What do YOU keep your Alkalinity at?

[christyf5]

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.

[untamed]

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]

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]

I found my system did best with alk at 9 and calcium around 380 measured with salifert test kits

[PoonTang]

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

Originally Posted by Canadian

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]

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]

Originally Posted by PoonTang

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