tuning calcium reactor

[refonpit]

I have been trying to fine tune a calcium reactor. Was doing well until today when I noticed a drop in ph. A major drop, from 8.1 to 7.2. What couldve caused this? Its been stable for more than a week now. I added a little baking soda for a quick fix.
The only thing different I can think of ......... and this is way out there.......I started using gas logs in fireplace. Think that would change the chemistry in water?
Any suggestions? Im preparing to do a water change now.
Glad I took the day off, its snowing like crazy.

 

[stripevt]

Gas logs can cause a change. They use quite a bit of oxygen that is in the house, some so much that you need to vent fresh air into the house. I know there is chemistry behind it but just don't know much about it, but I'm sure it is kind of like when people open their windows and there Ph goes alil crazy.

 

[stripevt]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16151212

 

[ade]

winter is bad for PH. i could open my door and watch my PH go back to normal. I would take a guess that is if your gas logs over cal reactor but it doesn't harm to calibrate probes and check your drip rate and all the other fun stuff you have to do to keep you cal reator running.

 

[refonpit]

Yep, I think it was the gas logs. Opened door and window a bit, by this evening everything was back to normal. Thanx for the input. If the propane was sucking that much oxygen out of the air, how good could it be for humans?

 

[stripevt]

As for the O2 usage if you have the manual for your gas logs it has a page with a work sheet to see if you need to have a fresh air vent from outside into the house. It is mainly for newer houses that are sealed very well. Sorry cant be much help on the Ph, other than it can cause a change, but yeah when we got our gas logs and read that it can be dangerous for it using too much O2 in the house to be safe I was like wth! Also on that note it isnt recommended to sleep in the same room with the logs. Either way hope you find a way to get it at a stable ph for your tank.

 

[ade]

If possible you can run your skimmer air line out side.Somewhat fresh air ;-) That would take care of that issue. If you don't have that far to get it outside and have to make sure that the inside dimension is large enough so that you are not choking your skimmer. Also if you do run it outside the airline outside then make sure that the intake is no were near any fumes or pesticides.

 

[refonpit]

Ph was reading 8.1 after dosing with baking soda and venting the house. Yesterday it read 8.3, this morning however it was 8.5. The lights had not came on yet!!! Now I think I have too much fresh air. I'll be on pins and needles till I get off from work wondering what the mysterey number will be.
Good idea piping in fresh air from the outside. Easy fix