Low Ph?
- Thread starter DarkFORCE
- Start date
aztbs
Active member
Start by reading this:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php
Otherwise we will all ask you a million questions to try to help diagnose the problem. If I was to make a wild guess, I would say that you have a new tank that is still trying to stabilize and you will need to add some kind of buffer and do lots of water changes. Let us know if the article answers your questions.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php
Otherwise we will all ask you a million questions to try to help diagnose the problem. If I was to make a wild guess, I would say that you have a new tank that is still trying to stabilize and you will need to add some kind of buffer and do lots of water changes. Let us know if the article answers your questions.
grenaria
New member
Well, you can't really debug pH issues without an Alk test, I suggest the Salifert test kit. I don't know anything about the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals pH test, but when I had pH problems, I gave up trying to use test kits and bought a Miluakee pH probe, the test kits were just not accurate or percise enough.
random_ryan
New member
maybe its your salt. I have used oceanic and had bad experiances with it .... maybe its me ... I prefer instant ocean or reef crystals
AZDesertRat
In Memoriam
I've used Oceanic since day one in my 100 and yes the alkalinity is a little low but pH is not a problem. Mine varies from 8.0 to 8.2 with no buffering.
The tank is new and just completing its cycle. Wait it out before doing any buffering or additions. In another month things will become more steady.
The tank is new and just completing its cycle. Wait it out before doing any buffering or additions. In another month things will become more steady.
clkwrk
Active member
Oceanic is high calcium and low alk . Buffering ph with a ph buffer will also raise alk so don't do that unless you can test for alk . To combat excess indor co2 I run some of my skimmers of fresh outside air which helps out. To see if you have a indoor co2 problem take a cup of tank water outside and airate it . Then test again if it rises a good bit you have indoor co2 problems.
bnlimit10
New member
are you running a barebottom tank, if so you can temporarily raise ph by adding a little baking soda. If you keep having problems running BB, I would suggest to add some argonite to your sump, when ph drops to those levels, the argonite will undergo chemical reactions that will raise your ph back up. Just make sure you start testing for alk so that you can gauge where your problem is. As far as the salt is concerned, I have used Oceanic for 5 years and never had a problem with ph, true alk is low and calcium is high for the salt mix, however not to the point of bringing your ph down that low. There are other issues in your tank that need to be addressed
clkwrk
Active member
Hey Bnlimit10 why are you saying use baking soda to raise PH?
Baking soda has lots of Co2 which will bring the PH DOWN not UP if you want to raise PH take baking soda and BAKE it @350 for an hr or so . That will drive off the co2 and allow the now washing soda to raise your PH but it will still raise alk.
Also I will add that Oceanic has not been making salt for 5 years. I remember when it came out and was trying the sample bags before the larger sizes were ever available . At most it has only been 3 years.
I will also disagree about adding sand to the sump you do not want your Tanks ph to get low enough to disolve agronite. Its not a good thing.Plus a true BB system dose not use sand anywhere and it will collect the crap you want to get out .
Baking soda has lots of Co2 which will bring the PH DOWN not UP if you want to raise PH take baking soda and BAKE it @350 for an hr or so . That will drive off the co2 and allow the now washing soda to raise your PH but it will still raise alk.
Also I will add that Oceanic has not been making salt for 5 years. I remember when it came out and was trying the sample bags before the larger sizes were ever available . At most it has only been 3 years.
I will also disagree about adding sand to the sump you do not want your Tanks ph to get low enough to disolve agronite. Its not a good thing.Plus a true BB system dose not use sand anywhere and it will collect the crap you want to get out .
bnlimit10
New member
as far as oceanic, I have used it for 5 years, keep in mind I just moved to the valley a month ago, and perhaps it was not available here, but we have had it in florida for a long time.
As far as the baking soda, I understand what you are saying, even without cooking it, baking soda is a very base substance overall and will still increase your ph. as far as the alk, I havent really tested it for alk so Im not going to agrue with you there.
As far as the BB part, there have been many studies that show once PH drops below 7.3 argonite will disolve and raise ph, I also understand your point that a true bb tank has no sand at all simply because you are trying to prevent the sand from accumulating detetrius and other dissolved and undisolved organics that aid in the creation of No3, Po4 among others. However not every aquarist is able or capable to provide the type of husbandry that a bb tank requires to make it successful, amongst these things are the basic understanding of chemistry and its effects on your aquarium.
