What should my alkalinity be in my reef tank?

The recommended range for alkalinity in reef aquariums is between 142-215ppm or 8-12 dKH. There are many solutions and chemicals you can add to a reef tank to increase alkalinity, such as sodium bicarbonate, Kalkwasser (Kalk/limewater) or various commercial premixes.

What does high alkalinity do to a reef tank?

Precipitation of calcium carbonate: Alkalinity and calcium are directly linked in reef tank water chemistry. If alkalinity is too high, you can get a swift drop in calcium. This alkalinity and calcium imbalance will lead to an unbalanced ratio that will require frequent testing and dosing to restore the balance.

What does low alkalinity do to corals?

Unstable levels will cause an aquarium’s pH to fluctuate, which can cause damage or even death to corals, fish and other livestock. Alkalinity is also a critical component in forming coral skeletons, and low levels will significantly reduce coral growth rates.

Do soft corals use alkalinity?

Being that some soft corals have small Sclerites within their tissue, yes, they do need alkalinity, calcium & magnesium all to be at the proper levels for them to thrive.

Is alkalinity important for soft corals?

In addition to chemical stability, Alkalinity is important for stony coral growth because corals and other organisms use up alkalinity over time. It’s measured in “degree of carbonate hardness” or dkh for short and natural sea water has a dkh of around 8 or 9.

Does dKH affect pH?

An acidic solution has more hydrogen ions, a base/alkaline solution has less hydrogen ions. ALK (KH/dKH) is measuring the buffering capacity, or ability of the solution to maintain its PH when when acid is added….. or how resistant the tank will be to a ph change.

Do soft corals need calcium and alkalinity?

Will adding magnesium lower alkalinity?

This is usually, when magnesium drops under 1200ppm and calcium and alkalinity precipitate. You will find yourself adding more of the two-part solution but the alkalinity and calcium will not rise. Once you correct your magnesium and bring it up to about 3 times that of your calcium, everything should balance out.

Does light affect alkalinity?

Your light does not affect your ALK/DKH levels.

Will raising calcium lower alkalinity?

Yes, since the calcium and alkalinity are so closely linked in the chemistry of the reef tank, raising your calcium levels directly can lower the alkalinity. Why this happens is because as the calcium in your reef tank increases, so does the precipitation of calcium carbonate.

Is dKH same as alkalinity?

Alkalinity (meq/L) and dKH are exactly the same things when measured with an aquarium test kit. They are just different units, like inches and centimeters. 1 meq/L = 2.8 dKH = 50 ppm calcium carbonate equivalents.

Does dosing magnesium raise alkalinity?

No, that is not impacting this situation. Magnesium does not cause alk to rise by this or any other mechanism. You can reduce demand for alk by reducing precipitation, but it does not ever cause alk to rise if you are not dosing any alk.

Can you overdose magnesium in a reef tank?

Overdose of Mg can make snails and clams lethargic to the point of being susceptible to being eaten IME. Depending on whether you’re dosing magnesium sulfate, magnesium chloride or a combo of the two water chemistry can get goofy.

Does alkalinity drop at night in reef tank?

Yes. I am using kalk in my ATO and running a CaRX. Levels are pretty consistent. It just seems like it’s being consumed the most at night and then going back up during the day.

Is KH total alkalinity?

Total alkalinity is expressed as milligrams per liter (mg/L) or parts per million (ppm) of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). In the aquarium industry, total alkalinity may be referred to as “carbonate hardness” or “KH,” which is often measured in degrees (dKH) rather mg/L or ppm.

How fast can I raise ALK in reef tank?

Reef Chemist You can dose all that you tank needs in a day, although if you have a huge need, it may be best to spread it out. That might be 0.1, 1, 2, or 5 dKH per day. The idea is the average level shouldn’t be rising more than 1 dKH per day (or whatever level folks are thinking is best).

Is KH and alkalinity the same?

Yes, they are the same. KH, also dKH, is the units that alkalinity is measured in. You may also see it as meq/l, this is a single digit with 2 decimals: 3.89 meq/l is roughly equal to 11 dKH.

How long does it take to raise magnesium levels?

Chronic magnesium deficiency is often associated with normal serum magnesium despite deficiency in cells and in bone; the response to oral supplementation is slow and may take up to 40 weeks to reach a steady state.

How do I use the BRS aquarium calculator?

BRS Aquarium & Reef Calculator. Calculate how much of a specific element or media to use in your aquarium. Simply input your tank levels and total system water volume (minus any rock displacement) and the calculator will do the rest!

How often should I increase alkalinity in my Aquarium?

In aquariums with a significant population of growing stony corals, it is not uncommon to have to increase daily alkalinity doses every few months to maintain stable levels.

How do I calculate how much carbon to use in aquariums?

GFO works best when used inside a media reactor but can also be placed inside a filter media bag. Our carbon calculator will tell you approximately how much carbon to use inside your aquarium. Just enter the number of gallons of your tank and click calculate.

How do I use the ALK calculator?

Using our alk calculator you can enter your current alkalinity level, desired level, and the brand of alkalinity supplement you use to determine how much you should dose to achieve ideal parameters. Calcium is an essential building block for corals, clams, and coralline algae.