Ph going down fast

[traderdan]

I just put the live rock and live sand in my tank today to start the cycle. My ph has gone from 8.3 to 7.91 in about an hour. Do I need to be doing something here?
Thanks.

 

[Skyjacker07]

Eh; I always let it ride, you just started don't worry too much about ph, as long as you acclimate everything slowly they'll adapt, my ph fluctuates through out the day from 7.81 to 8.04 all of my coral and fish seem fine.

 

[schnebbles]

Is pH something that needs monitored immediately? I just started mine as well and I was only going to check the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate til it's cycled.

 

[Walla2GSP]

pH changes throughout the day, and is not super critical unless you have a large swing or it stays at one extreme or the other for long periods. If it stays below 7.8 for more than a week, you may need to add some more dry rock or aragonite substrate with a little higher pH to help buffer. When I first started I tried to dose pH, but it just caused large pH swings and never stayed where I wanted for more than a couple days.

 

[mcgyvr]

ph is just something that you usually don't need to worry about..
It will take care of itself.. Its fine..

 

[rocsec1]

How are you monitoring it. I had a high swing yesterday and got worried. When got home I found the probe had been pushed out the water by a pipe I was dry fitting. I thought it was put of the way, but it wasn't.

 

[traderdan]

I'm using a pinpoint. I just checked to make sure it was in water. It's been holding at 7.9. So we will see. Thank you everyone for your help.

 

[Bugboy2020]

Just a little explanation -
All of the dying stuff inside the bag is being broken down by the bacteria, which lowers the Ph. You then put the live sand into your tank, which lowers your tank water. With filtration(And a larger area, not to mention full of stuff NOT dying) it will rise over time.
But basically, you have a low Ph from the cycle kicking off

 

[Sonyardo]

In my experience, Ph is a number worth monitoring, but not worth chasing. If it's consistently lower then 7.8 or so, then you may want to take a closer look at the issue. Other then that I wouldn't give it a second thought. Chasing Ph can Train-wreck your tank.