PH keeps going up and down

[snapper1]

This Tank was doing so we for several Months have lost a Blackcap Basslett and two Damsels over the last Month.The only problem seems temp has gone up and down several times as much as 10 degrees but PH is fine then drops to 7 from 8.1 or even droped to 6.5Have added buffer to stablize it.But not working low nitrares 30 no nitrites or ammonia.I have a heater now but Maybe temp played havoc with ecosystem any Ideas anyone.Tank has two soft corals one cleaner shrimp and some crabs and about 9 pounds of live rock its a 12 Gallon nano.

 

[chrisstie]

temp dropping that much will wreak havoc. it can be shocking to animals who are used to a stable tropical temperature.

I strongly recommend a heater... and to keep pH up some folks have luck with opening their windows and airing out the house others with buffer - if you have a way to have a light on at night to raise macro algae it will stop it from dropping too low at night.

Fluctuations are normal but say a few 10ths of a point.. like.. 7.9-8.2 that sort of thing

try a heater first.. stability is key to success.. let us know if the pH will follow

 

[ELCHUPACABRA]

get a fuge and light it 24 hours a day and it will keep your ph from dropping at night. Chaeto is the answer to most nano problems...

 

[manse]

You can get a fuge, put cheato in it, and light it on a cycle that is the reverse of your display lights. You don;t necessarily want to light the fuge 24/7.

By having the fuge (with macro algae) on a reverse light cycle, it will help maintain a higher PH when the display lights are off.

See: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php

Also, what do you mean by 30 nitrate? 30ppm? That is way too high.

 

[snapper1]

Thanx Guys I have a heater,Florida weather hot one day cold the next:bum:

 

[CapitalO]

if your pH is flucuating that much, a fuge with a reverse cycle isnt the solution. I bet your alkalinity is really low, this will cause large swings in pH. If you have a test kit, check your carbonate alkalinity and use a buffer with an alkalinity increaser (like seachems reef buffer). If you dont have a test kit, you can correct the alk with water changes.
also if you have a sump it would greatly help to drip kalkwasser at night, as this raises pH and will counter the pH drop at night.. of course this also increases your calcium which is good. If you choose to do this, adding some iodine (common additive sold for aquariums) with the kalkwasser solution will benifit your inverts.. a lot of people with nanos neglect dosing iodine and calcium, but its curucial if your not doing regular water changes.
I believe your best option is to keep up with small water changes because its imporant to have a lot of experience before you start dosing in a 12 gallon (expecially kalkwasser..)

 

[CapitalO]

Also, as others have said, temp flucuation is really really bad in a reef system. you may want to upgrage your heater and make sure its sized for a 12 gallon. Also its imporant to place your tank away from heating/ac vents and open doors.