How to raise PH

[shane reef]

So I am still new to the hobby and I can't seem to figure out how to raise the PH from 7.9 to 8.2. My CA is 450, MG 1400, KH 9. So I don't think I am off there. I run skimmer to help put oxygen it water but can't seem to get it to move. Any ideas I could do to get it higher?

 

[hkgar]

decrease co2.

Nore surface agitation for gas exchange or run out side air into your skimmer air inlet. Last, but my choice, use a co2 scrubber on the air supply to the skimmer.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

What kind of cover do you have on your tank? You can open your windows to help raise PH also. But 7.9 isn't bad and it will fluctuate during the day.

 

[gone fishin]

IMO a pH of 7.9 is not the end of the world. Of more importance to me is the mag, calc and alk. your numbers for those seem fine to me. I would not really sweat it.

FWIW if you use one of the pH buffers out there in all likelyhood it will temporarily raise the pH while raising your alkalinity. Good luck just my 2 cents.

 

[thegrun]

+1, don't worry about the pH, watch your alkalinity.

 

[g_langley]

I was in the same boat, and now maintain my pH at 8.2 - 8.3 using Kalkwasser in my ATO and this stuff;

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=24984

 

[downbeach]

As has been mentioned, your numbers are fine. I ran a predominantly SPS mixed reef for many years with a pH between 7.8 to 8.1 without any problems. The pH in your system is controlled more by the amount of CO2 that is present in your system and the surrounding atmosphere, along with some biological processes. Opening some windows will help to elevate it, allowing more fresh air with lower CO2 content into the house. Short of that, the least expensive alternative is to run an air line from your skimmer intake to an outside air source. Using kalk in your top off with utilize some of the CO2 in your system, but you'll want to monitor your Ca and alk if you use it. If you have the space, you could add a refugium with some sort of macro algae to take up some of the C02. The most expensive solution would be running a C02 scrubber, due to the cost of the media(soda lime).

 

[g_langley]

The most expensive solution would be running a C02 scrubber, due to the cost of the media(soda lime).

Cost of reactor £30, cost of media £15 (replace every 6 weeks or so).

So yes, it's not cheap, but it is an alternative. On the plus side, my Tunze 9002 skimmer has increased in efficiency to a large degree since hooking up the scrubber to it.

 

[Bent]

If you can run a line outside from the skimmer, it will help.

The issue is the trapped co2 within the house, it holds the pH down.

 

[hkgar]

You might consider getting your soda lime here:

http://www.shopmedvet.com/product/soda-lime-3-lb-bag/jorgensen-products-anesthesia-products

Not sure how much shipping to the UK would be or the price comparison with volume measurement from Drs Foster/Smith.

 

[jml1149]

Even though some people say 7.9 is fine, it's probably fine for people with established tanks. My tank was "new" and hanging out at a ph at 7.9. Everything looked fine and healthy, but growth rates were terrible. Dropped to 7.75 at night. As a new tank, I eagerly wanted things to fill out, not just chill as tiny frags. I felt I needed to fix ph and this is what I did:

As an aside, my tank is in the basement, CO2 is heavier than air, my basement probably has higher levels of CO2 than the rest of the house.


1. Opened a window near my tank. I actually replaced the window near my tank because the old one was a rusted mess. This has a pretty good impact, brought ph up to 8.1 during the day and 7.85 worst case at night. HOWEVER, in warmer months, the air exchange between my basement and the outside was terrible, and this drastically reduced the effectiveness of the open window.

2. Built a DIY CO2 scrubber. I used an air pump and tied it to my skimmer intake, which was way too much air for my skimmer and the resulting skimmate was way to wet. I had to restrict the in flow to the skimmer, which reduced the effectiveness of the scrubber a bit. But it still worked, and produced satisfactory results.

3. I ran the output of the CO2 scrubber to an airstone in the return section of my sump. I covered the area with some plastic screen to keep the spray down. This was really effective as well.

4. I started running Kalk. I have a Jebao dosing pump and dose 36 ml into my 29g tank of full strength kalk every hour. I have a separate ATO to top off with RO/DI water. This is a home run. My average pH is 8.31 now, and varies between 8.41 during the day and drops to 8.29 at night. In two months of Kalk, my frogspawn has two new heads, my hammer finally started to split, my trumpet corals are splitting several heads, my GSP is legit weed like, tons of new Paly/Zoa polyps, its crazy. I think between the stable Alk/Ca levels and the stable pH, my tank has really taken off. And it's way cheaper. There's tons of threads on this, and it was a bit hairy at first, but now that I have it dialed in, the kalk is awesome. And cheap.

5. I reduced CO2 production in my house. Sent my in-laws packing.


Seriously though, I feel I have tried all pH options, and Kalk has been by far the most effective performer for me. By far.