Suggestions please on PH adjusting

benf

benf

Premium Member
I always seem to have a problem of low PH. I just ckd my Calcium and it is ~450 and the Alk is ~3.8. My PH is ~8.0-8.1. These readings were done at 6pm.

I was trying to find an older thread that mentions when to take the readings, but could not find it. I think i remember for calc and alk that it only matters that u are consistant each time you take it, but what about PH. I know PH will change thru the day, was it morning that produces the highest PH or eves just after lights out? I thought i should ck it again at the peak tiime and see what i get.

I typically add KalKwasser when i top off. I do not have room to run a continous drip even though that would be best. So, any suggestions what to do would be great.

thank you,
Ben
 
Thanks for the link and i just finished reading, and I am not sure how i can fix a CO2 problem if that is the culprit. The only thing i see in the article is openning the outside doors and windows. Seems there could be another way?? If i did that, it would take a long time to cool the house off again here in the florida heat.
 
Well, there's also the possibility that a large, well-lit refugium would drive the pH higher. That's been known to work. I have Chaetomorpha in some display tanks and have high pH issues from time to time. Also, some (but not all) report that running an airline from the outside to the skimmer helps.
 
8.0 - 8.1 is pretty good isnt it?? What makes you think this is too low. Consistancy is important here...acording to one of randy's articles on PH it shouldnt be much of a problem until you start getting readings below 7.9
 
i will ck it in the morning and post it. AS far as a refuge, i do have a 24" HOB on my sump with Chato, a Mangrove, and some sand in it.

thanks for the replies!

ps forgot to mention i am using a digital meter to get the reading...and even calibrated it with fresh fluid after checking it the 1st time and readings were the same.
 
Well, just took the reading at appx 6am 12 hours since the reading yesterday and it was 7.9. I did add some more Kalk. Being that my Alk is high as well, I guess it is a CO2 problem, but how to deal with it is another issue. My course of action today is to leave the canopy doors open a little til i get home and take my calc, alk, and ph readings again. I do have a ~10" fan on the back of the canopy, but the tank is close to the wall ~8". Also, i do have an airconditioning vent above the tank ~3 ft. above.
 
7.9 still isnt all that bad. I can live with 7.9-8.0 during the summer.

Some people have had luck running outside air into their skimmer line.

Have you tried the outside aeration test ?
 
what do u mean by outside air into skimmer line...actually a line from outside the house? For me, that would be about 60ft line. I do have dual pumps on my skimmer(euro reef recirc.) one line i have Ozone mixing with it. The other is just open under the cabinet.
 
Leave tank alone, it is fine :D Alk of 3.8 is Ok, 4.0 is max. Yes, could get it a little higher. Tank lid open may help. Does the fan or can the fan blow out air out from under the canopy in a good fashion. Maybe you can get the under tank canopy air to go out that vent. You could also pull in outside air for the skimmer.

Many people wish they had your readings ;)
 
It is fine. My real issue is your tank readings are nice and stable and I do not want them messed up. If you do what I suggested in the above post and you can get it a little higher great. I do not want you adding or changing sup's from what you are doing, especially adding something new. It is not broke so don't try and fix it ;)

Randy says 7.8-8.5 OK

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php
 
I will try messing with the fans ..... being the tank is only ~8" from the back to the wall, is it best to have the fan blowing in or pulling the air out? Right now it is pulling air out. I am using only 1 fan at this time and its ~10" in size.

As far as the vent...no way to do that cause the vent is on the ceiling...wife would kill me having something running up to the ceiling.
 
it best to have the fan blowing in or pulling the air out



Pulling out. Blowing may increase the ambient air pressure under the hood and maybe more CO2 in water. Some use two fans, one pulling and one blowing ( one at each end of he canopy).
 
Update:
I ckd and the fan is pulling air out(not blowing into canopy).
Also reckd the parameters and Ca 450, Alk 3.7, PH 8.1-8.2, Mag 1290. Guess not much i can do for the PH at this point except to figure a way to do a slow drip opposed to larger doses at top off time. Just wish there were more room under a 120.
 
Well, i am almost convinced that my CO2 is the culprit. My ORP seems to be low lately(250-300). It used to be around 400. Need to figure out how i am going to bring it back up...airing out the house is not an option in the summer in Florida. Past couple days i have been leaving the canopy and cabinet doors open partially while i am at work. I do seem to be consistant of 7.9ph in the mornings. The only other reading that seems to be off is my nitrate(~20). That one i am working on with my new Sulfur Denitrator and less food).

What would make the biggest impact on CO2 to give me a jump start?
 
Is there a limit to how long the hose can be that goes to the skimmer? Did i mention that i am also running ozone to the skimmer as well. I have a Euro recirc. and one pump hose is dedicated for the ozone, i can run the other pump hose to fresh air.

Do i just need to have the hose away from the Tank area? or does it need to be another room?

oh yeah, HIGH Air....do u mean ceiling area?

thanks
Ben
 
No, high room air CO2. Get a pump that will pump outside air to your skimmer
 
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