dcknipe Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 Hey gang. So I have a mixed reef tank0 a IM10 Nuvo. I'm trying to decide if I should start dosing or just stick to my weekly 30% Wc. I don't slack on maintenance and I keep the tank pretty clean in the back etc... My Params are as follows using API. Temp: 78 Ph: 7.8 Salinity: 1.025 Nitrate: 0-5 ppm Nitrite and Ammonia: 0 Calc: 380 Alk:8 Phos: undetectable Mag: dunno don't have a test. Salt: reef crystals So my ph has been this way from the beginning but I've never dosed. The tank is in my bedroom so that could be a reason. So to me it appears my tank would be a prime candidate for kalk, right? Or should I leave it be? Will me push Calc and alk to 450ish/10dkh make a noticeable difference in coral growth? Thanks Quote Link to comment
Tamberav Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 I see nothing wrong with your pH? I don't really see anything that makes your tank need kalk? It looks like mostly soft corals. Without nutrients high alk can have negative impacts on SPS. 1 Quote Link to comment
WV Reefer Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 I vote no also. 🙂 Quote Link to comment
jservedio Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 Absolutely not - the API pH tests are wildly off and chasing pH itself is just silly. I have a Pinpoint pH probe that I bought before I knew better and would routinely have 8.3-8.4pH while my API test kit was as low as 7.4-7.6. The only reason to dose Kalk is to increase alkalinity and calcium to replenish what corals are using (the dose will be calculated by your daily usage). If your pH is was actually low, tested with a calibrated probe, and you wanted it higher, you could just add a skimmer. 1 Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted December 7, 2018 Author Share Posted December 7, 2018 I'm not chasing ph. I was just stating my ph is what it is lol. Before my red sea kit expired my ph was in the low 8's so it wouldn't suprise me if API was off. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't starving my tank of Calc and alk as they aren't the typical optimum levels. Thanks for the input makes me feel better that the general consensus is a big hell no. 1 Quote Link to comment
Tamberav Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 7 minutes ago, dcknipe said: I'm not chasing ph. I was just stating my ph is what it is lol. Before my red sea kit expired my ph was in the low 8's so it wouldn't suprise me if API was off. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't starving my tank of Calc and alk as they aren't the typical optimum levels. Thanks for the input makes me feel better that the general consensus is a big hell no. The levels look fine to me. Anything between 7-11alk and 380-450ca is acceptable. Quote Link to comment
Joevember Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 What kind of demand does your tank have? Which kind of corals and how many? If you have mostly soft corals and some hard, then WCs are fine. 1 Quote Link to comment
dcknipe Posted December 7, 2018 Author Share Posted December 7, 2018 Setosa montipora , orange montipora, meteor shower, Duncans, GSP, shrooms, yuma, toadstool, Kenya tree, Hollywood stunner, zoas, xenia I'm sure I'm missing something Quote Link to comment
Joevember Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 4 minutes ago, dcknipe said: Setosa montipora , orange montipora, meteor shower, Duncans, GSP, shrooms, yuma, toadstool, Kenya tree, Hollywood stunner, zoas, xenia I'm sure I'm missing something You could run kalk with those. Make sure you do testing often to keep parameters stable. Quote Link to comment
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