Another low PH prob.

[dhayden]

OK the tank is cycled about 5 weeks. I have been battling a low ph prob since day 1.

20gal. Open Top, (4year old house )
1.022 Sal.
0 No2
0 No3
15 dKm
440 Calc.
79 Deg F
7.8, sometimes I can get it to 8.0 PH ?

I use Kalk for water top off, bout 1 qt a day at least.
Use Supp. Seachem, Calc, Complete, & plus 1 day rotated.

Everything is going fine, Coraline is growing, but a Condy. Anenome is acting funky last few days. I have 2 small corals, a ricordia, and a brown polyp both look fine. Maybe myabe PH test is weird. I should upgrade to a pen i guess. Any ideas? Does a low PH mean I still have stuff dying off from the cycle?

 

[dhayden]

nothin? shamelss bump

 

[smcnally]

You have too much Alkalinity. It should be at 9-11 dKh. If you get that to lower, your Ph should go up some.

 

[bertoni]

Tanks that still have decay going on often measure low in pH due to metabolites from the process. The alkalinity is a bit high, and salinity is very low. I target 1.026 SG.

You might have a CO2 problem. This article might be useful:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php

You could try the aeration test. Getting a second opinion on the pH might be useful as well, since many times the problem seems to be in the test kit.

 

[dhayden]

Thanks Much! Any suggestion how to lower the alk? Just do water changes?

 

[bertoni]

The alkalinity isn't that bad. I'd just let it drop on its own. Lowering the alkalinity will lower pH a bit, by the way. Having it high can lead to other problems, though.

 

[Billybeau1]

Dont think water change is necessary yet. Maybe cut back a little on how much kalk powder you put in your top off. Alk will fall on its own. I went from two tsp per gallon (saturation) to one rounded tsp per gallon and everything leveled off nicely. Everyones tank is different depending on demand. A little tweaking and you'll be fine.

 

[dhayden]

OKies, I was only using about 1/2 tsp p/gallon anyway . You think the PH will just come up on its own? The tank is still pretty new. You think its safe to put frags in?

 

[Billybeau1]

I would follow bertoni's advice and get that sg up to about 1.026 before you put the frags in.

Remember as you add more critters, your consumption will change.