Cannot get my pH higher...why?

[djbetterly]

I've had my tank running since February and since the beginning I've had issues keeping the pH above 8. My tank is a 34G AIO Solana. I use RODI water, do 5G water changes once a week and only dose calcium or alk if needed, but for the most part the water changes maintain my levels. I have tried everything under the sun aside from using chemical buffers to keep my pH above 8 and nothing has yielded good results. Things I have tried, adding a bubbler with airstone, changing the return flows to agitate the surface more, providing more fresh air into the room with fans and open windows. I also have a small fuge in the second chamber with chaeto and a small piece of live rock. I keep the fuge light on 24/7 now.

My filtration is as follows:

1st chamber - Tunze 9002 with StevieT cup mod
2nd chamber - SteveT Media Basket with filtration in this order:
-Filter Floss
-Purigen
-Chempure Elite
-Phosban
-Fuge
3rd chamber - Return pump

Now I have read numerous times that regardless of where your pH is, providing its within a safe range, consistency is what really matters.

What are your thoughts on the whole situation? Your experience?

 

[ReachTheSky]

Where does your pH usually hover around? Also, how are you testing it?

 

[djbetterly]

My pH during the day hovers around 7.9-7.95 during the day and 7.8 at night.

I monitor my pH with an Apex monitor and lately been checking it once a week with an Elos test kit.

 

[swcc]

your PH is fine.

 

[karsseboom]

Just leave your ph alone.

 

[brettinteriors]

Your ph is 100% fine. You will most likely mess things up trying to raise it. Alk level is only one factor in ph. O2 level has a huge effect. Open a window and your ph will rise. Again, your ph is perfectly fine.

 

[bertoni]

I agree that the pH is fine. If you want to try to raise it, Kalk will provide the biggest boost per unit of alkalinity added. I might try aerating a cup of water outside for 3 hours and checking the pH. If the level is below 8.3 or so, I suspect a measurement problem. Mostly, I'd just ignore the pH.

 

[grcforce327]

Glad I saw the open window suggestion.Made my ph go up alot.

 

[djbetterly]

I actually almost always have my windows open a bit. This time of year they kick the heat on and off and apartments get so warm, so I just keep them open for air flow. Really hasn't seemed to help me much. Anyways..

What would you say is a low pH point that I would really have to worry?

 

[bertoni]

Yes, as long as the low is 7.8 or higher, the tank should be fine.