7.85+ ph level - too low?

[saltwater101]

Hello,

I have a 2 month old tank, 130 gal cycled with dead rock and dead sand, now it has 2 cleaner shrimps and nothing else. my ph level has always been 7.85-7.92. Is this too low? should i add some liquid buffer to increase it to 8.2? I had 2 captive breed clowns that did not made it past 2 weeks (one refused to eat flakes and the other ate at first, but stop eating once its friend died) so I wonder if the ph is the cause of death.

I heard the buffers would adjust pH but might cause other chemical levels to be wecky, is this true?

I had my water levels checked by LFS several times and all came out fine - atleast LFS did not tell me anything is out of range.

Thank you for your advise.

 

[disc1]

pH buffers will cause alkalinity to rise. They are never the answer. Only use them if alk is low.

That pH isn't too bad. It is on the low end but definitely within the acceptable range.

The pH had nothing to do with your fish dying.

If pH is lower than you'd like then the problem is dissolved CO2. You need to get fresh air to the tank to let it out. There is a hard and fast relationship between alkalinity and CO2 concentration and pH. Those are the only two things that determine your pH.

 

[saltwater101]

I think my alkalinity test kit only shows low/mid/hi level. I never used it but will try when i get home tonight.

i have some tank water in a 10-gal tank indoor and will add airstone to see if that help to remove CO2 and increase pH.

I think high CO2 = low pH. what's the corolation between alk and pH?

Thank you!

 

[110galreef]

Hold your breath...pH will rise! haha. i noticed my pH was low8 8.0's for the first 6 mos or so of the setup. Know it hover between 8.2-8.4. Whne I have a party it drops fast to like 7.8 and then over a few days will rise to its normal range.

CO2 has to do with acidity in the water thus extra co2(our exhaling) lowers tank pH. Thus more fresh air helps to raise it. I wouldn't worry with your level. But if you dose go with recepie1 (i think) opposed to 2. It help to raise the pH a tad.

 

[disc1]

I think my alkalinity test kit only shows low/mid/hi level. I never used it but will try when i get home tonight.

i have some tank water in a 10-gal tank indoor and will add airstone to see if that help to remove CO2 and increase pH.

I think high CO2 = low pH. what's the corolation between alk and pH?

Thank you!

High CO2 = low pH right.

The more alkalinity you have, the more CO2 it takes to get the same change. So more alkalinity for the same CO2 level means a higher pH. The equation gets a little complicated. Essentially, you are looking at the carbonic acid buffer system, so it works like any diprotic acid. pH is a function of the ratios between the three forms, carbonic acid, bicarbonate, and carbonate.

 

[saltwater101]

Thanks 110galreef for the reassurance that things will be alright once the tank matures.

You are absolutely correct David - it does sound complicated!

I am happy to report that since adding air stone to the 10-gal tank (running a HOB filter), pH went from 7.85 to 7.95 in 5 hours. If this keeps up in the next couple days, then "fresh air" might be my solution.

My 130 gal is 6ft with canopy, which I don't want to remove. I currently have 1 powerhead running ~2600 gph and return is ~500 gph on the opposite end. The powerhead is already pointed towards the surface. I thought this is plenty of flow, but maybe its not. Will adding another powerhead (thinking Koralina 1400) help with the circulation / CO2 reduction?

Thanks again for all the great advise.