As far as the baking soda, I understand what you are saying, even without cooking it, baking soda is a very base substance overall and will still increase your ph. as far as the alk, I havent really tested it for alk so Im not going to agrue with you there.
As far as the BB part, there have been many studies that show once PH drops below 7.3 argonite will disolve and raise ph, I also understand your point that a true bb tank has no sand at all simply because you are trying to prevent the sand from accumulating detetrius and other dissolved and undisolved organics that aid in the creation of No3, Po4 among others. However not every aquarist is able or capable to provide the type of husbandry that a bb tank requires to make it successful, amongst these things are the basic understanding of chemistry and its effects on your aquarium.
clkwrk
Active member
If oyu have a ph meter you can watch your ph go down when baking soda is added . You can also see it go up when washing soda is used.
If someone isn't willing to run a BB tank the way it needs to be run then they are asking for problems .There is no band aid effect for a BB tank . Either you do it right or have problems . Right doesn't mean exxpensive gear just the dedication of dialing in your sytem and providing the proper flow and filtration.
As for oceanic I am still positive because it was here on RC where the first free samples of this new salt were sent out . It was even on their(Oceanic) website as a new product which had a email link for a free sample to all. It was right after ORA endorsed the Salt that it was made avail to all . But its small stuff . The issue at hand is that washing soda is baking soda with all the moisture and co2 driven off. (Raise alk and PH) and baking soda (raises Alk and lowers PH due to excess co2)
If you have any doubts got to the chemistry forum and find the articles and ask Randy if uncertain. I am just trying to keep it straight and would hate to see someone add baking soda thinking it will raise the PH . And that it will raise alk also so if you add 2 teaspoons to raise your ph a whole point or so you are also jumping at least a whole dkh value depending on the size of the tank .
If someone isn't willing to run a BB tank the way it needs to be run then they are asking for problems .There is no band aid effect for a BB tank . Either you do it right or have problems . Right doesn't mean exxpensive gear just the dedication of dialing in your sytem and providing the proper flow and filtration.
As for oceanic I am still positive because it was here on RC where the first free samples of this new salt were sent out . It was even on their(Oceanic) website as a new product which had a email link for a free sample to all. It was right after ORA endorsed the Salt that it was made avail to all . But its small stuff . The issue at hand is that washing soda is baking soda with all the moisture and co2 driven off. (Raise alk and PH) and baking soda (raises Alk and lowers PH due to excess co2)
If you have any doubts got to the chemistry forum and find the articles and ask Randy if uncertain. I am just trying to keep it straight and would hate to see someone add baking soda thinking it will raise the PH . And that it will raise alk also so if you add 2 teaspoons to raise your ph a whole point or so you are also jumping at least a whole dkh value depending on the size of the tank .
bnlimit10
New member
Chris;
I dont think is a matter of not wanting to do it, but perhaps they dont know how, or dont have a good grasp of the chemistries involved. that is all Im saying.
as far as the salt lets be real 3-5 years its really not worth arguing, my point was simply that the salt is not to blame for ph being at 7.2.
On the baking soda point, I have measured it with a meter and I have not seen or achieved the results you pointed out. But let me say this, before adding anything to any of my tanks, I test it, make sure ph is within acceptable levels, also test for ca, no3, no4, po4, alk. this way I make sure that nothing gets in that I dont want or to make sure that the addition of said substance would raise or lower the targets to appropriate levels.
I dont think is a matter of not wanting to do it, but perhaps they dont know how, or dont have a good grasp of the chemistries involved. that is all Im saying.
as far as the salt lets be real 3-5 years its really not worth arguing, my point was simply that the salt is not to blame for ph being at 7.2.
On the baking soda point, I have measured it with a meter and I have not seen or achieved the results you pointed out. But let me say this, before adding anything to any of my tanks, I test it, make sure ph is within acceptable levels, also test for ca, no3, no4, po4, alk. this way I make sure that nothing gets in that I dont want or to make sure that the addition of said substance would raise or lower the targets to appropriate levels.
