High ALK

[Fphipps]

I recently tarted a 75 gallon stony/softie mix tank and I'm testing for Mg,ALK and Ca. My Mg is good and my Ca is around 450 but my ALK is around 12dKH. Will this naturally come down? Should I do some smaller, more frequent water changes to try to bring it down? How would that help?

[downbeach]

What are the param's of your make up water? Are you sure of the accuracy of the test? Were you dosing anything, using a pH buffer, etc.?

[wakerider017]

I recently tarted a 75 gallon stony/softie mix tank and I'm testing for Mg,ALK and Ca. My Mg is good and my Ca is around 450 but my ALK is around 12dKH. Will this naturally come down? Should I do some smaller, more frequent water changes to try to bring it down? How would that help?

Nothing is wrong with 12dkh alk... Lots of people shoot for alk in that range...

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

[bertoni]

I think 12 dKH likely is safe. The level probably will drop on its own as consumption picks up, but every tank is different in that regard. I'd wait to see what happens, personally.

[Psyops]

Some people keep the alk in that range for faster growth. One of my friends those this with no problems. Actually his tank looks better than mine.

Alex

[Ptyochromis]

I kept my tank at 12 dKH for the longest time. I had the BEST sps growth at those high alk levels. It was 12 dKH 420 Ca 1400-1500 Mg.

Either way whatever you decide to keep your KH at just keep it there. Don't let it swing all over the place.

[nynick]

I had a misshap a while back and my Alk reached to around 20. Some corals looked a bit off but nothing major. Just stopped dosing Alk and it came down by itself with no losses. 12 is absolutely not a problem.