Just tested the tank and...

Joshsmit56001 · 09/08/2006, 09:12 PM

Dkh - 8
Calcium 500

Are these levels ok or should I lower my calcium and raise my Dkh?

Josh

jimsta · 09/08/2006, 09:16 PM

yeah do that

CaliforniaDreamer · 09/08/2006, 09:33 PM

I would raise the dKH to 10 or 11 and let the Ca drop by itself. If you have some Ca users in the tank just dose Alk to keep the Alk up until the Ca drops to about 430 and then keep up the Alk and Ca using a balanced dosing scheme. BTW your Ca may drop just by raising the Alk due to some precipitation.

CeeGee · 09/08/2006, 09:36 PM

Natural sea water has a dKH of 8 why would you want to raise it?

CaliforniaDreamer · 09/08/2006, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CeeGee
Natural sea water has a dKH of 8 why would you want to raise it?

I like to keep the dKH a little higher because it seems to stabilize the ph a little better. Also with the Ca at 430 (again higher than NSW) a dKH of 10 to 11 is better balanced. From my limited experience my SPS dominated tank seems to better and grow faster and have better color at these levels. I have been told that at these higher levels calcification takes less energy from the corals.

mg426 · 09/08/2006, 10:16 PM

I hear 7 to 11 dkh and 380 to 450 PPM ca as being the safe range quite a bit.

drummereef · 09/08/2006, 10:29 PM

Yup. 8 is going to show more pH fluctuation. Try not to go over 11. What brand test kit are you using for the tests?

CeeGee · 09/10/2006, 12:02 AM

I have heard from many SPS keepers to keep your DKH at 8 no higher than 9 no lower than 7. I try to keep my levels as close to NSW that I can. I figure if it is good enough for nature it is good enough for me.

09/08/2006, 09:12 PM	#1
Joshsmit56001 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lake Crystal, MN Posts: 654	Just tested the tank and... Dkh - 8 Calcium 500 Are these levels ok or should I lower my calcium and raise my Dkh? Josh

09/08/2006, 09:33 PM	#3
CaliforniaDreamer Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,787	I would raise the dKH to 10 or 11 and let the Ca drop by itself. If you have some Ca users in the tank just dose Alk to keep the Alk up until the Ca drops to about 430 and then keep up the Alk and Ca using a balanced dosing scheme. BTW your Ca may drop just by raising the Alk due to some precipitation. __________________ Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. - Gandhi - Current Tank Info: 10,000 Koi Pond

09/08/2006, 09:36 PM	#4
CeeGee Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TN Posts: 3,272	Natural sea water has a dKH of 8 why would you want to raise it? __________________ My algae WAS special. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 40 gallon breeder sump, RLSS R6i, ATI Powermodule, Apex, Ecotech MP40's

09/08/2006, 10:16 PM	#6
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	I hear 7 to 11 dkh and 380 to 450 PPM ca as being the safe range quite a bit. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

09/10/2006, 12:02 AM	#8
CeeGee Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TN Posts: 3,272	I have heard from many SPS keepers to keep your DKH at 8 no higher than 9 no lower than 7. I try to keep my levels as close to NSW that I can. I figure if it is good enough for nature it is good enough for me. __________________ My algae WAS special. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 40 gallon breeder sump, RLSS R6i, ATI Powermodule, Apex, Ecotech MP40's

09/08/2006, 09:16 PM	#2
jimsta Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: West Palm Beach, FL Posts: 540	yeah do that

09/08/2006, 10:29 PM	#7
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Yup. 8 is going to show more pH fluctuation. Try not to go over 11. What brand test kit are you using for the tests?