pH problem for over 1 yr... Help please

[jabel]

I've checked phosphates and usually my reading is 0 by hana meter with an occasional high of 0.03.

 

[tmz]

FWIW,with low PO4(,0.05ppm) and NO3(,0.2ppm) alk above 10dkh tends to start burnt tips in my system,.FWIW, I use limewater from a still reservoir with a rare tweak of baking soda, for a system loaded with sps. There have been no stn issues for almost 2 years, since I took the calcium reactor I was also using off line.
I now run dkh around 9.5 vs the 12 before.
Calcium reactor media is crushed coral for the most part. So whatever the coral that made it took up in the crystal structure will be released when it dissolves which could including : metals, strontium, etc.which may be problematic;may not.
But, I think I'm better off without it.Variations in media volume in the reactor, CO3 and effluent flow;clogs; and fines just made alk delivery a bit unpredictable at times,particulary when changing /refiling media .

 

[dzhuo]

Hey Tom
How is your co2 scrubber doing? I am consider getting one but would like to know whether pH holds up? Thx!

 

[tmz]

Works fine ; gives me a .2 to .3 bump. Here's a thread with a little more detail:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1889552&highlight=co2+scrubber

 

[dzhuo]

Yup. I have gone through that thread already. This will probably depends mostly on the concentration of CO2 in the air, but how long does the soda lime last for you? Did you notice any positive or negative reaction from the skimmer?

 

[allsps40]

I have had this same problem of low ph in my reef tank 7.6-8.0. After trying adding buffer, 2 part, kalk and even a carbonate bicarbonate balancer nothing worked. I finally tried oxygenating with out side air and in 24 hours my ph went to 8.1. A high carbon dioxide level in the water will cause low ph and this is really common in tanks. Being kept inside with recirculating AC will raise CO2 levels. This is not I big deal and I have stopped trying to fix the problem. Stable ph is more important 7.8-8.2 is best with a low night ph of 7.6 is fine.

 

[tmz]

No change in skimming with the scrubber that I have noticed. The soda lime lasts about 6 weeks and still has some life at that point. Works out to about $3.00 per month in media costs for the 550 gallon system.