Dkh max limit?

[klavmaister]

Red sea says that they recommend 12 dkh for maximum growth of hard corals in the aquarium. Think the conclusion was 9dkh? what is the margin of safety above 12dkh? is it the case that the aquarium crashes if you reach 13? and is it the case that one should have more or less nutrition at high dkh.

 

[scotty333]

13 isn’t dangerous and the sayings go the higher the kh the higher the nutrients also higher par otherwise certain coral ( stoneys) will grow skeleton quicker than their zoox ( skin) and result in open areas for algae to get hold
That’s my understanding of it anyway

 

[Salty_Northerner]

Red Sea say a lot of things that make zero sense IMHO. I filled my system up when I got my new aquarium with the black bucket and what a mistake that was. I followed the instructions to a T and woke up the next morning to a while tank. Everything that was glass was covered and a real pain to clean it back to new condition. So I did found a great solution to using that salt! It works extremely well for melting the ice on my walk way! Best ice buster I've ever bought lol

 

[tbaum101]

I run my Alk from 11-12. I've had it 13.6 before. I had been using an API kit when I got my Hanna Tester. I thought I was at 11. But I had consistently run it at that for months. I've had pretty good growth from my stonies. I run high Calcium 480-500 as well and Mag at around 1400. I only use Red Sea additives and couldn't be happier with them.

 

[VintageReefer]

I run my Alk from 11-12. I've had it 13.6 before. I had been using an API kit when I got my Hanna Tester. I thought I was at 11. But I had consistently run it at that for months. I've had pretty good growth from my stonies. I run high Calcium 480-500 as well and Mag at around 1400. I only use Red Sea additives and couldn't be happier with them.

What are your phosphate and nitrate levels with alk at those levels ? Do you keep sps, softies, lps, or a mix?

 

[tbaum101]

What are your phosphate and nitrate levels with alk at those levels ? Do you keep sps, softies, lps, or a mix?

I still don't have Hanna Testers for those yet and still rely on the API Kit and going by the color chart so it's far from precise but my Phosphates are less than .25ppm and my Nitrates are less than 5ppm. As far as coral types I have all the above. I really wanted to have a true mixed reef in every sense of the word. Acros, Staghorns, various SPS, Leathers, Zoas and Pallys, LPS. I'm still new to the hobby but jumped in with both feet. I put water in Christmas Day 2023 so as of now it's only 8 months old. I've tried to arrange the corals with SPS mostly in the top half and LPS towards the bottom so flow and lighting are as close to what they should have as possible...But there are some that may not be optimal in their placement. I have a 75 gallon tank and do a 15 gallon water change every two weeks. I use Reef Crtstals for the higher Alk. I've tried others but haven't had the same results with them. I dose Trace Elements and Amino Acids as well in addition to the "Big 3".

 

[VintageReefer]

I still don't have Hanna Testers for those yet and still rely on the API Kit and going by the color chart so it's far from precise but my Phosphates are less than .25ppm and my Nitrates are less than 5ppm. As far as coral types I have all the above. I really wanted to have a true mixed reef in every sense of the word. Acros, Staghorns, various SPS, Leathers, Zoas and Pallys, LPS. I'm still new to the hobby but jumped in with both feet. I put water in Christmas Day 2023 so as of now it's only 8 months old. I've tried to arrange the corals with SPS mostly in the top half and LPS towards the bottom so flow and lighting are as close to what they should have as possible...But there are some that may not be optimal in their placement. I have a 75 gallon tank and do a 15 gallon water change every two weeks. I use Reef Crtstals for the higher Alk. I've tried others but haven't had the same results with them. I dose Trace Elements and Amino Acids as well in addition to the "Big 3".

It looks like a great setup!

The reason I asked was just curiosity. I’ve always heard that higher alk, yields accelerated skeletal growth, and requires high nitrates and phosphates, or you get skeleton growing faster than tissue, leading to burnt tips or white tips in acropora growth. Have you noticed this on your sps?

 

[tbaum101]

I think that could be possible but I haven't seen it beyond growth rings on montys and tips on Acros but that's just how they grow. I think some people worry about things and proliferate thoughts as gospel. I'd be way more worried about low density skeletal growth than flesh not keeping up with the growth.

 

[scotty333]

It looks like a great setup!

The reason I asked was just curiosity. I’ve always heard that higher alk, yields accelerated skeletal growth, and requires high nitrates and phosphates, or you get skeleton growing faster than tissue, leading to burnt tips or white tips in acropora growth. Have you noticed this on your sps?

You just copying me haha , see yesterday post 7.34pm

 

[VintageReefer]

You just copying me haha , see yesterday post 7.34pm

I see no such post at “7:34” pm!

