Ever since closing all the windows and running the A/C, I've been having a low pH on my tank. It falls to 7.7 at night, 7.9 during the day. Alk is OK at around 10 dKH so am not that concerned, but I would like to not run things that low. What have folks done to combat this problem? I have just decided to run the air suction on my skimmer outside to fresh air to see if that helps. I also see a few folks run the skimmer air through CO2 removal media like calcium hydroxide.
Low pH
- Thread starter ca1ore
- Start date
Running the air in take on the skimmer with outside air is certainly a good idea. Not sure how you did that. Anyway, I just leave a window cracked at night that's next to the tank. I don't worry about the pH as long as it's in the "ok" range, which yours is. If you're so inclined to fight this battle, which I wouldn't aside from opening a window, then you can use Sodium bicarbonate. You can make this by baking in the oven regular pure arm-n-hammer baking soda at 300 degrees F for 1/2 hour to an 1 hour. It will certainly work to raise the pH. You could maybe set it up to slowly drip dose or maybe add it to ATO water.
TimeConsumer
Active member
You can build a CO2 scrubber using soda lime media if you feel it is necessary. A 5 gallon bucket from a medical supply company is around $60. I used one when I had dinos to keep my pH higher while fighting them off, it worked well for that application. I don't use it anymore. A pH of 7.7 wouldn't bother me.
downbeach
New member
Beside using a CO2 scrubber, and/or running your skimmer's air line outside, you could drip kalkwasser, which will use some of the CO2 in your system and help elevate your pH. Using kalk will also supplement your Ca and Alk, so you would want to keep an eye on those numbers, and adjust any dosing you may be doing.
Just ran a longer piece of tubing through a hole in the window frame next to the tank. Unfortunately, it appears to have made no appreciable difference.
jimmyj7090
aka John K
This might have a short term impact on PH, but it will also drive the alk level up and it's already good so that would be inadvisable.
Co2 scrubber, and or switch some of the current ca/alk supplement load to a kalk drip.
For the air vent to the skimmer, a word of caution. A local reefer was doing this a few yrs ago and his negibor was spraying some pesticide or something which ended up getting drawn in causing problems with his system. A good solution is to make a DIY carbon filter for the air intake. I've seen it done by making a case out of acrylic that fit a furnace filter so that the air was filtered but not restriced.
Fair enough. That's why I wouldn't fight the pH battle. Most things will only really have a temporary effect as the real culprit is CO2 saturation.
Also, very good point about running air intake from outside. You have to be careful with outside toxins (fertilizer, smoke, etc). I usually will only crack the window throughout the night or if I'm home.
Also, very good point about running air intake from outside. You have to be careful with outside toxins (fertilizer, smoke, etc). I usually will only crack the window throughout the night or if I'm home.
Well, if you are concerned about toxins when considering opening the windows on your house, IMO there are bigger things to worry about than the reef tank
I take your point on the pH though, perhaps chasing ones tail!
Scutterborn
New member
Seems like most of the problems we see is folks chasing numbers. Don't get hung up on them if they are ok. They might not be exactly where YOU want them, but they are acceptable. I've had a few folks I know crash tanks just chasing that dragon....
