Acceptable alk low p.h

TheGreatBarrioReef · Jan 12, 2013

my alk is 170ppm(9.52 dKH--3.4 meq) and my ph is 7.8.. i've always had this issue. i dose brs alk and calcium solutions. alk 3 minutes of every hour and all my calcium a few hours before lights turn on(in the morning). any suggestions?

fragmatic · Jan 12, 2013

audacious1, what time of day to you do the test? Have you verified with a new or different test kit. That is not a serious pH problem in my opinion. What kind of substrate are you using? Generally a reef tank with plenty of live rock and an agrigate sand bed will take care of itself as far as pH is concerned.

I am interested in what your Ca is.. based on you KH, I'm thinking it is in tolerance.

TheGreatBarrioReef · Jan 12, 2013

fragmatic said:
audacious1, what time of day to you do the test? Have you verified with a new or different test kit. That is not a serious pH problem in my opinion. What kind of substrate are you using? Generally a reef tank with plenty of live rock and an agrigate sand bed will take care of itself as far as pH is concerned.

I am interested in what your Ca is.. based on you KH, I'm thinking it is in tolerance.

i tested about 2 hours after lights turned on. i tested the ph with my controller probe and with a handheld pen. had same results. i have a bare bottom tank and about 100lbs of live rock. i tested calcium with salifert and reads 425.. mag at 1350

Downbeach · Jan 12, 2013

Can you open some windows? Although it really isn't bad, it's probably due to elevated levels of CO2 in the household atmosphere. What are you using to measure it with?

always reefin · Jan 12, 2013

Bare bottom probably is not helping

ritter6788 · Jan 12, 2013

accepatble alk low p.h

Nothing to worry about IMO. My pH has always been 7.8-8.0. I don't trust the accuracy of tests or probes either.

TheGreatBarrioReef · Jan 12, 2013

thanks guys. i have 6 large windows in my living room. can't open all since it's very cold but i opened one and my p.h is now 7.96. ive never had that 8.2 ph but my corals are growing quite fast. maybe i'm just worrying too much..

fragmatic · Jan 13, 2013

If you test that early after the lights have just come on, and do not have a refugium or sump that is lit at night to buffer the pH you can expect the pH to be a little low from the darkness.

Russellaqua · Jan 13, 2013

audacious1 said:
thanks guys. i have 6 large windows in my living room. can't open all since it's very cold but i opened one and my p.h is now 7.96. ive never had that 8.2 ph but my corals are growing quite fast. maybe i'm just worrying too much..

Many corals are quite tolerant of "abnormal" conditions. Many acros and some zoos survive being out of water at low tide, and being rained on. The pH of rainwater is around 5.66. They're tougher than we give them credit for. Time of day can definitely influence the reading as well as stated above.

Downbeach · Jan 13, 2013

I've been using Kalkwasser(Mrs. Wages) as part of my dosing regiment, it keeps my pH at around 8 in the AM, even with the house closed up this time of year.

Here's a couple of articles worth a read:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php

What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

Zack · Jan 13, 2013

I never even check my ph. But the rare times when I have checked it it is usually always 7.8. I've read other posts on here where others have ph in this range too. I think as long as everything in your tank is ok I wouldn't worry about it, IMHO. if I tried to keep mine around 8.3 it would be a constant battle.

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Pappy · Jan 13, 2013

accepatble alk low p.h

+1 down beach! I always had ph 7.8 and started dosing kalk and its 8.1-8.3 all the time. Never worried about it b4 but have seen improvement in growth and color since.

TheGreatBarrioReef · Jan 13, 2013

i ordered brs kalk and was wondering if you stop your 2 part dosing while using kalk or do you continue your 2-part dosing along with kalk. appreciate it.

Singlefin · Jan 13, 2013

It's up to you. You would use less 2-part if you started using kalk. Kalk maintains the level you're at. It doesn't necessarily raise your numbers. I would have to add ca. And alk. I stopped using kalk ad went with just 2-part to have one less ting to mix and remove one variable (kalk) that isn't necessarily exact since I was using it In my ATO. Either way test test test to see where you're at to keep it stable.

Downbeach · Jan 13, 2013

I do both. I'd start with 1 tsp./gal. of RO/DI water and check your param's, you can go up to 2 tsp./gal. You may have to adjust your two part dosing amount a bit.

TheGreatBarrioReef · Jan 13, 2013

oh ok i see. well, currently im dosing ca and alk through brs 1.1 ml dosing pumps and it keeps my ca and alk very stable. maybe i dont need kalk at the moment? you guys are very helpful.

Singlefin · Jan 13, 2013

If its stable. Don't mess with it. If you are using a lot of 2-part and its getting expensive, maybe start.

Lionheart513 · Jan 13, 2013

I have ph problems too I've been told that I have a gas furnace and I guess that's not a great thing to have.so I bought house plans and stuff n was told that will help a lil absorbing it. What you guys think about the theory ?