I've been in the business of keeping salt water fish and corals for about 11 months now, having switched from Freshwater.. a hobby I enjoyed was successful at and hardly ever cared about PH... when I got into Salt.. I went at it like a total newbie.. and alot of people told me about PH and it MUST be between 8 and 8.3 to maintain a healthy tank.. but I've started to notice and Im starting to think PH is something that should be carefully ignored... as long as you balance your ALK and Calcium, keep your MAG up.. your PH will stay high enough and stable enough without having to really try.. the reason I say this is because my PH for the last few months has been low, and my ALK has been high, 13 or 14. The last month, I've stopped trying to dose my PH up, and I've watched the ALK drop and then I've stabalized it at 10 to 11, keep my calcium just above 400 and My tank has been great ever since.. I hardly ever see my PH swing up over 8.1, usually staying at 8 and then dipping to a high 7.8 at nights... anybody agree or totally disagree with that approach?
Who really cares about PH? Do you?
- Thread starter ocarius
- Start date
DC_40gallon
New member
The only thing I ever watch is Alk, Cal, Salinity and Temp
I am using Mardel strips right now which tests a ton of stuff just because some lady gave them to me for free when I bought her 29 gal tank and stand for $60.
I thought hell, the stips alone are $30 anywhere I look.
I am using Mardel strips right now which tests a ton of stuff just because some lady gave them to me for free when I bought her 29 gal tank and stand for $60.
I thought hell, the stips alone are $30 anywhere I look.
shaginwagon13
Chartered Accountant
+1 As for as im concerned my PH takes care of itself. It has never gone above 8.5 or below 7.9 regardless of what I do so I really don't worry about it and have never seen any problems
nukemdanno
New member
dots
Premium Member
Low pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm
High pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.htm
The Relationship Between Alkalinity and pH.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2002/chem.htm
The Chemical & Biochemical Mechanisms of Calcification in Corals
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/apr2002/chem.htm
Problem Dinoflagellates and pH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/rhf/index.php
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm
High pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.htm
The Relationship Between Alkalinity and pH.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2002/chem.htm
The Chemical & Biochemical Mechanisms of Calcification in Corals
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/apr2002/chem.htm
Problem Dinoflagellates and pH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/rhf/index.php
WI reefer55
New member
its more of stability when it comes to PH
xJake
Active member
To me, pH is more of an indicator that something else might be wrong. I use a Hanna pHep meter, and if something seems off (coral/fish behavior), the first things I check are salinity, temperature, and pH.
As WI_reefer55 said, with pH (and most other water parameters) it's important to maintain stability (within the range of 7.9-8.5) more than any certain "ideal" number.
As WI_reefer55 said, with pH (and most other water parameters) it's important to maintain stability (within the range of 7.9-8.5) more than any certain "ideal" number.
If my AC3 didn't keep track of it, I never would. I have one of those rare tanks that runs low ph, 7.8-8.05. I gave up trying to get it higher and to be honest I think my tank has done better without me trying. These things reach their own level of equilibrium, and sometimes they just seem to settle outside of what is considered the norm.
FWIW, pH and salinity are about the only things I check, but that's just me. 
While I agree that there is a pretty big range of acceptable pH, say, 7.8 to 8.5, it is clear from the scientific literature that lower pH can negatively impact the growth of hard corals and other calcifying organisms, and that if the pH is low enough, coral skeletons can actually slowly dissolve. This is the main reason that oceanographers are so concerned about rising CO2 levels and lowering ocean pH. The values that worry them are far higher than the low levels hit in many aquaria.
Excessively low pH can be corrected or offset in a number of ways that are easily accomplished in many systems, assuming it does concern you.
In addition to the articles described above, this one summarizes a lot of the effects and concerns:
The "How To" Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 3: pH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php
from it:
Introduction
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aquarists spend a considerable amount of time and effort worrying about, and attempting to solve, apparent problems with the pH of their aquaria. Some of this effort is certainly justified, as true pH problems can lead to poor animal health. In many cases, however, the only problem is with the pH measurement or its interpretation.
Several factors make monitoring a marine aquarium's pH level important. One is that aquatic organisms thrive only in a particular pH range, which varies from organism to organism. It is, therefore, difficult to justify a claim that a particular pH range is "optimal" in an aquarium housing many species. Even natural seawater's pH (typically 8.0 to 8.3) may be suboptimal for some of its creatures, but it was recognized more than 80 years ago that pH levels different from those of natural seawater can be stressful to fish. Additional information is now available about optimal pH ranges for many organisms, but the data are inadequate to allow aquarists to optimize pH for most organisms which interest them.
