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View Full Version : What do YOU keep your Alkalinity at?


Myka
01-05-2008, 07:42 PM
People seem to keep an array from 6-14 dKH. Just wondering what everyone around here keeps theirs at...? ALSO, what do you use to monitor you Alkalinity? Test kits?

Mine is fairly steady on it's own around 7-8 dKH.

Skimmerking
01-05-2008, 08:59 PM
I keep mine at 8.8-9.6 DKH

Tom R
01-05-2008, 09:08 PM
Mine is fairly steady with buffering and baking soda at around 7-8 dKH.

Tom R

Myka
01-05-2008, 09:27 PM
What do you guys use to test/monitor your Alkalinity?

surgeonfish
01-05-2008, 10:26 PM
You should keep a proper balance between your ca and alk. I think your alk should depend on your calcium. Somewhere I found a calculator to determine the proper alk depending on your calcium level. I made this table. Sorry I can't find the website with the calculator anymore. Therefore, I aim for a calcium of 420 and alk of 8.4

Calcium/Alkalinity Balance
Ca (ppm) - Alkalinity (dKH)
360 ---- 0
370 ---- 1.4
380 ---- 2.8
390 ---- 4.2
400 ---- 5.6
405 ---- 6.3
410 ---- 7.0
415 ---- 7.7
420 ---- 8.4
425 ---- 9.1
430 ---- 9.8
435 ---- 10.5
440 ---- 11.2
445 ---- 11.9
450 ---- 12.6
460 ---- 14.0
470 ---- 15.4
480 ---- 16.8

christyf5
01-05-2008, 10:38 PM
I keep mine between 8 and 9 dKH. I used to keep it higher but the tank seems to be happy at these levels.

Myka
01-05-2008, 10:48 PM
So do you guys all use test kits to test it? I use a Salifert test kit, and I just find it's such a pain in the butt.

christyf5
01-05-2008, 10:54 PM
Yep I use salifert. Its a bit of a pain but heck, you should try those ones with 8 drops of this and a spoon of powder. The alk test is the easiest one IMO. After awhile you get used to it. :biggrin:

untamed
01-05-2008, 11:12 PM
Don't forget that there is a relationship between Alk and pH. As everyone's tank does a daily pH cycle, you get varied Alk readings depending on where you are in that cycle.

I get about a full dKH difference depending on what time of day I measure the Alk.

If you think you are a bit low...try measuring again right before the lights go off.

Canadian
01-06-2008, 01:11 AM
7 dKH measured with an Elos test kit. I'm trying to make sure that my Alk stays below 8 dKH because I dose vodka.

marie
01-06-2008, 01:42 AM
I found my system did best with alk at 9 and calcium around 380 measured with salifert test kits :biggrin:

PoonTang
01-06-2008, 02:11 AM
I guess i'm at the high end of the scale. Cal 440, Alk 11.2. I use a Salifert for Cal and a SeaChem for Mag/Alk


7 dKH measured with an Elos test kit. I'm trying to make sure that my Alk stays below 8 dKH because I dose vodka.

Why is it important to keep Alk low when you dose vodka?

Myka
01-06-2008, 02:20 AM
Thanks for the responses everyone!! :)

I wish they had a monitor like they do for calcium. I guess they have one for freshwater, but for some reason they don't work for saltwater. If there was a monitor I would be better at keeping my Alk where it's supposed to be... LOL.

Canadian
01-06-2008, 02:33 AM
Why is it important to keep Alk low when you dose vodka?

When dosing vodka or using any of the probiotic/carbon source systems like Zeo and Fauna Marin alkalinity is apparently supposed to be kept below 8 dKH to avoid "burning" the tips of SPS. I wouldn't say it's kept "low" per se - it's still within typical reef values in the real world: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php