PH level

[DarthReefer27]

I was wondering if a PH around 7.9 to 8.1 is too low and if so, how is the best way to raise the PH level in my 29 G biocube with some fish and 8-9 different corals (few soft and a couple LPS)?

 

[NWoods]

Ph is going to fluctuate between night and day. Day time should be between 8.1 to 8.3 Night time Ph will usually drop due to oxygen drop around 7.9 to 8.1 If you have a sump/refugium, have some cheato growing and leave the sump lights on all night. It will help to stabilize the Ph.

 

[Swensos]

Measuring pH is important for knowing whether something is going wrong in your tank and equipment. Getting a magic number isn't important, but keeping the number steady is.

Having plenty of live rock, sand, and shells will buffer your pH and keep it steady. Also, I think making sure all water changes have the same specific gravity will help.

NWoods is right about the day/night swings. Having proper buffers should keep them within safe parameters. But having a nighttime refugium doesn't hurt.

 

[texdoc77]

First and foremost take some time and read the sticky close to the top of the "new to hobby" forum entitled Setting up. Read ALL the articles, ALL of them. To your specific question look at Randy Holmes-Farley's discussion of pH at the following link: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php

However, in brief, keeping your calcium and alkalinity in line is more important than chasing pH. Your pH actually has more to do with the CO2 in the room long term, though you can briefly raise and lower the pH with the addition of bicarb (which I do not recommend unless you need bicarb).

Hope this helps

 

[gone fishin]

Yes, of more importance is the alkalinity, calcium and magnesium level. If they stay steady then pH will fall into line. Do not use pH buffers in the end you will most likely get yourself into a jam. Folks who use a calcium reactor track their pH. I have not checked mine in a few years and could not tell you what mine is.

But to answer your question a pH of 7.9-8.1 is fine.

 

[Fallling]

I wouldn't worry about it. My PH tends to be on the lower side. As already mentioned, it's typically going to fluctuate from night and day. Excess build up of CO2 can result in lower PH... opening a window or increasing surface agitation can help to increase it a bit (it's that's the cause).

One way to test this is aerate a cup of tank water outside with an airstone for an hour and test the PH - if it rises, then the PH is low for the alk level. Do the the same thing but keep the cup inside and test the PH - if it still rises, then extra aeration of the aquarium will help. If doesn't rise or very little, then excess CO2 is in the house itself. Opening a window can help to get fresher air in the house.

Alk is really more important - if it's inline, then PH usually falls in place (unless excess CO2).

 

[RussIV]

Measuring pH is important for knowing whether something is going wrong in your tank and equipment. Getting a magic number isn't important, but keeping the number steady is.

Having plenty of live rock, sand, and shells will buffer your pH and keep it steady. Also, I think making sure all water changes have the same specific gravity will help.

NWoods is right about the day/night swings. Having proper buffers should keep them within safe parameters. But having a nighttime refugium doesn't hurt.

why did you recommend bicarb when he didnt list his alk?

7.7-8.4 is fine for reef tanks

no coral will die to ph if your other parameters are stable for a reef.
alk, cal, mag