Airstone to raise pH?
- Thread starter jimrawr
- Start date
HippieSmell
Occupy Reef Central
I think an air stone might actually lower the pH.
oscar.millan
Active member
HippieSmell - Sorry to disagree, but I don't think an air stone would lover the Ph. Any reason why you believe that? I'm open to discussion.
Typically an air stone would work, since it allows excess CO2 to be blown off. I have personally experienced this myself in one of my fish tanks. Better aeration made a significant difference in Ph. I would give it a shot for sure.
Quick note, read one of Randy's articles on how to solve low Ph problems, and aeration/fresh outside air is on it.
Typically an air stone would work, since it allows excess CO2 to be blown off. I have personally experienced this myself in one of my fish tanks. Better aeration made a significant difference in Ph. I would give it a shot for sure.
Quick note, read one of Randy's articles on how to solve low Ph problems, and aeration/fresh outside air is on it.
HippieSmell
Occupy Reef Central
You're right, I was thinking of ORP. At least on my tank the ORP drops when the skimmer is on, but I think ORP has some sort of inverse relationship to pH, so it would make sense that it would drop if pH goes up.
The answer depends on whether your tank has more CO2 than it would at equilibrium with the room air and your tank alkalinity level, or less. Both cases exist in reef aquaria.
If you have driven up the pH by using CO2 (say, with limewater or by photosynthesis), then aeration can drive down the pH. If you have driven down the pH (say, by respiration at night or with a CaCO3/CO2 reactor) then aeration can raise the pH.
Also, room air often has more CO2 than outside air, so that impacts the results.
These have more:
Low pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm
High pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.htm
If you have driven up the pH by using CO2 (say, with limewater or by photosynthesis), then aeration can drive down the pH. If you have driven down the pH (say, by respiration at night or with a CaCO3/CO2 reactor) then aeration can raise the pH.
Also, room air often has more CO2 than outside air, so that impacts the results.
These have more:
Low pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm
High pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.htm
Uncle Salty 05
New member
One huge drawback to adding an airstone is salt creep.
Allmost
New member
isnt an air stone too small to make a difference ?
my skimmer didnt work fro like 2 days
my PH increased.
so I placed a Airstone in the sump and no change
changed the skimmer pump and boom, back to 8.3 !
also, isnt it the surface agitation that promotes gas exchange ? if so, a power head pointed towards the surface would work better right ? (drawback would be heat added)
my skimmer didnt work fro like 2 days
my PH increased.
so I placed a Airstone in the sump and no change
changed the skimmer pump and boom, back to 8.3 !
also, isnt it the surface agitation that promotes gas exchange ? if so, a power head pointed towards the surface would work better right ? (drawback would be heat added)
Aquarist007
New member
The surface of your tank is the key area where gas exchange occurs. You should keep the surface really churning to help gas exchange. Also the suface area should not be covered with glass plates etc as that hinders gas exhange
A skimmer is also where gas exhange can occur. Cranking up the skimmer or venting the air hose to the outside can increase the pH
Opening a window in the fish room will also raise the pH
finally a refugium with cheato macro will also raise the pH indirectly through photosynthesis. If the lights are run at night in reverse to the main lighting then it will decrease the normal nocturnal dip in pH
Using a airstone can't hurt anything but I would suggest you try some of the other more efficient ways of raising the pH first.
An open window will help drive the pH up or down to the level that is appropriate for the outside CO2 level and the alkalinity. It will never make the pH too high unless the alkalinity is too high (well above 11 dKH or 4 meq/L)). That equilibrium falls along this line:
This has more:
Low pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm
High pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.htm
This has more:
Low pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm
High pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.htm
rpjaws74
New member
Thanks Mr. Randy Holmes, I think the more I keep reading the more complicated this hobby is getting. But one more question if u dont mind. I have a 500 fish only system with my nitrates at 20 ppm I heard about dosing vodka. What would you recommend? and can I keep dosing after I lower it with no ill effect?
Agu
Premium Member
What problems exactly are you having due to low pH. Do your corals fail to thrive? Not to be cynical but is this a chemistry problem or a biology problem? I've been through the same issue where tests indicated low pH, but my corals didn't seem to care.
TheH
New member
While there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that low pH in the upper 7 range does not stop corals from growing, my understanding is that a higher pH (in the lower 8 range) makes the abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate, and therefore perhaps the biotic precipitation of calcium carbonate, easier.
Aquarist007
New member
In a fish only system nitrates at 20ppm is fine. IMO you do not need to dose vodka.
Your system need not be that complicated to maintain. Weekly or bimonthly water changes should be all you need to worry about.
:lol:
You're welcome and thanks.
. But one more question if u dont mind. I have a 500 fish only system with my nitrates at 20 ppm I heard about dosing vodka. What would you recommend? and can I keep dosing after I lower it with no ill effect?
I agree that 20 ppm nitrate is OK for a fish only, but if you want to lower it, there are many ways, and vodka might not be most suitable depending on what other husbandry techniques you use (skimming, etc). Vodka will also lower pH a bit when used, if that is already a problem. I use skimming, vinegar plus a bit of vodka, macroalgae growth in several refugia, and GAC.
These have more on what methods can work:
Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php
Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm
You're welcome and thanks.
. But one more question if u dont mind. I have a 500 fish only system with my nitrates at 20 ppm I heard about dosing vodka. What would you recommend? and can I keep dosing after I lower it with no ill effect?
I agree that 20 ppm nitrate is OK for a fish only, but if you want to lower it, there are many ways, and vodka might not be most suitable depending on what other husbandry techniques you use (skimming, etc). Vodka will also lower pH a bit when used, if that is already a problem. I use skimming, vinegar plus a bit of vodka, macroalgae growth in several refugia, and GAC.
These have more on what methods can work:
Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php
Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm
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