Alk and coloration. Any correlation?

Coyote slayer · 05/20/2017, 04:45 PM

I was running my alk high(9.3-9.6) but wanted better colors so I made a few changes. Added actinics in my t5 fixture, started dosing a little kz elements and dropped the alk to about 8.2. Colors are better, much darker and deeper, but coralline and overall coral growth is WAY down.

So I'm wondering if alk and coloration have anything to do with each other?

I don't run a ulns at least by choice. I feed heavy, have a fair amount of really well established rock so I struggle to keep nitrates at 2 or more.

So some things I'm working through and considering are bringing alk up about 1dkh, let things sit for a while and if growth goes back to where it was, great. If for some reason colors suffer then try dosing nitrates to keep them over 2.

Just wondering if anyone else has gone down this path and what their results were?

Bpb · 05/20/2017, 04:48 PM

I notice a distinct improvement in color with lower alk. I don't even like mine going over 7.0 dkh. When it's under 7 my growth and colors are definitely the most explosive and vibrant. As alk gets higher my sps tend to get polyp retraction and brittle flakey skins

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Coyote slayer · 05/20/2017, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bpb

I notice a distinct improvement in color with lower alk. I don't even like mine going over 7.0 dkh. When it's under 7 my growth and colors are definitely the most explosive and vibrant. As alk gets higher my sps tend to get polyp retraction and brittle flakey skins

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I assume your nutrients are really really low?

Bpb · 05/20/2017, 06:14 PM

This fact doesn't seem to change no matter what my nutrients are. I've ran extended periods of 0.4+ ppm phosphate and 30-40 ppm nitrate (growth was slower than Christmas), or like I run it now at 0.03 ppm po4 and 4 ppm NO3

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05/20/2017, 04:45 PM	#1
Coyote slayer Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 31	Alk and coloration. Any correlation? I was running my alk high(9.3-9.6) but wanted better colors so I made a few changes. Added actinics in my t5 fixture, started dosing a little kz elements and dropped the alk to about 8.2. Colors are better, much darker and deeper, but coralline and overall coral growth is WAY down. So I'm wondering if alk and coloration have anything to do with each other? I don't run a ulns at least by choice. I feed heavy, have a fair amount of really well established rock so I struggle to keep nitrates at 2 or more. So some things I'm working through and considering are bringing alk up about 1dkh, let things sit for a while and if growth goes back to where it was, great. If for some reason colors suffer then try dosing nitrates to keep them over 2. Just wondering if anyone else has gone down this path and what their results were?

05/20/2017, 04:48 PM	#2
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	I notice a distinct improvement in color with lower alk. I don't even like mine going over 7.0 dkh. When it's under 7 my growth and colors are definitely the most explosive and vibrant. As alk gets higher my sps tend to get polyp retraction and brittle flakey skins Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/20/2017, 06:14 PM	#4
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	This fact doesn't seem to change no matter what my nutrients are. I've ran extended periods of 0.4+ ppm phosphate and 30-40 ppm nitrate (growth was slower than Christmas), or like I run it now at 0.03 ppm po4 and 4 ppm NO3 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk