Ph woes

[AlexR]

So I'm trying to get growth better...
I've been doing by-weekly 10% water changes.
Have a calcium reactor hooked up.

All levels are good except for PH which is around 7.9 and does not go above 8.1. Ph is measured with a ReefAngel controller.

Should I even bother trying to raise ph a bit or will this be ok for good growth?
So far my growth is not great. I have a couple montis which have some noticeable growth, and random polys growing everywhere. But my zoas aren't growing much.
Everything looks healthy and is opening up very nicely. I just wish I had more growth like I've read some people see new zoa polyps every few days.
So far I don't see any new zoa polyps in over a month.
I have about 8 different zoa frags, a hammer which opens up to a large softball size and has I think 7 branches but no new growth. A frogspawn which is opening nicely but also not growing.


Phosphates undetectable
Nitrates ~2
Calcium 400
Alk 9-10

Running radion xr30 g4 pros.

 

[AlexR]

Here is 7 days PH.

 

[mcgyvr]

Your pH is totally fine...You may do more harm trying to adjust it..
Some of the top guys in this hobby have pH levels below yours

 

[Duc1098]

Open a window. The gas exchange with the oxygen will cause the ph to rise. As oxygen is depleted around the tank the co2 will create a blanket over the tank preventing this exchange causing ph to drop.

This is a guess not knowing where your tank is setup, but it is a likely contributor.

 

[AlexR]

Open a window. The gas exchange with the oxygen will cause the ph to rise. As oxygen is depleted around the tank the co2 will create a blanket over the tank preventing this exchange causing ph to drop.

This is a guess not knowing where your tank is setup, but it is a likely contributor.

I have an air stone with an outside air source going into my refugium. Figured that would help more then opening up windows.

 

[Duc1098]

You will get more gas exchange at the surface of the water then with an air stone. It's all about surface area. With a stone you have tiny bubble that float to the surface and dissipate. There is not much surface area involved. You could also try a small fan over the top of your tank to push air of the top of it and not have stagnant air.

 

[AlexR]

You will get more gas exchange at the surface of the water then with an air stone. It's all about surface area. With a stone you have tiny bubble that float to the surface and dissipate. There is not much surface area involved. You could also try a small fan over the top of your tank to push air of the top of it and not have stagnant air.

Thanks I'll see if a fan and opening the doors for the stand help some. Opening the windows unfortunately is not an option. It's way too hot here for that.

 

[Navig8tr]

Your calcium is a bit low. Your pH actually looks normal for a system running a calcium reactor. If you want to accelerate growth, run elevated levels of calcium and alkalinity. It is a balancing act though as running elevated levels requires more pump/powerhead maintenance as calcium carbonate precipitates faster on the magnetic drives.

 

[AlexR]

Your calcium is a bit low. Your pH actually looks normal for a system running a calcium reactor. If you want to accelerate growth, run elevated levels of calcium and alkalinity. It is a balancing act though as running elevated levels requires more pump/powerhead maintenance as calcium carbonate precipitates faster on the magnetic drives.

I change my powerheads every 6 or so months and I have a very overpowered return pump.
I may adjust the drip/bubble count on the reactor to raise it up some.
I have a minimal coral load at the moment and didn't want to over do it with the reactor yet.

 

[Uncle99]

My PH is 7.8 -8.1 and I have great growth.
That's assuming that my meter is actually giving me the right number.
No chase

 

[AlexR]

My PH is 7.8 -8.1 and I have great growth.
That's assuming that my meter is actually giving me the right number.
No chase

I'm probably just not being patient enough.
It's only been a couple months since i added the corals. I was struggling at first with them even opening up fully. Found my issue and since then they all look super healthy. And have noticed some growth in the montis.
I'm going away for a week. I think I'll probably notice more growth when I return then when I look at it every day.

 

[hkgar]

I can't remember the last time mine was above 7.9

 

[AlexR]

Thanks for the input. I've been keeping reefs for a long time but just recently started caring about PH. Since I got the controller actually.

I've just read a PH of 8.1-8.4 is ideal. Looks like that is not accurate?

 

[mattgumaer]

Like many things, 8.1-8.4 might be 'ideal' but, it seems unlikely that 7.9 is far enough from ideal to be the source of any issues of significance. Further, making modifications to 'chase the numbers' may do more harm than good because stability is considered a key factor to success. If you're growth is not as expected, in my opinion, it's either: 1) being overly optimistic about expected growth; or 2) something other than ph. Other culprits might include: 1) phosphate and nitrates being too low for ideal growth (calcium level seems marginal and sort of out-of-whack with alk); 2) lighting (running just Radions can be tricky); or 3) flow (seemingly often underestimated in terms of importance).

Matt

 

[Jason05]

It may seem counterintuitive but zoas hammers and frog spawns seem to like a little more nutrients to a point. Some cheap flake food once or twice a week seems to help also my frog and hammer seem to do best when the flow looks like a breeze over a wheat field just kinda rolling but not heavy. Just be patient also reef chili and sod pellets are the only thing I've seen them actively eat but reef chili seems to work best


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[AlexR]

I use polyp booster and usually broadcast fees reef roids. Target feeding is better but I just find it too invasive.

 

[Jason05]

I used Roids for a year or more then found reef chili and have much better coloration


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[Uncle99]

I’m probably just not being patient enough.
It’s only been a couple months since i added the corals. I was struggling at first with them even opening up fully. Found my issue and since then they all look super healthy. And have noticed some growth in the montis.
I’m going away for a week. I think I’ll probably notice more growth when I return then when I look at it every day.

I have corals that sat for 3-6 months and did nothing!
Then, one day, I noticed that some starting growing real fast.
Each requires time to "adjust" itself to the new conditions.
And those conditions must remain absolutely stable and unchanging especially Ali
As an example, I have had a sunset Monti, size of a quarter for 9'months, but only in the last 30 days has it tripled in size

 

[AlexR]

I have corals that sat for 3-6 months and did nothing!
Then, one day, I noticed that some starting growing real fast.
Each requires time to "adjust" itself to the new conditions.
And those conditions must remain absolutely stable and unchanging especially Alk

Thank you. Hearing this is encouraging.

 

[Uncle99]

Thank you. Hearing this is encouraging.

Levels are important but stability is everything!
Now I wish some would slow down...