Alkalinity Levels

[razzle]

:notsure: What are safe Levels of Alkalinity ? My test kit shows
Low, Normal High. My last reading is High. My PH has been Steady at 8.2. This is a fish only tank on its 16 day of cycling.

 

[bencc]

I am also wondering about these things. What is the difference in dkh,kh and alkalinity. I have a test kit that tests kh mine is currently at 10 my calcium is a little high 480 and ph about 8.4 I am working on getting a handle on the whole ph calcium alkalinity thing.

 

[bang guy]

Originally posted by bencc
What is the difference in dkh,kh and alkalinity.
Technically they are different but as they apply to the SW hobby they are different scales of measurement for Alkalinity. They basically measure how resistant PH is to changes. We also use ALK in the hobby to infer the Carbonate concentration.

 

[bencc]

Thank you for clearing that up. Do you have any idea what I should shoot for with the kh mearsurment.

 

[bang guy]

I see nothing wrong with 10 dKH if you want to maitain Calcium in the 420 - 440 range. If you want to keep your Ca where it is then you should probably try to slowly bump ALK up to 12 or 13 dKH.
My recommendation is to lower your Ca a bit and maintain your dKH where it is now.

 

[bencc]

Thanks for the help.

 

[razzle]

Now i'm really confused, LOL I thought that if your alk was high
that your Ph would be unstable ? Is that true ? Could you reccomend a good test kit for alk and cal.
Thanks