DKH Level and Nitrate levels

ramirezjrj · 05/05/2018, 12:50 PM

Im new to the hobby and need some advice. I have a 90 G tank, with 95 lbs of rock that has been running for 4 months now, I started the tank at the end of Jan. 2018. I have a 25g sump with a protein skimmer. The tank has 2" of live sand and I have a total of 9 fish all are doing great. For lighting I have the 36" Aquatic Life T5 HO hybrid with to PrimeHD LED lights attached to the T5 fixture.

I am doing 15g of water changes every 7 days, and using RO/DI water. I was using the Red Sea Coral Pro salt and switched to the Red Sea Salt Mix a month ago.
My problem is I cant seem to get my DKH level below 11. It is consistently around 11-13, My PH is stays at 8.2, calcium is at 360 -380. zero ammonia, zero nitrite. My nitrate seem to always be at 10 I cant get that to drop either.

I would like to start adding some SPS and LPS corals but I havent because of my tank chemistry.

Any suggestions as to what I need to do, or what I am doing wrong.

Pslreefer · 05/05/2018, 01:00 PM

I would start adding lps, than when your tank is around 9 months start adding sps slowly.

Your alk is higher because nothing is using it up and your tank is really very young.

Bpb · 05/05/2018, 01:41 PM

+1. Your nitrate is fine right where it is. Doesn’t need to be any lower. Once you start getting some coraline algae and some lps corals it’ll slowly reduce that alkalinity. The best way to START a tank with low alk is to find a low alk salt (tropic Marin, live aquaria, aquavitro salinity). Just about all the other popular salt mixes will mix up at 9-11 dkh, some get absurdly high. I’ve had batches of reef crystals mix up at 15 dkh.

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Lsufan · 05/05/2018, 05:19 PM

I agree & I don’t really see any issues. I have always ran a lower alk but I don’t see alk at 11 being a issue unless your nutrients go down. If your nitrate & phosphate get down really low is when a higher alk can cause problems. If u want to lower the alk about all u can do is change your salt mix to a lower dkh salt.

Uncle99 · 05/05/2018, 09:51 PM

Red Sea Pro Salt mixes high in all three components so no surprise at your results.
Nitrate (and Phosphate) can be reduced by reducing feeding or dosing carbon like Red SEA no Pox. I use both the salt and no pox in my 70g mixed reef, I love this salt because I don't have to 2 part dose as much

If you want lower numbers, (no sure why) cheaper salts mix up lower in the numbers.

05/05/2018, 12:50 PM	#1
ramirezjrj Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 19	DKH Level and Nitrate levels Im new to the hobby and need some advice. I have a 90 G tank, with 95 lbs of rock that has been running for 4 months now, I started the tank at the end of Jan. 2018. I have a 25g sump with a protein skimmer. The tank has 2" of live sand and I have a total of 9 fish all are doing great. For lighting I have the 36" Aquatic Life T5 HO hybrid with to PrimeHD LED lights attached to the T5 fixture. I am doing 15g of water changes every 7 days, and using RO/DI water. I was using the Red Sea Coral Pro salt and switched to the Red Sea Salt Mix a month ago. My problem is I cant seem to get my DKH level below 11. It is consistently around 11-13, My PH is stays at 8.2, calcium is at 360 -380. zero ammonia, zero nitrite. My nitrate seem to always be at 10 I cant get that to drop either. I would like to start adding some SPS and LPS corals but I havent because of my tank chemistry. Any suggestions as to what I need to do, or what I am doing wrong.

05/05/2018, 01:00 PM	#2
Pslreefer In Memoriam Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Port St Lucie, FL Posts: 597	I would start adding lps, than when your tank is around 9 months start adding sps slowly. Your alk is higher because nothing is using it up and your tank is really very young.

05/05/2018, 01:41 PM	#3
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	+1. Your nitrate is fine right where it is. Doesn’t need to be any lower. Once you start getting some coraline algae and some lps corals it’ll slowly reduce that alkalinity. The best way to START a tank with low alk is to find a low alk salt (tropic Marin, live aquaria, aquavitro salinity). Just about all the other popular salt mixes will mix up at 9-11 dkh, some get absurdly high. I’ve had batches of reef crystals mix up at 15 dkh. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

05/05/2018, 05:19 PM	#4
Lsufan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 1,410	I agree & I don’t really see any issues. I have always ran a lower alk but I don’t see alk at 11 being a issue unless your nutrients go down. If your nitrate & phosphate get down really low is when a higher alk can cause problems. If u want to lower the alk about all u can do is change your salt mix to a lower dkh salt.

05/05/2018, 09:51 PM	#5
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	Red Sea Pro Salt mixes high in all three components so no surprise at your results. Nitrate (and Phosphate) can be reduced by reducing feeding or dosing carbon like Red SEA no Pox. I use both the salt and no pox in my 70g mixed reef, I love this salt because I don't have to 2 part dose as much If you want lower numbers, (no sure why) cheaper salts mix up lower in the numbers.