Help with low PH

[-MillerTime-]

ok so i have had my tank up for awhile and since i started using RO/DI water i have been having troubles keeping my ph up. it is around 7.8 and im thinking the reason is that my ro water is really low when i test it (7.0-7.2). I have been using kent marine superbuffer to try and help this but it doesnt seem to work when i add the proper dosage(maybe i need to add more). just curious what anyone else does to there ro water or if it shouldnt be effecting my tank this much.
thanks

-Andrew-

 

[James77]

Are you testing Alkalinity?

 

[fatdaddy]

Do you use a skimmer? It will help aerate the water to keep CO2 levels down.

What salt mix do you use? How often do you do water changes? How much?

You'll need to test alk like James suggested to figure out what's going on.

RO/DI water should be neutral at about 7. That shouldn't be the problem.

 

[johnnymac]

Is it a open top tank or closed? Do you have a sump? I had a closed top on my 24g nano and my PH was low and when I got my MH and the lid was off it went up from 7.4 / 7.8 to 8.4
Im new to all this but I just thought I would let you know.

 

[-MillerTime-]

i use a octopus NW-150 skimmer and have an open top tank with MH lights, the alk is a little low also. i used some buffer and that seemed to bring it up including a bucket full of top off water, i dont like adding additional things so maybe there is something causing the alk to lower in my tank? everything appears healthy and growing i just tested it today and was shocked at how low it was.

 

[James77]

There are several things you should test and supplement for in your tank. Here is a good article, and I suggest reading a few of the chemistry articles in the chemistry forum.


http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

 

[kevin2000]

When working with PH issues your focus s/b on having adequate levels of alkalinity and reasonable aeration which can normally be provided with a bit of surface water turbulance.

Purchase a test kit that gives your an alkalinity reading in either meg/l or dkh (ignore the kits that only give you low/OK/high .. post the results and plenty of people can resolve your problem.

 

[-MillerTime-]

after the buffer its up prob around 200kh, but before was around 120kh

 

[drummereef]

Buffers aren't a good long term solution for either alkalinity or pH. Plain old Arm & Hammer baking soda is good for raising alkalinity. Use the calculator below to target 7-11dkh / 2.5-4meq/L. Your low pH is probably due to high CO2 levels in your house. Open some windows to let some fresh air in. Decreasing the high CO2 will help raise the pH. Please read the following.

Reef chemicals calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

Low pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm

Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

 

[seagirl]

i fight with low ph too. My alk is 8.4dKH(2.98 meq/L), but my ph ranges from 7.61- 7.86 during a 24 hour period. i never have windows open b/c i hate listeningto hte playing kids outside.

would it help my ph if i raise my alk?

 

[Henry Bowman]

Raising your alk will NOT help your pH problem. Drummereef is giving you good advice. Look at the article he posted regarding Low pH. It has specific answers. IF you raise your alk, you will get a slight raise in pH, depending on what you use and the pH will trend back down in a short time. Adjusting the alk will give a short term response but wont address the problem. 99.99% of pH problems are Co2 related issues. Agressive skimming and or running your skimmers air intake to a cracked open window will help resolve the issue more than messing with the tank's chemistry.

FWIW

 

[seagirl]

thanks HB

 

[k3vi17ma1]

a way to spike your ph is to add baking powder. dillute it with fresh water. i dont exactly remember how much of what but i vaguely recall its either 5ml of baking powder per 5gl of water or 5ml of baking powder gl of water. read up on that to be sure

 

[k3vi17ma1]

its baking soda "powder"

 

[Henry Bowman]

Baking soda is not the same as baking powder.
I would not use baking soda in my tank since it contains an acidifying agent which would drive pH down.

Baking powder contains sodium bicarbonate, but it includes the acidifying agent (cream of tartar), and also a drying agent (usually starch).

Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate (Alk in our saltwater tanks).

I am a trained and Certified Executive Chef and a member of the American Culinary Federation. This was a question on a test that I took recently. Fortunately, I had been studying hard on advanced baking and pastry and got the quesiton right.

HTH

 

[ChillingBoy]

what kind of baking powder are you talking? Any specific brand? Where can I get some?