Kidding aside, I did see your post and I agree with you and am validating you

I used to keep a sps reef at 11-12dkh years ago. I remember my nitrates were bottomed out but I don’t remember my phosphates.

My acro growth was very fast. 2 inch frags becoming 4” in a few months.

4” mini colonies becoming 10” wide monster colonies in less than a year

However at that time, 10 years ago, I don’t think I had the knowledge that higher alk needed higher nutrients…I did intentionally run higher alk. The system just naturally did well. I wonder why my phosphate levels were and if my nitrate tests were accurate

I’m considering increasing my alk in my current system and want to make sure my nutrients are correct (6.5 nitrate and .4-.5 phosphate)

 

[twentyleagues]

I have always used rc and typically kept my alk at 11-12 in the past. I also had pretty high n and p and didnt see issues. When the ulns fad hit I tried real hard to get n and p down and eventually did. Unfortunately my corals didnt like that too much, tips of acro started to burn and lps looked deflated. I was told to bring my alk levels down to 8-9 and things would look better. That was going to be a lot of work more than I was already doing to keep ulns unless I switch salts, so I just let my n and p go back up a bit and things started looking better. Will high alk low n and p cause burned tips? Not sure seemed to IME. I stopped carbon dosing with vodka and just left the biopellets to do their thing along with the massive skimmer I had added.

 

[klavmaister]

thanks for all good answers, I will slowly increase Alk, I have always struggled with very low values of po3 and po4. typically 0.01 phos and 2-5ppm Nitrate, sometimes 1. considering cutting filter roles. have 7 fish in a 250 liter tank, bought a wrasse now in addition

 

[twentyleagues]

thanks for all good answers, I will slowly increase Alk, I have always struggled with very low values of po3 and po4. typically 0.01 phos and 2-5ppm Nitrate, sometimes 1. considering cutting filter roles. have 7 fish in a 250 liter tank, bought a wrasse now in addition

What is your current alk? What level does your salt mix to?

 

[scotty333]

I think that could be possible but I haven't seen it beyond growth rings on montys and tips on Acros but that's just how they grow. I think some people worry about things and proliferate thoughts as gospel. I'd be way more worried about low density skeletal growth than flesh not keeping up with the growth.

No, I’m watching my bgs

I see no such post at “7:34” pm!

Kidding aside, I did see your post and I agree with you and am validating you

I used to keep a sps reef at 11-12dkh years ago. I remember my nitrates were bottomed out but I don’t remember my phosphates.

My acro growth was very fast. 2 inch frags becoming 4” in a few months.

4” mini colonies becoming 10” wide monster colonies in less than a year

However at that time, 10 years ago, I don’t think I had the knowledge that higher alk needed higher nutrients…I did intentionally run higher alk. The system just naturally did well. I wonder why my phosphate levels were and if my nitrate tests were accurate

I’m considering increasing my alk in my current system and want to make sure my nutrients are correct (6.5 nitrate and .4-.5 phosphate)

.4-5 or .04-5 ? Ones high the other spot on imo
If the first how do you control the algae? 3x daily glass clean?? Ha

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Red sea says that they recommend 12 dkh for maximum growth of hard corals in the aquarium. Think the conclusion was 9dkh? what is the margin of safety above 12dkh? is it the case that the aquarium crashes if you reach 13? and is it the case that one should have more or less nutrition at high dkh.

I expect one becomes limited by precipitation at very high alk, especially if pH is also high.

 

[VintageReefer]

No, I’m watching my bgs

.4-5 or .04-5 ? Ones high the other spot on imo
If the first how do you control the algae? 3x daily glass clean?? Ha

My current system is running phosphates at .4-.5

A year ago I was doing .05 and I have gradually increased and noticed slight improvement in coral colors

I don’t have any algae issues in the tank, I clean my glass every couple days (around 3 days)

 

[scotty333]

My current system is running phosphates at .4-.5

A year ago I was doing .05 and I have gradually increased and noticed slight improvement in coral colors

I don’t have any algae issues in the tank, I clean my glass every couple days (around 3 days)

F in stunning , keep it up pal your doing awesome

 

[scotty333]

Acro on the sand ! What par you getting there ?

 

[PharmrJohn]

I used to run mine between 15 and 18. More on the 15 side. But things were different back then and I wasn't the only one that ran that high. Now? When things get up and running I'll aim for about 11.

 

[scotty333]

I used to run mine between 15 and 18. More on the 15 side. But things were different back then and I wasn't the only one that ran that high. Now? When things get up and running I'll aim for about 11.

Kh? 15 omg