pH effects on growth rate

[kevin_e]

I want to piggyback off the following post I made in the chemistry forum getting thoughts on using lime spheres in a co2 scrubber. I wanted to get thoughts on low pH and the effects on SPS growth. My pH hangs around 7.5-7.7.

"I am living in a 2 room 700 sq. ft. apartment. I recently spent 5 days away from the apartment (my 50 pound dog included) and noticed on my Apex (lab grade pH probe) that my pH range went from 7.5-7.7 to 7.8-8.0. This very clearly indicates that the small apartment unit and new construction (well sealed and insulated) is leading to fairly high levels of CO2 in the air, thus lowering my pH when ppl and dogs are home. <br />
<br />
I Iive in Florida and the summer temperatures and humidity prohibits me from opening doors and windows.<br />
<br />
Last night my pH dropped to 7.48, which is dangerously low for an SPS tank. I bought some lime spheres and plan on running them through my skimmer intake."<br />
<br />


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[bif24701]

I do the same, my PH would drop to 7.7, now hardly get down to 7.95. I started dosing lime water and it's even better. I have no idea if it really helps but my SPS seem to be doing well.


Aaron

180 Gallon Dream (Now Reality)
http://www.panhandlereefers.com/forums/index.php?/topic/14405-180-Gallon-Dream-(Now-Reality)

 

[kevin_e]

Yeah, I think a better question is when does pH become detrimental. I know a lot of highly successful tanks average approximately 7.9; however, my tank seldom even hits 7.8 (7.76 right now and light cycle is ending shortly).

My tank averages 7.57 per my Apex, and that's really low. At some point, it must become more and more difficult to produce a calcium carbonate. Corals begin fighting dissolution.

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[JOEYRM7]

My tank was always in the 7.8 a 7.9 range. I set up s scrubber and now its 8.2 to 8.3 in a 65 gallon system. I have noticed more growth

 

[MichaelW]

My ph according to the apex rnges from around 7.75 - 7.95. Hasn't really seemed to cause any problem. If I leave Windows etc open it goes up... But then had a bigger swing down at night back to 7.75 area.
Ph swings opposite pro and my pro is constantly really high.. Like higher than people have emergency ozone shut off which I don't even run. So... Is this really high pro causing the lower ph reading... Or is it the other way round?
Either way the tank looks good so I'm not too concerned...but we always wonder what if.....

 

[kevin_e]

Here what my pH was this morning on my Apex:

And my average pH:

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[C.Eymann]

Tagging, I can't cite but I believe I read in Fossa/ Nilsen's reefkeeping series that calcification occurs more rapidly/ readily at higher pH levels.

 

[bshow24]

What is your alk?

You want to get your pH up a bit in general, but here's a good article overviewing pH

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/#3

One thing he mentions, of course without providing backup in this instance, is there is a pH swing that occurs at night, and as long as it falls with 7.8-8.5 (recommended pH for a reef tank) it shouldn't cause any stress to the organism.

If I were you, I'd work on raising pH average to a the 8.0-8.1 mark, that way this swing doesn't go too low when it does occur. Also, the lower a pH the less calcification occurs, so raising it will promote even healthier corals in the long run.

 

[Bdial]

I've noticed that my ph fluctuates between 8.3-8.78 throughout the entire day. I am experiencing fantastic growth from my frags. That kinda goes with what bshow24 said

 

[twon8]

I've noticed that my ph fluctuates between 8.3-8.78 throughout the entire day. I am experiencing fantastic growth from my frags. That kinda goes with what bshow24 said

I run a higher ph as well and have good growth and color. If I were to trust my apex my ph never strays below about 8.7 and is more regularly above 9, but I haven't calibrated in a long while so cannot be sure.


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[russ13]

pH effects on growth rate

My PH average is about 8.2 and I have seen good growth and a faster coralline algae growth. I remember reading something about a tank with higher PH has more hydrogen molecules witch corals use to grow. I don't know if I'm remembering that correctly so if someone knows please enlighten me. I use two tea spoon of Kalk per gallon In my ATO. I really like using kalkwasser it does so many things and is pretty inexpensive

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[gmlee]

Holy crap and i thought mine was high!

 

[nemodan]

My PH is very constant (Apex standard probe).

My skimmer has an air-tubing size intake. So I did a small hole in a corner of a nearby window for the tube to take fresh air all the time.

Concerning Alk and PH, my tank has been running for the last couple of months at ~ 7.5 Dkh. If my Alk goes up, I have noticed that the pH amplitude increase. At least in my tank.


Daniel

 

[MichaelW]

My PH is very constant (Apex standard probe).

My skimmer has an air-tubing size intake. So I did a small hole in a corner of a nearby window for the tube to take fresh air all the time.

Concerning Alk and PH, my tank has been running for the last couple of months at ~ 7.5 Dkh. If my Alk goes up, I have noticed that the pH amplitude increase. At least in my tank.


Daniel

See I had thought of doing this to get my ph up a bit (run tube to outside) but I got concerned that I couldn't control if Simone sprayed pesticide or insecticide outside and it got pulled right into my tank through the skimmer intake

 

[kevin_e]

Thanks for all the input, everyone. Hopefully I can provide an update once I correct t my pH.

I decided to open my window a 1/2" and the pH topped out at 8.01 today and bottomed out at 7.7 last night. That's a far cry from where I was before (7.5-7.7). If the window is enough to keep me in the 7.8-8.1 range and my energy bill isn't effected, I won't even need the lime spheres.

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[K.C.]

I have several SPS corals that started to grow much better after stabilizing pH so that it doesn't drop below 8.

Tank parameters were always good but pH would drop to 7.7 until I started running KW at night. Several Acros that had been doing OK suddenly started growing much better, faster and Alk / CA levels hadn't changed.