High alkalinity for mixed reef

[diabolical_clownfish]

Hi - I have a 35 gallon tank, setup for about 1 year, with:

- A rainbow bubble tip nem
- Mostly LPS / few SPS corals
- One soft coral and several Zoas

I've been using the Instant Ocean Reef Crystals salt, with supposedly (400 ppm Calcium, 13 dKH Alkalinity, and 1440 ppm Magnesium). I noticed a while back that my Alkalinity drops much faster than Calcium and Magnesium, so I've been dosing baking soda to maintain it at around 8.2 dKH. Parameters:

- pH: 8.2
- Salinity: 35
- Nitrate: ~5
- Calcium: 520
- Magnesium: 1500

(calcium and magnesium seem off the chart high and they don't seem to drop noticeably)

I did notice, however, that my corals (and particularly my BTA) don't grow that fast. I've been reading about how high Alkalinity might encourage stony corals growth (assuming it's not a ULN tank which I don't), and have been thinking about raising my Alkalinity to 11-12. Is this a good idea, and will it hurt the BTA and other soft corals?

Thank you!

 

[dwest]

Hi - I have a 35 gallon tank, setup for about 1 year, with:

- A rainbow bubble tip nem
- Mostly LPS / few SPS corals
- One soft coral and several Zoas

I've been using the Instant Ocean Reef Crystals salt, with supposedly (400 ppm Calcium, 13 dKH Alkalinity, and 1440 ppm Magnesium). I noticed a while back that my Alkalinity drops much faster than Calcium and Magnesium, so I've been dosing baking soda to maintain it at around 8.2 dKH. Parameters:

- pH: 8.2
- Salinity: 35
- Nitrate: ~5
- Calcium: 520
- Magnesium: 1500

(calcium and magnesium seem off the chart high and they don't seem to drop noticeably)

I did notice, however, that my corals (and particularly my BTA) don't grow that fast. I've been reading about how high Alkalinity might encourage stony corals growth (assuming it's not a ULN tank which I don't), and have been thinking about raising my Alkalinity to 11-12. Is this a good idea, and will it hurt the BTA and other soft corals?

Thank you!

I would target alkalinity where you have it now at 8.2. That sounds perfect to me.

 

[diabolical_clownfish]

I would target alkalinity where you have it now at 8.2. That sounds perfect to me.

Thanks - I figured as much.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The expected calcium decline for a given alk decline during calcification is 18-20 ppm calcium for each 2.8 dKH of alk. So unless you consume a lot of alk on a regular basis, you are unlikely to be able to detect the calcium drip due to random variability in calcium testing.

 

[Ashish Patel]

SPS will grow in any ALK aslong as its stable. I would say the best range i find is 7.5KH to 8.5DKH with 8DKH being a good target. I find going higher than 10DKH is asking for trouble since the ocean Alk is around 7DKH and I just have a hunch that mother nature is more smarter than any human alive

 

[diabolical_clownfish]

SPS will grow in any ALK aslong as its stable. I would say the best range i find is 7.5KH to 8.5DKH with 8DKH being a good target. I find going higher than 10DKH is asking for trouble since the ocean Alk is around 7DKH and I just have a hunch that mother nature is more smarter than any human alive

Thanks, but I feel like that is not an effective argument. We know that nitrate and phosphate are undetectable in the ocean, yet we run into problems if our tanks run at zero nutrients. The ocean's Alkalinity isn't necessarily optimized towards growing stony corals, but we have (sufficient?) evidence that it accelerates growth:

Grow corals faster with elevated reef tank parameters? - BRStv Investigates

There has been an ongoing discussion over the topic of what levels for alkalinity, calcium and magnesium are the most ideal for coral growth with the general idea being that elevated reef tank parameters will produce increased coral growth. More or less the thought process is that the more available

www.bulkreefsupply.com

So at the moment, I'm still inclined to move up my Alk by a little bit, not necessarily at 12 like BRS.

 

[Ashish Patel]

Thanks, but I feel like that is not an effective argument. We know that nitrate and phosphate are undetectable in the ocean, yet we run into problems if our tanks run at zero nutrients. The ocean's Alkalinity isn't necessarily optimized towards growing stony corals, but we have (sufficient?) evidence that it accelerates growth:

Grow corals faster with elevated reef tank parameters? - BRStv Investigates

There has been an ongoing discussion over the topic of what levels for alkalinity, calcium and magnesium are the most ideal for coral growth with the general idea being that elevated reef tank parameters will produce increased coral growth. More or less the thought process is that the more available

www.bulkreefsupply.com

So at the moment, I'm still inclined to move up my Alk by a little bit, not necessarily at 12 like BRS.

The ocean has much higher source of PO/NO regardless of Undetectable numbers. I feel your corals will be fine at 12DKH as long as you bring it up slowly, however, I would not recommend it.
goodluck

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The ocean has much higher source of PO/NO regardless of Undetectable numbers.

"NO" is what?

 

[Ashish Patel]

"NO" is what?

Nitrates,

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Nitrates,

lol

OK.

In that vein, Po might be phosphate?

I interpreted it to mean particulate organics.

 

[Ashish Patel]

lol

OK.

In that vein, Po might be phosphate?

I interpreted it to mean particulate organics.

LOl, I was googling it and its NO3.
What kind of Phosphates are in ocean? If i am not mistaken there are 2 types.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

LOl, I was googling it and its NO3.
What kind of Phosphates are in ocean? If i am not mistaken there are 2 types.

There are several types of phosphate in the ocean.

The main forms are dissolved inorganic phosphate, dissolved organic phosphate (such as DNA, phospholipids, etc.), and particulate organic forms (detritus, bacteria, viruses, etc.).

This has more:

Phosphate in the Reef Aquarium

The phosphorus atom is one of living matter's basic building blocks. It is present in every living creature and in every reef aquarium's water. Unfortunately, it is often present in excess in reef aquaria, and that excess has the potential to cause at least two substantial problems for...

www.reefedition.com

 

[Ashish Patel]

There are several types of phosphate in the ocean.

The main forms are dissolved inorganic phosphate, dissolved organic phosphate (such as DNA, phospholipids, etc.), and particulate organic forms (detritus, bacteria, viruses, etc.).

This has more:

Phosphate in the Reef Aquarium

The phosphorus atom is one of living matter's basic building blocks. It is present in every living creature and in every reef aquarium's water. Unfortunately, it is often present in excess in reef aquaria, and that excess has the potential to cause at least two substantial problems for...

www.reefedition.com

My phosphates in my new system with zero fileration are at .34PPM, Does the Hanna ULR test particulate organic forms

 

[Ashish Patel]

There are several types of phosphate in the ocean.

The main forms are dissolved inorganic phosphate, dissolved organic phosphate (such as DNA, phospholipids, etc.), and particulate organic forms (detritus, bacteria, viruses, etc.).

This has more:

Phosphate in the Reef Aquarium

The phosphorus atom is one of living matter's basic building blocks. It is present in every living creature and in every reef aquarium's water. Unfortunately, it is often present in excess in reef aquaria, and that excess has the potential to cause at least two substantial problems for...

www.reefedition.com

This write up is outstanding! will leave it at that. take care all

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

My phosphates in my new system with zero fileration are at .34PPM, Does the Hanna ULR test particulate organic forms

No, it doesn't Only dissolved inorganic phosphate.