HOw can I get my PH down.

[cook]

Just moved into a house that is "green". It is sealed very tightly. For this reason there is an exchange system that lets O2 rich air in. Anyway I am sure that has driven my Ph through the roof. I have done two 15% water changes and have not dosed anything in the last 3 weeks. It is still high. Will more water changes do the trick?

 

[JetCat USA]

excessive CO2 build up in your home will depress pH but a lack of build up will not elevate it and O2 has no relevance to the pH levels.

what is your current pH? and is your testing method accurate/calibrated?

 

[SlowCobra]

You can safely run your PH up to 8.4 with no side effects. Is it above that? As JetCat asked, are you sure your testing is accurate?

 

[Roy G. Biv]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10955119#post10955119 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JetCat USA
excessive CO2 build up in your home will depress pH but a lack of build up will not elevate it and O2 has no relevance to the pH levels.

what is your current pH? and is your testing method accurate/calibrated?

I don't necessarily agree with that only because I am in the same situation. My wife has crazy plants all over the house. My tanks suffers from 8.5-8.6.

To get it down if it is in that zone, I used distilled white vinegar. Just a tablespoon is really all you need. This is only a temporary fix though. I found that in my tank, I need to inject co2 to keep it at 8.3. I have a 20lb canister (overkill), a solonoid valve, and a ph controller.

 

[ReefDent]

Man, I wish I had that problem, lol!! My pH normall runs a little lower than I'd like, 8-8.25. What circulation, additives, etc. do you guys use?

James

 

[SlowCobra]

My tank has roughly 55x turnover. I run my ATO through a Kalk Reactor that mixes the kalk 5 times a day for 30 mins at a time. I have my return pump lines near the surface of the water to assist in a turbulent surface to aid gas exchange. I also have an open top 210. Open 100gal sump and open refugium that is run on a reverse light cycle. Mine usually runs in the 8.2 - 8.3 pretty steadily. Occasionally I get deviation up or down a little but it doesn't concern me.

 

[jstlsn]

Never thought of plants. I have problems with low pH because my tank is in the kitchen and our house is new so it is closed up pretty tight. This leads to a lot of CO2. My wife loves plants. Might just need to have her get a few more. Wonder how much of a difference it will make.

Brad

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10956911#post10956911 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pmolan
I don't necessarily agree with that only because I am in the same situation. My wife has crazy plants all over the house. My tanks suffers from 8.5-8.6.

To get it down if it is in that zone, I used distilled white vinegar. Just a tablespoon is really all you need. This is only a temporary fix though. I found that in my tank, I need to inject co2 to keep it at 8.3. I have a 20lb canister (overkill), a solonoid valve, and a ph controller.

 

[ReefDent]

I have a sequence barracuda wide open on my 75. There are also 2 mag12 pumps in the 150 gallon sump doing various things. That's a lot of flow, so I don't think it's flow related. I think it might be that both the display and the sump are in the basement and might be a little more CO2 down there.

I don't think it's ever been a problem, but I'd like to get it up a bit...

I run both a calcium reactor and kalk reactor...

James

 

[JetCat USA]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10956911#post10956911 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pmolan
I don't necessarily agree with that only because I am in the same situation. My wife has crazy plants all over the house. My tanks suffers from 8.5-8.6.

what does that 100g fuge listed in your sig have in it??

 

[Roy G. Biv]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10958440#post10958440 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JetCat USA
what does that 100g fuge listed in your sig have in it??

About 150 lbs Liverock, some mangroves, and a big wad of cheto.

 

[JetCat USA]

cut back on the light cycle in the fuge and it'll help keep your pH down.

 

[ReefDent]

Any ideas to raise it? Put some plants in the basement, lol?

James

 

[JetCat USA]

Kalk and lowering the CO2 levels.

 

[ReefDent]

I already drip kalk. Any good ways to lower CO2 levels other than not breathing?

James

 

[JetCat USA]

open a window, add an air exchanger to your HVAC, as suggested above, fill the room with green plants, you can also add an ATS to your system and use intense lighting over it, the photosynthetic life will boost the pH of your system lowering the CO2 levels in the water.

 

[ReefDent]

I think I'm going to put a couple lower light plants near the tank. They should get enough light to do okay.

I'll also try to vent in air from the basement window.

Thanks,
James

 

[JetCat USA]

CO2 is the heavy and settles to lower levels in the home, is your AC return ducting drawing air from the basement?

 

[ReefDent]

Nope, I've got that intake vent capped. I installed a fan upstairs to blow air in so as to not reduce total air intake volume for the system.

Thanks,
James

 

[JetCat USA]

if you let that vent intake it'll keep the house more uniform and not let the CO2 accumulate in the basement, better for the tank, and you.

 

[45commando]

also using house plants,will only cut carbon dioxide levels during daylight(or artificial light)hours.Once in darkness,plants release carbon dioxide & so may add to the problem.HTH