What's with the low PH?

[Tangweed]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15448438#post15448438 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by patsfan1130
How are you testing your PH? I'm almost willing to bet it is a testing error. 9 times out of 10 a PH that low is.

I'm using a PH meter. I started dripping kalk last night in my top off. PH is climbing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. My Torch coral is opened up pretty good right now with out lights on.

 

[patsfan1130]

Have you calibrated it? I know these are some remedial questions sp forgive me. I had the same issue about a year ago. I was using a PH meter as well. I had calibrated it twice & was convinced my measurement was correct. turned out the meter was faulty.

 

[blackthunda77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15448401#post15448401 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nebraskareef
The air-hose outside to the skimmer thing is a stretching it a-bit IME. Some skimmers may even suffer if you have this 50' hose leading outside...

yea your def right, but thats why i said "if possible" he said it was a basement so im assuming there has to be a window or door pretty close. then again im from south florida and we dont have those here so im the last person you want to be talking to about basements, lol. in my case, the sump with the skimmer is in an enclosed balcony, i just have the skimmer airhose going out a 1/4 hole i drilled in the window frame, its about 4 ft away.

 

[nebraskareef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15448521#post15448521 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blackthunda77
yea your def right, but thats why i said "if possible" he said it was a basement so im assuming there has to be a window or door pretty close. then again im from south florida and we dont have those here so im the last person you want to be talking to about basements, lol. in my case, the sump with the skimmer is in an enclosed balcony, i just have the skimmer airhose going out a 1/4 hole i drilled in the window frame, its about 4 ft away.

Ah, I see how that would be the IDEAL situation for importing outside air via a skimmer hose. If the original poster has access to outside relatively close to the skimmer, it's worth a shot. I never saw any increase in my personal tests though.

Thanks for including that idea though, undoubtedly there are more lurkers reading this thread for a similar problem.

 

[Tangweed]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15448495#post15448495 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by patsfan1130
Have you calibrated it? I know these are some remedial questions sp forgive me. I had the same issue about a year ago. I was using a PH meter as well. I had calibrated it twice & was convinced my measurement was correct. turned out the meter was faulty.

It's been a little while since I calibrated it. I'm going to my LFS for some new cal solution today.

Anyone know if when the meters start to become inaccurate do show low readings or a high one?

 

[blackthunda77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15448570#post15448570 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nebraskareef
Ah, I see how that would be the IDEAL situation for importing outside air via a skimmer hose. If the original poster has access to outside relatively close to the skimmer, it's worth a shot. I never saw any increase in my personal tests though.

Thanks for including that idea though, undoubtedly there are more lurkers reading this thread for a similar problem.

well the only reason i post that is because that is my issue. i have had this issue and thats what resolves it for me, esp in summer when my condo is buttoned up tight cuz its so hot out. i did the test that is recommened to do. i took a cup of my low, 7.6 ph and set it outside with a airpump for about an hour and low and behold when i brouht it in and tested it it jumped to 8.1. so if its possible, its worth a shot.

 

[Jean Corcoran]

Hi! I am having the same problem -ph 7.8. I don't know if I should add calk because my other readings are all high.

Ca >520
dKH 11
Mg >1500
Nitrate and nitrite 0
SG 1.023

My clams are reacting poorly. Any advice? Thanks

 

[blackthunda77]

if you can do what i recommended. see if you take a glass of water from your tank and put it outside with an air pump and stone pumping air in the cp for about and hour or two, if you see that the ph rose significanlty with nothing done aside the addition of fresh o2 then you know that you have a bit too much co2 trapped in the house. you can either do what i did which is to connect your skimmer air hose outside, or somepeople just buy a decently powerfull air pump, a long air hose (as long as your situation needs atleast) and set the pump outside somewhere where it draws in fresh air and put the stone in the tank, sump preferably.

 

[nebraskareef]

If you are going to pull air in from outside, regardless of skimmer or air pump, for direct injection into the aquarium water - please be sure to "pre-filter" that air. A butter container full of carbon and floss with holes in it works wonders. All too often a neighbor will be painting, varnishing, spraying weed killer, etc. You don't want that stuff making it into the water...

food for thought

 

[blackthunda77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15449497#post15449497 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nebraskareef
If you are going to pull air in from outside, regardless of skimmer or air pump, for direct injection into the aquarium water - please be sure to "pre-filter" that air. A butter container full of carbon and floss with holes in it works wonders. All too often a neighbor will be painting, varnishing, spraying weed killer, etc. You don't want that stuff making it into the water...

food for thought

good point.