Little ironies of SPS keeping

[christan1959]

The more I read up on SPS keeping, the more I'm confused.

Why is it that higher kH levels (9-11) are recommended for tanks with higher nutrient levels, and lower kH (7-8) is recommended for low-nutrient tanks?

And why is it that we strive for low-nutrient environment for SPS health, and yet recommend heaving feeding to colour them up?

Seems contradictory to me.

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[JMW]

Higher KH drives higher rate of calcification, so relatively higher nutrients allow coral tissue to grow at a rate which prevents tip issues. For ULNS systems, having that a high KH typically results in tip issues as the tissue growth rate doesn't match calcification rates brought about by high KH values.

SPS are known to benefit from feeding, but of course with the food being added to the system, excess food should be exported before they break down into excessive nutrients & imbalance the whole system.

It's really a delicate balance the way I see it, hope this helps.

[pcw]

Nutrients (no3/ po4) are used by the zooxanthellae in the corals for photosynthesis. Too much nutrients would increase the growth of zooxanthellae and mask the colours of the corals. So low nutrients are maintained for coral colours. But low nutrients also means that zooxanthellae are not as prolific and less nutritional compounds are passed to the corals themselves. Nutrients that are too low will also cause corals to fade (probably starving). Feeding is used to supplement this need for nutritional compounds for the coral itself. It's a balance to be maintained. 

[christan1959]

Thanks for the input. Makes a bit more sense now.

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[christan1959]

I've also read that low kH is for colouring up, while high kH is for growth. Is this true?
And anyway why shld we even deviate from NSW kH, which is around 7.7?

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[Admiraltian]

If ur calcium level matches ur carbonate level in balanced ion-proportion. Then lower the KH then slower the growth as ur sps consumed less calcium-carbonate for growth. And if u matches lower KH with low nutrients then sps tissues will disperse the brown zooxanellate resulting in brighter colors. If u go beyond that and achieved ulns, colors could look pastel in some or most sps. This is sps natural abitlty to photosynthesize with the symbiotic zooxanellate algae living in its tissues.

[honkit]

To me, it's not the lower or higher number of a certain dkh level - it's very more to do with the STABILITY of the dkh value than anything else.  

Keep the number tight at a narrow range and SPS corals will have a much better chance to fluorish.  

[Xtraster]

On 30/01/2017 at 8:33 PM, Admiraltian said:

If ur calcium level matches ur carbonate level in balanced ion-proportion. Then lower the KH then slower the growth as ur sps consumed less calcium-carbonate for growth. And if u matches lower KH with low nutrients then sps tissues will disperse the brown zooxanellate resulting in brighter colors. If u go beyond that and achieved ulns, colors could look pastel in some or most sps. This is sps natural abitlty to photosynthesize with the symbiotic zooxanellate algae living in its tissues.

Catch no ball... anyone care to paraphrase or explain this again? Paiseh... new to reefing... n fail chemistry... 

[Eric Ng Yong Keong]

Dkh is alkaline level. Honkit saying stable is the key. But stable at high or Low lvl determine the growth or the Color factor.


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[littlejack]

Assuming you hv a tank with plenty plenty coralline algae...would the competition for kh from this source help to stabalise kh consumption, ie. If too much dosing then excess kh makan-ded by coralline algae.

Of course if dosing too little than cant be helped but I hv a feeling tt dropping kh is safer than rising kh.

Any thoughts ?

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[sankar27]

Got to agree with Honkit, Stability is the key.

[cedricang]

4 hours ago, littlejack said:

Assuming you hv a tank with plenty plenty coralline algae...would the competition for kh from this source help to stabalise kh consumption, ie. If too much dosing then excess kh makan-ded by coralline algae.

Of course if dosing too little than cant be helped but I hv a feeling tt dropping kh is safer than rising kh.

Any thoughts ?

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Hi Littlejack,

My thoughts is that whether plenty of coralline algea or not, it doesn't make me any more comforted if there is too much dosing causing a kh shock. The overshoot of kh is unlikely to be mitigated by the coralline algea consumption to prevent an ill effect on the SPS cause by the high kh level. Btw, one of the visible effect of KH overdose is the burn tip symptom.

Also, I would say that a rising kh could be less damaging then a lowering of kh base on my experience.

 

 

[littlejack]

Hi Littlejack,
My thoughts is that whether plenty of coralline algea or not, it doesn't make me any more comforted if there is too much dosing causing a kh shock. The overshoot of kh is unlikely to be mitigated by the coralline algea consumption to prevent an ill effect on the SPS cause by the high kh level. Btw, one of the visible effect of KH overdose is the burn tip symptom.
Also, I would say that a rising kh could be less damaging then a lowering of kh base on my experience.
 
 

Thank u brudder cedricang for your inputs

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[cedricang]

Don't mention Bro, just some sharing base on my personal experience

[mrbryan12]

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