dKh to high?
 

dKh is 9 on both my tanks, I thougth NSW was below 8? Is mine to high? How wouild one lower? Baking Soda raises it, right?

Parameters are done with Salfert test kits. Temp is high because my house is an oven right now, A/C can't keep up

45g
Temp 81.3
Sg 1.0235
Po4 Undetect
No3 30-35
Ca 420
Mg 1230
dKh 9
PH 8.3

150g
temp 82.4
Sg 1.024
Po4 undetectable
No3 25
Ca 400
Mg 1270
dKh 9
PH 8.4

You think you have a problem? Mine's at 17 right now.....crazy. I don't know what to do....

tagging along this thread.

I just read that. I know my 150g was up like 17dKh when I first made the water. Lasted like that for 3-4 days before it lowered to where it is now. I hope yours settles soon too.

In my tank I find 10 dkh optimal.Used to run at 12 dkh with no probs but found 10 to be just as equal as far as growth goes.I think 10 - 12 holds a more steady PH

I guess I've been blessed with steady PH cause mine never varys more than .2 day/night

I've found my best coral growth happens when my dkh is between 9 and 10. Not that it sits there very long, it has a habit of dropping when my back is turned :cry:

The calcium and alkalinity need to be in a proper ratio to each other, and balance is more important than the actual number they are at...within reason. Check the link in my signature for an easy read on the relationship between the different key elements. :)

Balanced calcium and alkalinity:

350 ppm to 1.4 dKH
375 ppm to 2.1 dKH
400 ppm to 5.6 dKH
425 ppm to 9.1 dKH
450 ppm to 12.6 dKH
475 ppm to 16.1 dKH

every tank is different when i comes to optimal alk. It took some time to find my tank's sweet spot, 11-12dkh.

You just made my day Mindy. My calcium is about 460 ppm with the almost about 16 - 17 dKH ..... I though my parameters were way off with the high dKH. Thanks so much :)

Ya Mindy, that looks like I am right in the zone for my Ca too. Im slowny trying to raise my CA amd Mg to 420 and 1400, which I was told was NSW levels. Just using Chemmasters additives, I only add at water changes dont supplement in between

NSW: Ca 420ppm, alk 7dKH, Mg 1280ppm

I think it depends on where you get NSW parameters from. I've read 420, 8, 1350

Realize there's variations but I go from the link I put up which in turn references:
Chemical Oceanography, Second Edition. Millero, Frank J.; Editor. USA. (1996), 496 pp. Publisher: (CRC, Boca Raton, Fla.)

I keep my tank at 7.5 to a maximum of 8 DKH. Zeovit tanks should be kept anywhere between 6.5 - 8 for proper success and less chances of coral stress.

your DKH is fine, most run an elivated DKH compared to the chart Mindy posted as there are benifits to running it a little higher than normal, but I won't start a debate on this one as I am getting ready for the movers on monday and don't have the time.

I ran 380 Ca and 12 DKH and got my best results for color and growth, in some one elses tank this might not have worked.. but at 9, unless you are running this zeo thing which wants depressed DKH I wouldn't worry.

Steve

yup, lots of variations, posting NSW valuses is useless unless you also post the area and depth it was taken from. personaly that is one of the lowest valuse I have ever seen for Mg, and one of the higher Ca readings.

Steve

You guys are very welcome! I go by Randy Holmes-Farley who says NSW calcium is 410 ppm, 7 dKH, and 1280 ppm magnesium.