Question about my PH?

[Jgoal55]

This is a snapshot of what my PH has been doing over the last 5 days and it's a good representation of the last month or so.

Over the same time period, my calcium and alk have been steady at about 445 and 9.18 dkh.

My question is, do you think the PH is fine where it is, or should I try to raise it at all?

Note: That odd dip yesterday was because I did a water change and when I do water changes the probe gets left out of the water for a few minutes.

 

[Crackem]

If you posted this in the reef chemistry forum they would say its ok where it is. As long as your calcium and alk remain stable you shouldn't worry to much about your ph. I was in the same condition as you so I added a co2 scrubber which raised my levels about .2 or more depending on the day. I also added 2 fans in my canopy and I aimed my power heads a little more towards the surface for agitation. Adding a co2 scrubber is very easy to do. Or you could run some airline tubing from your skimmer to an open window or outside if possible. If you need more info on a co2 scrubber let me know. I will post some ph graphs if I can.

Here's my graph from this past week. The media in my co2 scrubber needed to be replaced and I finally changed it yesterday. You can see how it affected my ph.

<a href="http://s1324.photobucket.com/albums/u613/crackem/?action=view&current=86421B00-039B-4EA5-ABC0-3A077775EB67-4338-000006F3326ADD83_zps192fb002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u613/crackem/86421B00-039B-4EA5-ABC0-3A077775EB67-4338-000006F3326ADD83_zps192fb002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

 

[Jgoal55]

Just looked at a bunch of DIY CO2 scrubbers. Pretty cool concept and you weren't kidding, really easy. That said, I'm already struggling with space on this tank and stand so Id like to avoid adding one if possible.

I am however adding two more fans in a couple of weeks that will be pointing right at the water and will be temp controlled. I wonder if that'll help also?

 

[gatoralum69]

When u come by u can see what I do lol...had the exact same problem . Now have it over 8 all the time.

 

[Crackem]

Just looked at a bunch of DIY CO2 scrubbers. Pretty cool concept and you weren't kidding, really easy. That said, I'm already struggling with space on this tank and stand so Id like to avoid adding one if possible.

I am however adding two more fans in a couple of weeks that will be pointing right at the water and will be temp controlled. I wonder if that'll help also?

Can you run a line outside from your skimmer? That's probably the best solution. The co2 scrubber really takes up no space at all. Basically like the size of a Gatorade bottle. I bought a universal air filter from brs which is about the same size as a gfo or carbon cannister.

Gator what do you use?

 

[rovster]

How does everything in the tank look? I never check pH. Maybe I should. Been over a year since I have, LOL!

 

[gatoralum69]

Can you run a line outside from your skimmer? That's probably the best solution. The co2 scrubber really takes up no space at all. Basically like the size of a Gatorade bottle. I bought a universal air filter from brs which is about the same size as a gfo or carbon cannister.

Gator what do you use?

Ironiccally enough I use 2 Gatoraid bottles with airline conneted to air-intakes of my skimmer. I have large Reef Octopus which has two in-takes. Basically bottom of Gatorade bottles I driled with 1/16th holes and filled with media I bought from some online medical anesthesia place lol. It is not too expensive but needs to be replaced every 2 weeks I have found. Guess my house is too energy efficient.

Rovy, I have found that by PH increasing, it allows for better breakdown of wastes. Basically I produce more skimate now then I used to. One way to tell I bet is if you measure OiRP as this is what this directly affects

 

[rovster]

I don't have a skimmer, so I'll never know, LOL!

I'm not as advanced as you guys........yet

 

[gatoralum69]

Well the way I KNEW I needed to do this was...my PH was higher in the winter all the time than it was starting in the spring. So one day I started to think back what was the differnce...what was I doing different. And...I was not doing ANYTHING different...wife was lol. In the Winter she kept the Sliding glass doors open to let fresh air in...and starting in the spring it started to get HOT so AC time and no more opening doors So down goes PH Basically what this tells you and me is that house is full of CO2 lol

 

[blackthunda77]

yes, during the winter my ph is aways higher in the optimal range, between 8.1-8.3, in the summer when the windows r closed it drops to 7.7-8.0. I had a bunch of people over last week and in my small condo with the ac on 100% of the time while they were here and people yelling since it was game 7 of the heat, my ph dropped to 7.4 which it never does. I attribute that to the rapid rise in CO2 i believe. my tricolor started to rtn in a couple places. I opened the window in the balcony and the PH started creeping backup immediately. And now that gatoralum mentions it, my skimmer has been producing more skimmate as well. I have been keeping the window cracked and its helping but now my temp is creeping up a bit higher since the outside heat is also coming in.

I thought about a CO2 scrubber but never went through with it. I tried in the past connecting my skimmer hose to the outside but that didnt do much. However, that was with a crappier skimmer i had and it was with 1/4 airline tubing. Im thinking to try to put a 1" pvc through my balcony wall since its just 2x4 and plywood and then etent the skimmer hose through that.

I know some people say PH is not that important, but i have noticed corals look better for me with PH between 8.1-8.3. I might be just imagining it though.

 

[DRThompson]

Been thinking about adding a co2 scrubber, where do you get the soda lime (CaOH granules?

 

[Biggar]

My PH is does same thing but from 8.1- 8.2ish

Running a refugium and having it lit when your main lights go off will help balance PH. Bring it up lil at night.

I also dose vinegar around 5pm every day via dosing pump around 5 PM. That also brings it down and can help balance PH, but is not why I use it.

Using kalk in ato will raise it also constantly

Many ways to milk them nipples

 

[gatoralum69]

I have Kalk but that raises Alk along with PH and I have it in ATO which is done on a constant basis via JBJ ATO. I will tell you that doing the scubber has helped coral colors alot. I get the granulars off of a medical site...I have to go into the garage and see where it is. Had to go through them as the other cheaper place I needed to do a larger buy and this was the first time I did it. Bought like 9lbs worth for like $35 shipped. Been doing it now for over 2 months and PH has been constantly around 8.1 whereas before it used to fluctuate between 7.6 - 8.0

 

[DRThompson]

Just ordered thru shopmedvet got 12lbs for $36.20. What kind of container did you use to set it up? What size skimmer do you have?

 

[gatoralum69]

Just ordered thru shopmdvet got 12lbs for $36.20. What kind of container did you use to set it up? What size skimmer do you have?

THAT IS THE PLACE!!!! I used....wait for it.....GATORAID bottles lol

I have the BIG Reef Octopus XS300 or something...has the 2 intakes which take the 1/4" (not 100% sure will have to look at the sticker I save just in case someone asked lol) lines that I bought at homedepot.

 

[DRThompson]

It comes in 3lb bags, how fast do you go thru the soda lime? How big was your gatoraid bottle?

thanks

 

[gatoralum69]

32oz bottle...fill it about 1/4 of the way. Go through it about every 2 weeks. Basically you will see it turn purple right away. I usually wait till PH starts to drop below 8.0 on consistant basis before I replace

 

[Crackem]

If you're lazy like me BRS sells a universal air filter

 

[Jgoal55]

Thanks guys for all the suggestions.

I feel like a fool because I totally forgot that I have my ATO reservoir outside and a pipe running through my wall that has the ATO tubing running through it. I was able to run an airline tube through that same pipe and hook it up to my skimmer.

I'll give it a couple of weeks to see if this solution helps before I add any sort of scrubber.

I'll try to remember to post a new graph in a couple of weeks.