How do I keep PH stable?

[DraggingTail]

My dKH has been dropping and now at 7 and my PH is all over from 7.8 to 8.4.

How do I bring dKH up to stabilize PH?

 

[phlibbyreefer]

Dose alk? Via ato if you don’t have a doser?

 

[Flippers4pups]

If your PH is between 7.8 and 8.4, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[rob safron]

That’s what my pH runs with spot on Alk for years now. I have tried all the tricks, still use a CO2 scrubber. Airline outside. Algae reactor with opposite light schedule. Nothing changed the daily high and lows but everything is growing and healthy. I would dose to keep your alk stable, way more important than pH fluctuation.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

There is almost nothing in your tank to take up co2.(coral algae ) Yet.


IMO , don’t get caught up in the chasing ph craze.

 

[NS Mike D]

I wouldn't concern myself yet, it looks like a new tank without coral which makes it harder to keep stable but less critical.


As you start adding corals: There are two reasons that I know will drop alk, but I am sure there are others. The coal (and coraline algae i a new tank) will consume alk as it forms on the rock. Alk can also precipitate - usually when it's out of balance with CA and Mg.

Consistent water changes should help. As for dosing, keep recording your weekly drops so you know how much is being consumed - but this is really more important once you add corals. Daily manual dosing (ATO and dosers already mentioned) is my preferred method for now - a capful of alk and a half capful of ca hold my numbers steady, but my tank is 3 years old so my coral alk and ca use is steady. I don't like using the ATO since changes evaporation (especially with big seasonal swings in humidity) affects how much water gets replaced.

Read up on the relationship between nutrients (NO3 & PO4) and Alk. There appears to be a correlation, for example, ultra low nutrient tanks for SPS will run alk low, like 7 . Higher nutrient tanks will run their alk higher in the 10+ range. Red Sea publishes target rates for alk, 8.2 for color and 12.5 for growth (with corresponding NO3 & PO4 low and high numbers). fwiw I target the middle range with a mixed tank (soft, lps & sps) and that seems to work. May not the ideal for getting the best color or growth, but it works

 

[DraggingTail]

There is almost nothing in your tank to take up co2.(coral algae ) Yet.


IMO , don’t get caught up in the chasing ph craze.

To raise dKH, how much baking soda (sodium carbonate) to add?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

To raise dKH, how much baking soda (sodium carbonate) to add?

Why would you need to increase your Alk?
(Not to be snarky) Your alk uptake should be near nothing right now.
I also think it’s a better idea to use kalk wasser. It’s cheap, and increase both alk and cal. He alk boost btw will effect ph.

A simple water change is also a good way to increase both somewhat evenly. You don’t actually need to be precise.
Thus , many salts like instant ocean and reef crystals have more alk than cal.

 

[DraggingTail]

Why would you need to increase your Alk?
(Not to be snarky) Your alk uptake should be near nothing right now.
I also think it’s a better idea to use kalk wasser. It’s cheap, and increase both alk and cal. He alk boost btw will effect ph.

A simple water change is also a good way to increase both somewhat evenly. You don’t actually need to be precise.
Thus , many salts like instant ocean and reef crystals have more alk than cal.

Thanks. I am just practicing keeping my dKH at 10 since I plan to add SPS once my tank stays stable

 

[DraggingTail]

Why would you need to increase your Alk?
(Not to be snarky) Your alk uptake should be near nothing right now.
I also think it’s a better idea to use kalk wasser. It’s cheap, and increase both alk and cal. He alk boost btw will effect ph.

A simple water change is also a good way to increase both somewhat evenly. You don’t actually need to be precise.
Thus , many salts like instant ocean and reef crystals have more alk than cal.

I want some like this.

 

[NS Mike D]

Thanks. I am just practicing keeping my dKH at 10 since I plan to add SPS once my tank stays stable

what's the dkh of your saltwater BEFORE you add it to the tank?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thanks. I am just practicing keeping my dKH at 10 since I plan to add SPS once my tank stays stable

I would def look at Randy’s articles, in particular on if you should and how you should dose and the options available.

In all honesty, it’s quite simple , your tank uses x, so you replace x.
When it uses xx your replace xx.
Mag cal and alk drop evenly MOST of the time. All two and three part formulas are made to be dosed evenly becuse of this fact.
So you could , get an auto doser and add 1ml of cal alk and mag every day. At the end of the week, just test alk. If it’s low , make it 2 ml per day , and test at the end of the week. Repeat until you consistently hit the target.
As you add more organisms that use more , you will slowly increase the amount doses.
That , IMO, is the simplest method.

I want some like this.

Me too!!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Fwiw , I would reccomend 8-9 as a target for newer reefers in a young dry rock tank due to the usually low nutrients.

 

[NS Mike D]

To raise dKH, how much baking soda (sodium carbonate) to add?

Thanks to @Randy Holmes-Farley we have a thread to help you

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reef-chemistry-calculators.172972/

 

[lapin]

good stuff
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/

 

[DraggingTail]

what's the dkh of your saltwater BEFORE you add it to the tank?

I did not thank about that. I will check. I am using reef crystals .5 cup gallon

 

[lapin]

If I recall RC mixes to 11 at 1.025
Let me reword that
" If my old brain remembers correctly. When I mixed RC at water temp in the 60's , it mixed at about 11dkh at around a salinity of about 1.025 when I remembered to recalibrate my refractometer"
lots extra words )))))))))))))))))))))

 

[NS Mike D]

I did not thank about that. I will check. I am using reef crystals .5 cup gallon

(


fiwiw, the directions on RC are for a specific gravity of 1.021. After mixing and giving time for it to stabilize, adjust the mix to your desired SG

one test I saw had alk at 13 when RC is mixed to 1.026

IMO, (and I have always used RC) RC is way to much for a new tank. Consider using Instant Ocean which should result in 11 dkh at 1.026.

But this is all a guessing game unless you test your new salt water for yourself. Consider using a scale and not a measuring cup.

I do commend you for keeping an eye on alk. That will go a long way in for successful reefs.

I do suggest you decide what type of tank you want. A mixed tank is, in the opinion of many, the hardest tank to maintain, yet it's the most common since we started with easy soft corals and keep adding more difficult corals seeking that great sps look. Thus, a sps dominant tank is not the hardest tank to keep.

 

[NS Mike D]

If I recall RC mixes to 11 at 1.025

there are a number of published tests with slightly varying results, but that is in the range at the SG (but closer to their IO). I recall that your temp and air quality will affect the final dkh reading once the mix is settled.

 

[Nathan Milender]

Thanks. I am just practicing keeping my dKH at 10 since I plan to add SPS once my tank stays stable

It looks like nobody answered your question about how much to add. While true you have nothing alive to worry about it, if you want the reassurance that you can create a predictable salt water for future water changes before you have something to kill I think this is reasonable. When I mix salt water, and it is off, I go to BRS site, use their calculators. Type in information (remember to use all gallons, not just what is in the tank), and it will tell you. Bicarb for increase alk without ph changes, ash for alk plus increase ph. Kalk for ato and maintence (no calculator for this, dial it in with trial and error, no need until something alive is using it).