I have had this tank set up for almost 2 yrs and never had this problem, but for some reason my ph dropped and i cant get it above 8.0. what should i do? one person told me that i have the wrong filter setup. its a 20gal wet/dry with bioballs and i was told that i need to be running a refugium. i hate this i here so many different stories, and i dont know what i should do. my fish and corals all seem 2 be doing fine. everythings growing and looking healthy. please help. thanks.
reef tank ph problem
- Thread starter cdh9400t
- Start date
seagirl
New member
yup, we need answers to these first. once you identifuy the problem there are some ways of helping. do you top off with kalk? for a reef tank a wet dry is not suggested, a sump/fuge would be a better option imo, but that doesn't mean a healthy ph can't be maintained using a wet dry.
well i have an ro unit, salinity is .024, temp 78, calcium 400, nitrate 05ppm , nitrite 0, phosphate 0. ive tested several times and my lfs also tested, thats who recomended the kalk, but he also thought my skimmer may not be big enough. that something organic in my tank is consuming the ph.
corals b 4 bills
New member
You may need more gas exchange at the waters surface, agitate the water to release your excess Co2, also run an air line from the outside air to your skimmer inlet this will raise your PH during the winter months, try not to buffer the tank it's only a fix for a day or two there's a problem somewhere else.
airinhere
New member
I would advise against using the API ph adjusting powders. They contain phosphates and are not apropriate for reef tanks. Check the labels on the ph adjusting products out there. Sometimes you have to peel the label back. Seachem makes a decent product.
I noticed you didn't mention your dKH value. that could have a serious impact on your tank ph value. What time of day are you testing at? First thing in the morning, your ph will be a little lower than at the end of the day.
Just throwig a few things out there.
I noticed you didn't mention your dKH value. that could have a serious impact on your tank ph value. What time of day are you testing at? First thing in the morning, your ph will be a little lower than at the end of the day.
Just throwig a few things out there.
ok well i did an areation test, and my ph went up to 8.2. I guess this could be a real good starting point. thanks guys for the help, but one other thing, should i convert my sump into a refugium, or just add 1 to the tank and leave my sump alone? I could always use the sump that i have now on a tank that i will be setting up in the next few months. let me know what you think.
