I took over an already established reef tank and now that I’ve got everything setback up and looking healthy I’m starting to get into testing all my levels. My ph is running 7.9 which from what I read is low end of normal. My alkalinity test shows up tomorrow and I have a feeling it’s gonna be a bit low cause it seemed it with a test kit I had trouble reading hence the new kit coming. I would like to get a jump start on the next step if my alkalinity is low...from a beginner stand point what’s my best option. I’m not looking at dosing everything with my apex yet I want to learn the basics first. What’s the easiest safest route to boost alkalinity if that steps needed?
Alkalinity question
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Old Fritz
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There are a billion products on the market to boost ph, alkalinity, or both .if you want to raise both get something like sea buffer. Most chain retailers carry it or you can order it online. Otherwise there are a billion brands of stuff to increase alkalinity. I would wait for the tests first to see what your alkalinity is. If you dont mind me asking what is your salinity at? Products like instant ocean will normally bring you up to a good ph . Otherwise low ph can be caused by a number of things such as acidic tap water.
infinite0180
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I have had very good luck so far with ESV 2 part Calcium Buffer System. Its two bottles dosed at equal parts to maintain Alk and Cal. You base it off your Alk concumption and by dosing equal amounts it ensures both Cal and Alk stay balanced in you system. It works great. I tried using Red Sea Alk, Cal, and Mag. It was such a heachache trying to dose different amounts of all three. Its much easier to dose ESV equally and achieve a balance!
Hitman
Reefing One Day @ A Time!!!
I agree with ESV products. Just like you when I started having to adjust parameters I wanted tried trued and simple and I found ESV B-Ionic to be just that. Here’s a link Randy built that has the calculators for adjustments for your test results. Just fill in your tank size, test results, and product used and follow the directions.
http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html
http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html
infinite0180
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There is some Mag in ESV. It appears to be enough to maintain my levels, but every tank is different. As long as you do an occasional water change Mag should be fine. If not, ESV has a Mag component available as well that can be dosed separately.
BedrockIOMC
Never to salty, Just don't go over 35.
You need to remember that the time of day you test your PH has a effect on it. If you are testing later in the day there is a good chance that your PH is fine I wouldnt jump the gun yet. Your PH isnt as important then you think and there isnt a lot of Reefers that spend time chasing PH. i would tell to stay AWAY from buffers. They will have you doing water changes more then I want to do. Which I go months if I do my water change at all. Your CO2 that you breath into your home at night will bring your PH down. I would just treat your ALK and not chase your PH at all. Your PH is right where mine gets to on my low point in the evenings and weekends. I promise you that if you add a CO2 scrubber to your skimmer your PH will come way up without chemicals in your tank. Heck you can opening your windows of the evening and bring it up or run a hose to outside air to your skimmer and it will come up. Get the Red Sea trinity for your additives. It has a bottle of CAL, ALK, and MAG in it and they are a one part dosing system. Go slow adding and DONT over dose. Stay with a one part dosing unless your using a dosing pump with a controller. If you need any help at all you can message me if you like and I dont care to help you any time you need it. I hope the info I have passed on has helped you.
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Thank you for posting this!
So my ph swings from 7.65 to 7.96 according to my apex....just got done testing oh with api and my reading was 8 or 9. 8 drops was kind of yellow/blue and 9 was all the way blue so it appears as though I’m in range but still on the low side...I think I’m going to hike my salinity to 1.26 from 1.25 is there a chance this brings up my ph an alk a smidge?
BedrockIOMC
Never to salty, Just don't go over 35.
I hope your ph isnt getting up into the 9 on your PH. It's better to be under 8.4 then over but 8.3 is your idea PH. It really depends on what salt you use in your water. I have seen some effect PH and some not but its usually not much if it does. I use the red sea purple bucket now for my water. I brings your parameter to the highest point they should be and the works down. The red sea gives your great water and great parameters to start off. I dont like adding water then having to add something else as well. I can go a few days after add water with red sea in it before I have to add anything else. If your PH is right around 8 i wouldnt worry about it and take care of everything else. That is where mine stays.
BedrockIOMC
Never to salty, Just don't go over 35.
Love this stuff
BedrockIOMC
Never to salty, Just don't go over 35.
Oh got ya, your is running a little higher then mine. I would not worry about your PH and take care of your other parameters. If you put a CO2 scrubber on the skimmer you'll be good but dont have to hurry in doing it. Your going to be fine .
BedrockIOMC
Never to salty, Just don't go over 35.
Not a problem at all, like I say if I can help in anyway in the future I am here. I will help all I can and if I dont know I will help point you in the right area to find out. Wish you the best with your tank.
Let me just run it all by one more time so I can relax....so ph is swinging from 7.6 (actually had a low of 7.59 this morning) to 7.9 throughout the course of a day. You recommend just letting it be and not worry about those numbers. Alk is ok too at 8ish? Using reef crystals right now I’m gonna bump my salinity up to 1.026 and test before I do my water change to see what I’m at for alk. And keep an eye on what it drops to in one week. If I’m not satisfied I’ll switch to redsea purple bucket and start with some dosing if needed...sound like a plan?
BedrockIOMC
Never to salty, Just don't go over 35.
Alk I keep up around 9.4 or .5. I misunderstood you if you was asking about alk that low. Softies and lps take more alk. Sps take more cal. But I'm letting you see my PH and your a little bit higher then mine. I do keep my salt at 1.026 for sure. I would switch to Red Sea salt if it was me but thats not a huge deal if you dont. But yeah raise your ALK up to 9.4 and test daily till you can tell what you use daily and know how much to add everyday and keep it at 9.4. I have to add 10ML daily on mine. If I miss a day and it drops I add 15ML a day till it gets back to 9.4 and hold it there with 10ML daily. Yoou dont want to bring it up to fast and add to mucj ALK at one time.
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