bluetang_2000
Member
At night with the refugium light on, the ph value is 7.9, and 8.35 during the day when 2x175w metal halides & 2x110 pc are on. Is this ph swing acceptable? I am also using osmolator to dose kalk water from a brute can.
ph swing 7.9-8.35
- Thread starter bluetang_2000
- Start date
xinumaster
reef addict
ph
ph
That is a big swing. You might wanna dose your kalk at night only to sync your night ph with your day ph.
ph
That is a big swing. You might wanna dose your kalk at night only to sync your night ph with your day ph.
bluetang_2000
Member
I guess I'll have to put a timer on the osmolator so that it only runs at night.
bluetang_2000
Member
I checked the ca, kh and mag last week. Ca was about 380, mag was 890, and don't remember what kh was. Will definitely do more testing today or tomorrow.
bluetang_2000
Member
This is the setup that I have, after mixing the kalk water, then I pour the kalk water into the 18gal brute can with freshwater. Any problem with this setup if I only turn on the osmolator at night to top off the evaporated water with the water from the brute can?
otterpop510
New member
no problem with only turning on at night.
kh/alk is the most important of the three measurements both in terms of coral growth and tank stability, not calcium like most people think. check and make sure that is about right. ca is okay, maybe a bit low (most people aim for between 400-450), but mg is really low. from what i've read, mg should be ideally around 1300, but most saltwater mixes have from 1100-1200. below 900-1000 is low enough to potentially effect ability to keep alk stable..
kh/alk is the most important of the three measurements both in terms of coral growth and tank stability, not calcium like most people think. check and make sure that is about right. ca is okay, maybe a bit low (most people aim for between 400-450), but mg is really low. from what i've read, mg should be ideally around 1300, but most saltwater mixes have from 1100-1200. below 900-1000 is low enough to potentially effect ability to keep alk stable..
bluetang_2000
Member
Thanks for all of the replies. I did some test last night, and here's the parameter,
ca - 420
alk-6.24dKH
Mag - 1000
Seems like I need to bring the mag level higher. Ca/Alk seem ok?
ca - 420
alk-6.24dKH
Mag - 1000
Seems like I need to bring the mag level higher. Ca/Alk seem ok?
Qwiv
Persistant Perspective
No, you need to bring your alk up, without messing with your CA. Get some buffer and use as directed to get your dKH in the 8-12 range. This will improve your PH swing dramatically.
The Kent product works well and is easy to find. You can also use baking soda. Look up Randy's 2 part
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php
Just use the alk at this time. Do not dose calcium until you get your dKH inline.
The Kent product works well and is easy to find. You can also use baking soda. Look up Randy's 2 part
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php
Just use the alk at this time. Do not dose calcium until you get your dKH inline.
bluetang_2000
Member
I'll try to bring those parameters up to the recommended level. Thanks for all the advice
bluetang_2000
Member
good advice Qwiv. Will use the calculator to find out how to bring the levels up tonight.
By the way, what kind of PE are you? Electrical or civil?
By the way, what kind of PE are you? Electrical or civil?
northbay-reefer
New member
mag is very low, cal is low, dkh is low, of you bring up those numbers to about 420 cal, 8alk, and 1350 mag, your ph will be much more stable because of the buffering
