How much will chaeto effect ph?

[BristleWormHater]

If you plan to keep a high nutrient system, figure out a consistent way to export. I run a HOB fuge, used to run a skimmer on my nano, can’t say either of those did anything significant cause pH, N and P always remained in the same range. Water changes kinda do everything for nanos

Planning on adding a refugium

 

[Uncle99]

Was looking at getting the Red Sea marine care kit which has a alk test in it is that test good or should I get selifert test kit as well.

I’ve had no success with that kit.
I found it had many steps.
If you’re going to test, Salifert, Nyos,Aquaforest.
Hanna for phosphate, cause I cannot determine the actual colour change for the others.
Accurate testing and monitoring at least for a year will go along way in you achieving success.
Testing saved me money in the end as I no longer have corals die.
If I “see” something, I can change it before it becomes an issue.
Stability is King!

 

[Formulator]

My ph has been stuck at 7.8

I currently don’t run a skimmer and I don’t really plan on it, because I want to run a higher nutrient system with a lot of filter feeders (Flame scallops, crocea clams, and feather dusters)

my tank is only a few weeks old and I haven’t added any corals yet should I even be worried about this?

7.8 will be fine to support the type of system you intend on running, even after adding corals. The rule is just not to let it fall below 7.8. Chasing higher pH values will help growth rates in stony corals, especially SPS, but anything above 7.8 will sustain them and in your high nutrient soft coral system it really won’t matter at all.

That said, if you have been taking your pH measurements around the same time every day, it would be a good idea to take a few throughout the day and at least one at night to make sure you aren’t dropping below 7.8 for any significant amount of time. pH oscillates through a day and night cycle due to photosynthesis and respiration of the organisms in your tank, so it won’t be 7.8 all the time. This oscillation will grow as you add corals so be sure to continue monitoring as you stock up the tank.

 

[BristleWormHater]

7.8 will be fine to support the type of system you intend on running, even after adding corals. The rule is just not to let it fall below 7.8. Chasing higher pH values will help growth rates in stony corals, especially SPS, but anything above 7.8 will sustain them and in your high nutrient soft coral system it really won’t matter at all.

That said, if you have been taking your pH measurements around the same time every day, it would be a good idea to take a few throughout the day and at least one at night to make sure you aren’t dropping below 7.8 for any significant amount of time. pH oscillates through a day and night cycle due to photosynthesis and respiration of the organisms in your tank, so it won’t be 7.8 all the time. This oscillation will grow as you add corals so be sure to continue monitoring as you stock up the tank.

Will 7.8 be fine for lps as well because that’s mainly what I’ll be putting in there.

 

[Formulator]

Will 7.8 be fine for lps as well because that’s mainly what I’ll be putting in there.

Yes it will be fine really for any coral. You just might get them to grow slightly faster if it were higher. They will still live and grow at 7.8, just slightly slower. I really suggest you reconsider the skimmer though. You don’t need sky high nutrients for the soft corals and being a new reefer, you will more likely just get discouraged by all the algae and cyano that will come with a system like that. I bet adding a skimmer would pull your pH up to 8.0 or higher along with a fuge. 10 ppm NO3 and 0.1 PO4 would be good targets that can certainly be achieved with a skimmer.

 

[BristleWormHater]

So... I checked just now(11pm) and my ph is below 7, though not sure about the accuracy of that considering my feather dusters are still happy and open, they would be affected by that right?

 

[BristleWormHater]

Anyways, how should I raise it before adding corals?

 

[BristleWormHater]

Anyways, how should I raise it before adding corals?

Kalkwasser seems simple enough but I don't have at dosing pump atm and can't afford one right now. Also what do you use to mix this stuff?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So... I checked just now(11pm) and my ph is below 7, though not sure about the accuracy of that considering my feather dusters are still happy and open, they would be affected by that right?

Inaccurate. Rock and sand and coral skeletons would be rapidly dissolving.

 

[BristleWormHater]

Inaccurate. Rock and sand and coral skeletons would be rapidly dissolving.

Got it thanks!

 

[Spare time]

Was looking at getting the Red Sea marine care kit which has a alk test in it is that test good or should I get selifert test kit as well.

If you get the red sea get the pro test kits