hkgar
Active member
Solutions to Low pH Problems
Some solutions to low pH problems are peculiar to each cause, and these are detailed below. Some general solutions, however, are frequently effective. Water changes are generally not an effective long-term solution to any pH problems. Effective solutions for low pH problems include regularly using high pH additives and providing more aeration with fresh air. Limewater (kalkwasser) is the best choice as an additive for raising pH, followed by high pH two-part calcium and alkalinity additives. These methods have the advantage of raising pH without undesirably raising alkalinity relative to calcium.
Do not worry too much about calcium or alkalinity rising from the addition of limewater to solve low pH problems. The demand for calcium and alkalinity rises in a reef aquarium as pH rises, so the net effect may be little change in calcium and alkalinity. Most often, the pH rises and no other problems are encountered. In any case, try these methods first and worry about such rises only if they happen and if they seem excessive.
Buffers alone are not generally a good method for raising pH because they raise pH relatively little, and often result in excessive alkalinity. Unfortunately, the labels on many commercial buffers are written in ways that convince aquarists that their pH will be fine if they just add some buffer. More often than not, the pH is not improved for more than a day, and the alkalinity rises above desired limits.
Two other generally useful methods of increasing pH include growing macroalgae that absorb some CO2 from the water as they grow (often in a sump that's lit on a reverse light cycle to the main tank to provide the maximum pH increase when the main tank is at its minimum pH), and aerating the water with fresh air.
From Randy's article . Here is the article
Some solutions to low pH problems are peculiar to each cause, and these are detailed below. Some general solutions, however, are frequently effective. Water changes are generally not an effective long-term solution to any pH problems. Effective solutions for low pH problems include regularly using high pH additives and providing more aeration with fresh air. Limewater (kalkwasser) is the best choice as an additive for raising pH, followed by high pH two-part calcium and alkalinity additives. These methods have the advantage of raising pH without undesirably raising alkalinity relative to calcium.
Do not worry too much about calcium or alkalinity rising from the addition of limewater to solve low pH problems. The demand for calcium and alkalinity rises in a reef aquarium as pH rises, so the net effect may be little change in calcium and alkalinity. Most often, the pH rises and no other problems are encountered. In any case, try these methods first and worry about such rises only if they happen and if they seem excessive.
Buffers alone are not generally a good method for raising pH because they raise pH relatively little, and often result in excessive alkalinity. Unfortunately, the labels on many commercial buffers are written in ways that convince aquarists that their pH will be fine if they just add some buffer. More often than not, the pH is not improved for more than a day, and the alkalinity rises above desired limits.
Two other generally useful methods of increasing pH include growing macroalgae that absorb some CO2 from the water as they grow (often in a sump that's lit on a reverse light cycle to the main tank to provide the maximum pH increase when the main tank is at its minimum pH), and aerating the water with fresh air.
From Randy's article . Here is the article
