Bringing PH levels up?

[Nicknackzz13]

Hey

wondering if theres a DIY way or anyway at all to bring the PH levels up? everything else in my tank seems to be fine..

heres my readings so far

Salinity- 1.024/ 1.025
Nitrate- 0
Nitrite- 0/0.5
PH \- 7.0/7.5
KH- 40/80 <--v
GH- 180ppm <-- v
Unsure what the last 2 are ^ but thats the readings so far, been like this slightly up and down for the past few days

i also raised my temp from 72f to 78f because my heater was dying i believe )bought a new better one with temp controls)


So how can i fix anything here that needs fixed, Raised or lowered? if theres liquids i can buy to put in to help please let me know as i can get them tomorrow.

also im curious if i can add clownfish with these levels? or any algae eating invert/snails?

when i need to top the water off do i add salt to it or no? i think someone told me i can just add freah water to top the tank off if the water levels seem lower, i ony replace salt when i do a water change, correct??

thanks

 

[pugcrush]

Rule #1 with PH: Don't chase it

Having said that, what are you measuring it with? Calibrated properly? What time of day during your lighting cycle?

 

[Nicknackzz13]

Rule #1 with PH: Don't chase it

Having said that, what are you measuring it with? Calibrated properly? What time of day during your lighting cycle?

water testing strips, high and low moon lighting bring same results (day being slightly but really not much higher)

and yes calibrated properly

they say teatspoon of baking soda to every 20gallons will help raise PH levels?

 

[Diesel]

Kalkwasser does it too and lot saver as you add it to your ATO and you have an instant doser.
Bringing in fresh air does wonders too.

 

[pugcrush]

water testing strips, high and low moon lighting bring same results (day being slightly but really not much higher)

and yes calibrated properly

they say teatspoon of baking soda to every 20gallons will help raise PH levels?

Honestly, I'm not too sure on the accuracy of test strips. PH probes tend to be the most accurate in the hobby. (I wouldn't necessarily go out and buy one). Do you have any livestock in the tank?

 

[Nicknackzz13]

Honestly, I'm not too sure on the accuracy of test strips. PH probes tend to be the most accurate in the hobby. (I wouldn't necessarily go out and buy one). Do you have any livestock in the tank?

yes sir, i have 2 little shy chromish fish!

 

[Nicknackzz13]

bubbler tube, tank + window- PH levels raise a little by morning?

 

[Nicknackzz13]

guys can i ask another question i think someone told me on here but i forgot to note it


can i top my water level off with fresh water (No need to add salt?) i only mix salt - water when doing a water change, correct?

i need to top my water off a little, just a tad bit cause the filter water makes noise lol splashing

 

[NeverlosT]

yup, fresh filtered water. Non-chlorinated, Reverse Osmosis De-Ionized water is best, but anything filtered is ok, you just might get some nutrients or chloramines or other nasty bits with it.

That pH sounds quite low, I would question the test strips if the tank looks happy. Kalkwasser addition will raise your pH but also your Alkalinity, and the high Alkalinity may burn corals (especially if it is raised quickly).

Good luck!

 

[Nicknackzz13]

yup, fresh filtered water. Non-chlorinated, Reverse Osmosis De-Ionized water is best, but anything filtered is ok, you just might get some nutrients or chloramines or other nasty bits with it.

That pH sounds quite low, I would question the test strips if the tank looks happy. Kalkwasser addition will raise your pH but also your Alkalinity, and the high Alkalinity may burn corals (especially if it is raised quickly).

Good luck!

you think i could add clowns yet? or hold off? My chromish are doing great but very shy lol i notice them when i wake up thriving and swimming then go into hiding once i get up or come into my room they see me coming!

 

[NeverlosT]

How long has the tank been running? If it is several weeks and the cycle (high ammonia, nitrites, nitrates) has ended (now zero ammonia and low nitrate and nitrites) then you should be fine to add a couple of clowns and a clean up crew (snails, hermits, etc.).

The fish are funny, they see me coming and always come out to say hello hoping to be fed.

 

[SaltMan]

I would invest in a better test kit.

 

[Nicknackzz13]

How long has the tank been running? If it is several weeks and the cycle (high ammonia, nitrites, nitrates) has ended (now zero ammonia and low nitrate and nitrites) then you should be fine to add a couple of clowns and a clean up crew (snails, hermits, etc.).

The fish are funny, they see me coming and always come out to say hello hoping to be fed.

haha awesome what fish you got bud? wish mine welcomed me! haha

my tank was bought last week and was running as the dude i bought it from said he had 2 maroon clownfish in it and live rock for a year, so he drained all the water (left come in for the rock) and i just readded the salt and water mix when i got home, waited a few days for water to go clear, now algae and all is growing again and ive used some cycle booster liquids and added two chromish fish who seem to be doing well, just very shy! but very aware swimming around and eating when no ones here or if youre still enough they will swim around but once you move they hide lol its hilarious,

i really wanna put in a small eel, clownfish pair but maybe one to begin with, corals, cleaner crew

 

[Nicknackzz13]

thinking about dong the open window with tube test and see if they raise up a bit more, i think ill invest in a better test kit and re test it all before adding more fish

 

[NeverlosT]

I think that you are in good shape, just go slow and read all that you can on forums like this, and take all advise with a grain of salt. Good luck!

I have many fish but my favorite is probably my Japanese elegance blenny. Her is just one odd duck

 

[Pete polyp]

Do you have gas heat?

 

[Nicknackzz13]

I think that you are in good shape, just go slow and read all that you can on forums like this, and take all advise with a grain of salt. Good luck!

I have many fish but my favorite is probably my Japanese elegance blenny. Her is just one odd duck

haha any pics of the blenny man!?


No sir dont have gas heating.. normal vents in the roof heating! my tanks crystal clear, with one happy little Chromish in it, the other vanished completely i believe maybe bristleworms or something devoured him! :/ but the other is ding fantastic!!!!! eating as well now and not as shy but still a little sketchy...

gonna get a water testing kit this week in my PS and test me waters and see how we're doing! im sure we're doing great cause mt chromish is so lively and hungry hes great!

 

[Lenny_S]

KH is carbonate hardness and GH is general hardness. I'm not sure what a proper GH should be, but a good KH range for a reef tank is 125-200 ppm calcium carbonate equivalents (includes bicarbonate)
If the test strip you're using is measuring KH in ppm then 40/80 assuming it's close to accurate is very low and would contribute significantly to the low pH.
Adjusting very slowly (like over the course of a week) with a high quality buffer that is high in carbonates but low/no borates will do the trick.
I would make the adjustment before adding any more livestock since they would probably come from a system where the water has much higher alkalinity and a pH between 8.0 and 8.4

 

[Nicknackzz13]

KH is carbonate hardness and GH is general hardness. I'm not sure what a proper GH should be, but a good KH range for a reef tank is 125-200 ppm calcium carbonate equivalents (includes bicarbonate)
If the test strip you're using is measuring KH in ppm then 40/80 assuming it's close to accurate is very low and would contribute significantly to the low pH.
Adjusting very slowly (like over the course of a week) with a high quality buffer that is high in carbonates but low/no borates will do the trick.
I would make the adjustment before adding any more livestock since they would probably come from a system where the water has much higher alkalinity and a pH between 8.0 and 8.4

5th feb my 0/ 7.5 and i think my GH was 180ppm, KH- 40-80ppm, no3- 0.. no2- o/o.5

 

[Nicknackzz13]

going to be testing them again this week, and what do you mean by a "Buffer" >??? where do i buy that