low ph?
- Thread starter Reefer08
- Start date
demonsp
In Memoriam
Yes,If Ph off then Alk will be. Its a PH scale,7 would be nuetral then below seven would be an acid and above 7 would be an alkaline. Though i havent learned why Alk could be high and PH low.
You have a new tank so these readings will take time to level.Whene it soed then you know your one step closer.If the readings are in the safe zone then dont try and fix.Adding any additive should be a last resort and not a subsitute,( Im not being rude i hope).
Then PH and Alk with change from morning to night and testing in the morning around the same time time for best reading. Add to fix then you will never know what it is at its natural state.
You have a new tank so these readings will take time to level.Whene it soed then you know your one step closer.If the readings are in the safe zone then dont try and fix.Adding any additive should be a last resort and not a subsitute,( Im not being rude i hope).
Then PH and Alk with change from morning to night and testing in the morning around the same time time for best reading. Add to fix then you will never know what it is at its natural state.
There is a direct relationship between pH and alk but its based on your water being in equilibrium with atmospheric co2 levels.
Most tanks are not in equilibrium for a variety of reasons. One of the main causes is being inside a sealed up house where the co2 levels are much higher than outside. Input of co2 from calcium reactors is another common cause.
You can try and bring your tank closer to equilibrium by increasing aeration or opening a window near the tank/sump. This should increase your pH.
B.C.theReefer
New member
I've had issues with low ph also. It wasn't aeration because my tank sits in front of a window. And the air intake for the skimmer comes in from outside. I tried a few things. But the one that works the best for me is Seachem's ph8.3 Marine Buffer. My regular water changes helped a little. But is was only temporary. There are many causes and solutions for this problem. Buffer might or might not help your situation. Good luck.
Peter Eichler
New member
Careful man... Alkalinity can be perfectly fine and PH can be quite low or even high. PH and alkalinity aren't something that takes much time to level. If PH is low one month after setup there a good chance it will be low 6 months after setup if something isn't changed. CO2 levels are usually the biggest factor with low PH. One of the best ways to test if excess C02 is the problem is to take a sample of water and havily aerate it outdoors and retest the PH. If it rises then you have an excess of CO2 in your water and possibly a little higher levels of CO2 in your house as well.
Lastly, alkalinity isn't going to be changed by the time of day other than the fact that as time goes on it will steadily decline and need to be replenished.
