2016, 06:09 AM

Natural seawater is 7dKH. So even keeping the tank at 8 or 9dKH is higher than normal. IMHO 10dKH is an upper limit for a long term level. Most inverts can tolerate higher, but I don't think there is any benefit to it.

downbeach · 07/21/2016, 06:17 AM

I ran a mixed reef for many years, and kept my numbers near NSW, so my dKH was ~7.5.

NS Mike D · 07/21/2016, 11:18 AM

Red Sea in their reef foundation program recommends 8.2 for soft coral, 12.1 for LPS, 12.6 for accelerated SPS growth and 8.2 for SPS low nutrient/enhanced color tanks,

fwiw

mcgyvr · 07/21/2016, 12:03 PM

Just some good generic information here too about many reef parameters..
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

Ron Reefman · 07/22/2016, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NS Mike D

Red Sea in their reef foundation program recommends 8.2 for soft coral, 12.1 for LPS, 12.6 for accelerated SPS growth and 8.2 for SPS low nutrient/enhanced color tanks,

I'm a little surprised that anybody, let alone a commercial company Red Sea, would recommend 12.1dKH or 12.6dKH.

I knew those levels are not really harmful, but recommending them as good for LPS or SPS isn't what I would have suspected. Do other 'experts' make similar recommendations?

Timfish · 07/22/2016, 07:21 AM

Reefs in nature can be as low as 5.5 dKH (1.9 meq/l). My mixed reefs fluctuate between 6 and 10.

07/20/2016, 07:29 PM	#1
CrayolaViolence Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,867	Carbonate hardness I was wondering what other felt the optimal level for Carbonate Hardness. My LFS guy keeps his at 10-12 while others have suggest no higher than 9. LFS guy says the LPS do better at 10 to 12. I'm just wondering if there is a happy medium where SPS and LPS can get along with softies.

07/21/2016, 06:09 AM	#2
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Natural seawater is 7dKH. So even keeping the tank at 8 or 9dKH is higher than normal. IMHO 10dKH is an upper limit for a long term level. Most inverts can tolerate higher, but I don't think there is any benefit to it. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

07/21/2016, 12:03 PM	#5
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Just some good generic information here too about many reef parameters.. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/ __________________ Who me?

07/22/2016, 07:21 AM	#7
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	Reefs in nature can be as low as 5.5 dKH (1.9 meq/l). My mixed reefs fluctuate between 6 and 10. __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

07/21/2016, 06:17 AM	#3
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	I ran a mixed reef for many years, and kept my numbers near NSW, so my dKH was ~7.5.

07/21/2016, 11:18 AM	#4
NS Mike D Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Huntington, NY Posts: 391	Red Sea in their reef foundation program recommends 8.2 for soft coral, 12.1 for LPS, 12.6 for accelerated SPS growth and 8.2 for SPS low nutrient/enhanced color tanks, fwiw