Changes in pH do substantially impact some fundamental processes taking place in many marine organisms. One of the most important of these processes is calcification, or the deposition of calcium carbonate skeletons. Calcification by many organisms is known to depend on pH, dropping as pH falls below normal levels. If the pH is low enough, coral skeletons actually dissolve. Using this type of information, along with the integrated experience of many hobbyists, we can develop some guidelines about what is an acceptable pH range for reef aquaria, and what values push the limits. These recommended ranges are detailed in subsequent sections.
While I agree that there is a pretty big range of acceptable pH, say, 7.8 to 8.5, it is clear from the scientific literature that lower pH can negatively impact the growth of hard corals and other calcifying organisms, and that if the pH is low enough, coral skeletons can actually slowly dissolve. This is the main reason that oceanographers are so concerned about rising CO2 levels and lowering ocean pH. The values that worry them are far higher than the low levels hit in many aquaria.
Excessively low pH can be corrected or offset in a number of ways that are easily accomplished in many systems, assuming it does concern you.
In addition to the articles described above, this one summarizes a lot of the effects and concerns:
The "How To" Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 3: pH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php
from it:
Introduction
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aquarists spend a considerable amount of time and effort worrying about, and attempting to solve, apparent problems with the pH of their aquaria. Some of this effort is certainly justified, as true pH problems can lead to poor animal health. In many cases, however, the only problem is with the pH measurement or its interpretation.
Several factors make monitoring a marine aquarium's pH level important. One is that aquatic organisms thrive only in a particular pH range, which varies from organism to organism. It is, therefore, difficult to justify a claim that a particular pH range is "optimal" in an aquarium housing many species. Even natural seawater's pH (typically 8.0 to 8.3) may be suboptimal for some of its creatures, but it was recognized more than 80 years ago that pH levels different from those of natural seawater can be stressful to fish. Additional information is now available about optimal pH ranges for many organisms, but the data are inadequate to allow aquarists to optimize pH for most organisms which interest them.
Changes in pH do substantially impact some fundamental processes taking place in many marine organisms. One of the most important of these processes is calcification, or the deposition of calcium carbonate skeletons. Calcification by many organisms is known to depend on pH, dropping as pH falls below normal levels. If the pH is low enough, coral skeletons actually dissolve. Using this type of information, along with the integrated experience of many hobbyists, we can develop some guidelines about what is an acceptable pH range for reef aquaria, and what values push the limits. These recommended ranges are detailed in subsequent sections.
Playa-1
In Memoriam
I think it's wise to track the pH as it can be an indicator of problems in the tank that need to be addressed. I do not track mine with the intention of controlling it within a tight range. As long as I'm in the 7.8 to 8.5 range then I don't give it a second thought. If I noticed it getting outside of that range then I would be paying closer attention to try and figure out what the problem is.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
re: Who really cares about PH? Do you?
noobs might not care about pH.
IME most of the long time reefkeepers (especially the SPS crowd) care about pH and monitor it.
noobs might not care about pH.
IME most of the long time reefkeepers (especially the SPS crowd) care about pH and monitor it.
redsea reefer
New member
I do, a good indicator that something else is also off.
I dont check because there is nothing I'm going to do about it regardless of what it test. I have all the flow, air water/surface contact, aeration, light cycle and room circulation I'm going to have. I am not going to balance alk/ca any differently then what I've been doing (such as using kalk or change buffer formulas) so basically its pointless for me to test what I'm not willing to alter the results of. I test alk, ca, mg, phosphates and occasionally nitrates (until it starts consistantly reading undetectable and becomes as pointless as pH testing for me).
moze229
Premium Member
Keeping mixed reefs since 2000 - haven't tested pH more than a handful of times in 6 or 7 years. I suppose it's poor husbandry on my part, but my method is to watch calcium and alk, add two-part, do 10% weekly water change, and keep media changed out. Haven't had any problems with water chemistry. This is what works for ME - may not work for others.
Of course, I may have had even better results by keeping pH stable. Perhaps it stays stable - I wouldn't know
Matt
Of course, I may have had even better results by keeping pH stable. Perhaps it stays stable - I wouldn't know
Matt
andrewk529
New member
i've posted this link before,most home aquariums are far more stable than their natural counterparts. i personally think it is pointless to place so much importance on pH from what i've read.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/6/aafeature
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/6/aafeature
kevantheman35
Member
i test about once every 1-2 months. if its way off i worry but its not the biggest concern for me
