diff --git a/docs-site/content/docs/cli-reference/ktx-setup.mdx b/docs-site/content/docs/cli-reference/ktx-setup.mdx
index 0e6cb57c..8ae4469d 100644
--- a/docs-site/content/docs/cli-reference/ktx-setup.mdx
+++ b/docs-site/content/docs/cli-reference/ktx-setup.mdx
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ prompts.
 | `--llm-backend <backend>` | LLM backend: `anthropic`, `vertex`, `claude-code`, or `codex` |
 | `--llm-backend claude-code` | Use the local Claude Code session for **ktx** LLM calls |
 | `--llm-backend codex` | Use local Codex authentication for **ktx** LLM calls |
-| `--llm-model <model>` | LLM model ID or backend model alias to validate and save |
 | `--anthropic-api-key-env <name>` | Environment variable containing the Anthropic API key |
 | `--anthropic-api-key-file <path>` | File containing the Anthropic API key |
 | `--vertex-project <project>` | Vertex AI project ID, `env:NAME`, or `file:/path` reference |
@@ -64,13 +63,9 @@ prompts.
 Choose only one Anthropic credential source. Anthropic credential flags are only
 valid with the Anthropic backend; Vertex flags are only valid with the Vertex
 backend. The `claude-code` and `codex` backends use local authentication instead
-of Anthropic API key or Vertex flags. For Claude Code, `--llm-model` accepts
-`sonnet`, `opus`, `haiku`, or a full Claude model ID. For Codex, `--llm-model`
-accepts `codex`, `default`, or a `gpt-*` / `codex-*` model ID such as
-`gpt-5.5`; any other value is rejected before the auth probe. Run `codex` to
-see the models available to your login, and pick a `gpt-*` / `codex-*` id from
-that list. Note that `*-codex` API-billing model IDs (for example
-`gpt-5.3-codex`) are not available to ChatGPT-subscription logins.
+of Anthropic API key or Vertex flags. After you choose a backend, `ktx setup`
+writes that backend's per-role model preset to `ktx.yaml`. To change a model,
+edit the matching `llm.models.<role>` value in `ktx.yaml`.
 
 ### Embeddings
 
@@ -198,14 +193,13 @@ ktx setup
 # Run setup for a specific project directory
 ktx setup --project-dir ./analytics
 
-# Use Claude Code with Opus for ktx LLM calls
+# Use Claude Code for ktx LLM calls
 ktx setup \
   --project-dir ./analytics \
-  --llm-backend claude-code \
-  --llm-model opus
+  --llm-backend claude-code
 
 # Configure **ktx** to use local Codex authentication for LLM work
-ktx setup --llm-backend codex --llm-model gpt-5.5 --no-input
+ktx setup --llm-backend codex --no-input
 ```
 
 When you choose `--llm-backend codex`, setup prints a warning if the public
diff --git a/docs-site/content/docs/configuration/ktx-yaml.mdx b/docs-site/content/docs/configuration/ktx-yaml.mdx
index 17a04c53..f1187417 100644
--- a/docs-site/content/docs/configuration/ktx-yaml.mdx
+++ b/docs-site/content/docs/configuration/ktx-yaml.mdx
@@ -377,6 +377,10 @@ llm:
   models:
     default: claude-sonnet-4-6
     triage: claude-haiku-4-5
+    candidateExtraction: claude-sonnet-4-6
+    curator: claude-opus-4-7
+    reconcile: claude-opus-4-7
+    repair: claude-haiku-4-5
   promptCaching:
     enabled: true
     systemTtl: 1h
@@ -404,6 +408,11 @@ llm:
     backend: codex
   models:
     default: gpt-5.5
+    triage: gpt-5.5
+    candidateExtraction: gpt-5.5
+    curator: gpt-5.5
+    reconcile: gpt-5.5
+    repair: gpt-5.5
 ```
 
 ### Model roles
@@ -615,6 +624,11 @@ llm:
     backend: claude-code
   models:
     default: sonnet
+    triage: haiku
+    candidateExtraction: sonnet
+    curator: opus
+    reconcile: opus
+    repair: haiku
 ingest:
   adapters:
     - live-database
diff --git a/docs-site/content/docs/guides/building-context.mdx b/docs-site/content/docs/guides/building-context.mdx
index 9bcf2659..24550c85 100644
--- a/docs-site/content/docs/guides/building-context.mdx
+++ b/docs-site/content/docs/guides/building-context.mdx
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ Local-auth backends keep provider credentials out of `ktx.yaml`:
 
 ```bash
 ktx setup --llm-backend claude-code --no-input
-ktx setup --llm-backend codex --llm-model gpt-5.5 --no-input
+ktx setup --llm-backend codex --no-input
 ```
 
 With `claude-code`, **ktx** agent loops can invoke only the **ktx** MCP tools
diff --git a/docs-site/content/docs/guides/llm-configuration.mdx b/docs-site/content/docs/guides/llm-configuration.mdx
index 71ab9d80..776cb275 100644
--- a/docs-site/content/docs/guides/llm-configuration.mdx
+++ b/docs-site/content/docs/guides/llm-configuration.mdx
@@ -30,19 +30,19 @@ llm:
     default: sonnet
     triage: haiku
     candidateExtraction: sonnet
-    curator: sonnet
-    reconcile: sonnet
-    repair: sonnet
+    curator: opus
+    reconcile: opus
+    repair: haiku
 ```
 
-During setup, choose the backend interactively or pass the model in automation:
+During setup, choose the backend interactively or pass it in automation:
 
 ```bash
-ktx setup --llm-backend claude-code --llm-model opus --no-input
+ktx setup --llm-backend claude-code --no-input
 ```
 
-For Claude Code, `sonnet`, `opus`, and `haiku` map to **ktx** defaults. Full Claude
-model IDs are also accepted.
+Setup writes `sonnet`, `haiku`, and `opus` aliases into `llm.models`. You can
+edit any role to another alias or a full Claude model ID after setup.
 
 `claude-code` exposes only **ktx** MCP tools for the current agent loop. SDK init
 metadata may still list host slash commands, skills, and subagents; **ktx** does not
@@ -59,12 +59,17 @@ llm:
     backend: codex
   models:
     default: gpt-5.5
+    triage: gpt-5.5
+    candidateExtraction: gpt-5.5
+    curator: gpt-5.5
+    reconcile: gpt-5.5
+    repair: gpt-5.5
 ```
 
 Configure it non-interactively:
 
 ```bash
-ktx setup --llm-backend codex --llm-model gpt-5.5 --no-input
+ktx setup --llm-backend codex --no-input
 ```
 
 This is separate from Codex agent-client setup. `ktx setup --agents --target