How do I keep my ph up?

[Aquarium1212]

I have a 16 gallon bio cube reef tank, and for some reason the ph stays at a range of 7.0 to 7.2. I want it at at least 8.2 to 8.4. I have some buffer that I dose in the tank whenever I see it low, which is all the time. I’ll put in the buffer, and check an hour or two later. The ph rises to 8.2. The next day, I’ll check and it goes back down to 7.2. What can I do. My kh is at about 7-8 dkh.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Definite testing error. In no normal reef tank is the pH that low.

NEVER use buffers to solve pH issues. It will end with alkalinity too high.

 

[Txplicit]

In a 16gallon, a water change is about all you should do to regulate tour parameters. Adding chemicals can cause swift swings rapidly that would lead to adding more chemicals to balance it. Unending cycle and wasting money. 16 gallons, do a 10 gallon wc, test to see where you are at. If it's not where your livestock is happy, wait a couple days and do a 5 gallon wc.

 

[Aquarium1212]

In a 16gallon, a water change is about all you should do to regulate tour parameters. Adding chemicals can cause swift swings rapidly that would lead to adding more chemicals to balance it. Unending cycle and wasting money. 16 gallons, do a 10 gallon wc, test to see where you are at. If it's not where your livestock is happy, wait a couple days and do a 5 gallon wc.

All of my livestock seem pretty happy, but I am not happy with the parameters, I want them to be as close to perfect as possible. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Aquarium1212]

Definite testing error. In no normal reef tank is the pH that low.

NEVER use buffers to solve pH issues. It will end with alkalinity too high.

Ok thanks, I had a feeling it could be a testing error, but I wasn’t too sure, because most of the time when I test the ph in the water it is at about 7.2-7.6 or even 7.8.

 

[Jamesrup0411]

Lol sums it up

 

[windemerejack]

Test your freshly mixed salt water first and see what that reads, I think most salts mix between 8.0-8,3

 

[Backreefing]

In a 16gallon, a water change is about all you should do to regulate tour parameters. Adding chemicals can cause swift swings rapidly that would lead to adding more chemicals to balance it. Unending cycle and wasting money. 16 gallons, do a 10 gallon wc, test to see where you are at. If it's not where your livestock is happy, wait a couple days and do a 5 gallon wc.

Well said . I thought drip some kalk but a tank at 16 gallons , just do a water change done .