KH

[tagie_tag]

can anyone tell me KH ard 6 dhk is it too low? wat happen to my water...

[wilsontantw]

It's a tad too low.

You may wish to buff it up to at least 7. Recommended ard 8-9.

There are various ways of pushing it up gradually. I used to use seachem buffer. Relatively easy. Some (I was told) use baking soda.

[oceanviper]

It's a tad too low.

You may wish to buff it up to at least 7. Recommended ard 8-9.

There are various ways of pushing it up gradually. I used to use seachem buffer. Relatively easy. Some (I was told) use baking soda.

Yup....

I'm using baking soda to push it up if my KH is low...

[tagie_tag]

yeah. but wat make de KH low? wat effect to de coral? lesson to learn ..bro...

[carfyx]

If dkh too low , your ph will have mood swing

Dkh = alkalinity

example Like a sponge ..

if dkh too low - your PH will swing easily ( to increase it - baking soda or buffer )

if dkh too high - your PH very hard to swing ( to lower it do water change )

[wilsontantw]

Hmmm good question on why KH drops. Honestly, I dunno.

But I know for my tank (quite a few pieces of sps) I dose abt 80ml of kh daily (thru dosin pump).

Alternatively weekly water change of 10% will help keep parameters in check. It really helps.

For a month, when I was "free", I did that, and observed slower algae growth and good sps growth.

[clee123]

yeah. but wat make de KH low? wat effect to de coral? lesson to learn ..bro...

my 2 cents:

1) Cause of low KH - "Alkalinity" (KH) is linked to calcium (CA). Usually, there is a balanced ratio maintained in the reef tank. When you used up some CA you in turn also used up some KH. Like Calcium, KH were used by corals to form their skeletons (a process called calcification), which are composed primarily of calcium carbonate.

2) Efffect of low KH - affect the calcification process and hence the growth of corals. KH also linked to PH. In general a low KH will result in a low and unstable PH value - which in turn impact/stress the fishes and corals. In worst case, isssue narcosis and dealth..

3 Optium range of KH - based on my own experience, it depends on the nutrient level of your reef tank

a) for ULNS (Ultra Low Nutrient System) like Zeovite the good range will be 6.5 - 7.5 dk

Low Nutrient / standard reef tank , the accetable range is 8-11 dk

4) Lesson to learn - keep an eye on your water parameters (mainly KH, CA, MG) and maintain them as constant and possible..

Reading the following for general and immediate problem solving...

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

[tagie_tag]

bro. for comment ..noted....