Ph Question

[shrimpinator123]

So, my 30 gal is one week into its cycle.
Parameters:
Ph: 7.8
Ammonia: 2 ppm
Nitrite: 5 ppm
Nitrate: 60 ppm

I am going to pull the ammonia source, let the tank naturally stabilize, then dose to 2ppm ammonia to make sure the thing is cycled. But my problem is ph. It is currently 7.8. Is this fish safe? I was under the assumption that it has to be 8 to 8.3, but I also know that a stable ph is better then a fluctuating higher ph. I know that in freshwater, you can use coral to raise ph. Could I simply add some more dry rock to raise my ph? Or is this fall just because of my cycle? I am also thinking about starting my flow up again, (once I get a power strip, currently only able to run my heater and filter).

 

[Pet Detective]

After you finish the cycle, do a few water changes, that should help, but I wouldn't worry about PH, it fluctuates a bit all the time, as long as it's "around" 7.8-8.3, it'll be fine....old saying in this hobby is "Don't chase PH"

Alkalinity is far more important.

 

[RobZilla04]

No need to dose any additional ammonia.

7.8 pH is fine, don't worry about it. Test again once there are no measurable ammonia & nitrites. Wait until both are zero and you have flow before you add fish.

 

[Uncle99]

Not fully cycled yet but your on the way
Get the zeroes, partial water change, measure PH, 7.8 is fine, but on the low end.
Yup don’t chase numbers, this usually ends badly...

 

[hkgar]

Ph is a stubborn little brat that will do what it darn well please and you can not do a darn thing about it. Really!

If you start trying to raise PH you will just end up with sky high dKH (alkalinity) and a ph of 7.8.

Wait, there is 1 thing you can do and that is to reduce the co2 level of the water. This is most easily done by using a CO2 scrubber in conjunction with a skimmer.

 

[shrimpinator123]

Thank you guys for your help! Yeah, I am really glad that this cycle seems (not definant yet) to be going faster than my first salt tank. My freshwater cycles usually take 2-3 weeks, but my 10 gal took 9 and half weeks to cycle. This one seems like it will be around the normal range of my freshwater cycles, probably 3 weeks. It is kind of surprising that ph does not have a lot of impacts on saltwater. In freshwater, ph is usually ridiculously stressed. But I am glad that I do not have to chase it.

 

[hkgar]

Easier said than done. (not chasing PH). I monitor mine constantly (with Apex), but do nothing about it. m I haven't been able to join the "don't even monitor it" club.

 

[Sk8r]

Check out the parameters guide at the top of this forum. That will help you.