Ph is low
- Thread starter Preble
- Start date
billdogg
Well-known member
pH is the very last thing you should worry about. I have not checked mine in probably 15 years. What are the numbers for Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium?
Chasing pH is a great way to put way too much of whatever in your tank and cause a whole bunch of trouble doing it.
Chasing pH is a great way to put way too much of whatever in your tank and cause a whole bunch of trouble doing it.
Preble
New member
I'm not sure I don't have a test kit for it yet.
I've been out if the hobby for, 4 years. Trying to build up stock on all the test kits.
I'm just trying to keep it stable, in my old tank I never had a problem ever.
Cause I think it was me keeping the dh and alk stable kept my ph perfect.
Just trying to remember everything is hard.
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
I've been out if the hobby for, 4 years. Trying to build up stock on all the test kits.
I'm just trying to keep it stable, in my old tank I never had a problem ever.
Cause I think it was me keeping the dh and alk stable kept my ph perfect.
Just trying to remember everything is hard.
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
nereefpat
New member
chgoblknazn
New member
The calcification of hard corals and marine algae occurs more efficiently at a higher pH, and for a reef aquarium, it should be your goal to maintain pH levels in the 8.3 to 8.5 range.
The pH levels in a tank are directly related to the balance of various trace elements in the water: carbonates, bicarbonates, magnesium, borate, and potassium, to name a few. Since the biological processes in filtration and the corals deplete these elements at a faster rate, they need to be replenished periodically to maintain a high and stable pH.
Alternatively you can provide more fresh air from outdoors by leaving a window open or using a line from outside connected to your skimmer's air intake line.
My tank struggles with Ph because I live in an apartment on a busy street. Leaving a window open allows too much dust into my unit so the air in my unit does not refresh as often as I like. The amount of growth after a short while with my windows open is astonishing. I'm toying with the idea of running an airline from my skimmer to a hole I drill through my building's exterior wall, which will surely annoy my landlord. :hammer:
nereefpat
New member
There are a couple different ways. First off, check your alk consumption over a few days. With a light coral load, water changes can keep up.
Dripping a solution of water saturated with CaOH (called limewater or German kalkwasser). This also adds Ca, obviously, so keep tabs on that as well.
One part additions is the other way. Baking soda, sodium carbonate, and the alk part of a two-part program all are the same thing.
ssick92
New member
+1 on everything except the last sentence.
Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) will actually lower the pH slightly and increase alk, whereas Sodium Carbonate will raise the pH and increase alk, and is typically what you see in 2-part solutions.
But I agree with others in that pH is the last thing you should worry about. It is very difficult to run into a pH problem without an underlying issue causing it. As long as you have sufficient flow, and the tank isn't stuck in a closet or anything, your pH should stabilize around 8-8.1 and when you start dosing alk it should stay around 8.2-8.3 in my experience.
nereefpat
New member
Sure, but only temporarily. Both will raise pH in the long run by raising alk (especially if low alk is contributing to the low pH). I wouldn't want to steer someone away from using baking soda for fear that it will lower their pH. I know that's not what you are doing.
I should have said that they all accomplish the same thing.
ssick92
New member
Ahh yes, agree 100%.
ssick92
New member
You sure it wasn't a faulty test? 7.1 is near impossible to get to... RO/DI water should be 7... Before you do anything with the kalk you should confirm that your test is correct, because I suspect a bad test.
What test were you using?
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