Balance ph

[gaz]

Hi guy's, this is my first post on R2R so be gentle. I was just wondering what's the best way to balance my PH. I don't have a lot of corals, LPS open brain and hammer,Softies pulsing xenia three types of shrooms and a couple of Zoas., I had two duncan corals which lost their stalk flesh and died pretty quick even though my hammer and open brain is doing great.
My parameters are fine apart from PH and with the little live stock I don't think it's necessary to dose kalk and I'm worried about sending calc etc sky high. I have a PH buffer but haven't used it yet because I didn't know if a stable low PH 7.8 is better then it Swinging up and down all the time. I have the NT lab buffer how long does it last before you have to dose again? Any help will be great thanks guys.

 

[Downbeach]

The pH in your system is more controlled by the amount of CO2 thats in it and the surrouuding atmosphere. Any time of year that your house is closed up due to heat/cold, you're going to have elevated levels of CO2 in the house, and through gas exchange, in your system as well. You will notice a swing in your pH thoughout the day, being lower in the AM and at its highest in the PM, this is normal and nothing to worry about as long as its within about 7.8 to 8.5, with your other param's (Ca and Alk) being within their acceptable ranges too. Using a buffer will only have a temporay affect elevating the pH, since once the CO2 in your system reaches equilibrium with the surrounding atmosphere, it will return to its base level, and you'll be left with potentially elevated alkalinity. I successfully ran a mixed reef system for many years at a pH of 7.8 to 8.1 without any issues.

 

[gaz]

Thanks for reply yeah I always try to keep a window open but my wife is always cold even when it's 30 degrees outside so it normally gets shut again