dollarPit
New member
Hello all, enjoy reading the wealth of information here at RC and looking forward to many years of growing in the hobby.
My tank is new (4 months) and PH was running in the range 7.7-7.9. I have added the first LPS (candy cane) with dHK 7 and Ca at 440. Using the calculators referenced in Randy Holmes-Farley DYI 2-part article I decided to target raising ALk to 11 to be in balance with calcium and I was hoping to raise the PH in the process.
I started dosing daily with Aquavitro 8.4, which I understand is a blend of sodium carbonate and bicarbonate - with the currently low demand I do not expect to have to dose calcium yet as the weekly 10% water change with Reef Crystals has maintained it.
Problem - after adding each dose, I see a slight PH rise (.1) and the next day the PH overall moves to a new morning low from 7.7 down to 7.2. I'm going to pause and try to maintain the dKH at the current levels rather than continuing my way up to 11. Corals don't seem to be showing any signs of stress, but want to understand what is going on chemically and get some advice.
Should I let the dKH drop back to 7 (which is what the water change water tests at), maintain at current until PH comes back (is there a temporary creation of CO2?)...keep going to 11?
Thanks in advance!
Current Parameters:
Mag 1330 (stable)
Ca 440 (stable)
dKH 8.7 (started at 7.0)
PH 7.2 (started 7.7-7.9)
System:
50 US Gal total volume
40 lbs of dry rock
AquaC EV-120 Protien Skimmer - with air lines piped to outside air
GFO/Carbon reactor
Miracle Mud in sump
Livestock:
2 Ocellaris
2 Green Chromis
Pulsing Xenia frag - good extention, growing
Candy Cady frag - good polyp extention
Coral banded shrimp
Long Tentacle Anemone
6 Turbo/Astrea
Coralline growth starting on the powerheads
My tank is new (4 months) and PH was running in the range 7.7-7.9. I have added the first LPS (candy cane) with dHK 7 and Ca at 440. Using the calculators referenced in Randy Holmes-Farley DYI 2-part article I decided to target raising ALk to 11 to be in balance with calcium and I was hoping to raise the PH in the process.
I started dosing daily with Aquavitro 8.4, which I understand is a blend of sodium carbonate and bicarbonate - with the currently low demand I do not expect to have to dose calcium yet as the weekly 10% water change with Reef Crystals has maintained it.
Problem - after adding each dose, I see a slight PH rise (.1) and the next day the PH overall moves to a new morning low from 7.7 down to 7.2. I'm going to pause and try to maintain the dKH at the current levels rather than continuing my way up to 11. Corals don't seem to be showing any signs of stress, but want to understand what is going on chemically and get some advice.
Should I let the dKH drop back to 7 (which is what the water change water tests at), maintain at current until PH comes back (is there a temporary creation of CO2?)...keep going to 11?
Thanks in advance!
Current Parameters:
Mag 1330 (stable)
Ca 440 (stable)
dKH 8.7 (started at 7.0)
PH 7.2 (started 7.7-7.9)
System:
50 US Gal total volume
40 lbs of dry rock
AquaC EV-120 Protien Skimmer - with air lines piped to outside air
GFO/Carbon reactor
Miracle Mud in sump
Livestock:
2 Ocellaris
2 Green Chromis
Pulsing Xenia frag - good extention, growing
Candy Cady frag - good polyp extention
Coral banded shrimp
Long Tentacle Anemone
6 Turbo/Astrea
Coralline growth starting on the powerheads
