How to raise Ph?

[greenhorn reefer]

I am currently using RED SEA ABC.. For the overall balance of PH, Ca2+, and Alk.

What is happening...

The calcium tends to take a week to drop about 40 ppm. However, the alkalinity drops in half the time (I used seachem reef builder to raise the Alk separately) but seems to have balanced out at kh of 10.

Currently...

Ca2+ 460
Alk. 10
PH. 7.8-8

Question...

How do I raise PH, slowly and safely, without affecting my other parameters?

Thanks, in advance.

 

[greenhorn reefer]

I am currently using RED SEA ABC.. For the overall balance of PH, Ca2+, and Alk.

What is happening...

The calcium tends to take a week to drop about 40 ppm. However, the alkalinity drops in half the time (I used seachem reef builder to raise the Alk separately) but seems to have balanced out at kh of 10.

Currently...

Ca2+ 460
Alk. 10
PH. 7.8-8

Question...

How do I raise PH, slowly and safely, without affecting my other parameters?

Thanks, in advance.

@revhtree

 

[RobBaglieri]

I have the same issue...Randy to the Rescue.

 

[jgvergo]

I have always been advised to "not chase PH". Are you dosing once per week? How much is the Alk dropping?

 

[greenhorn reefer]

ABC, 2, 20g doses, 20 min apart, in my sump. Total water volume is 82 gal. I am dosing 20g under, to avoid raising too quickly. The Reef builder is 3/4 teaspoon doses but hasn't been required for a week+.

 

[nos27ci]

Have you tested your ph in homes water ?
Easy why to rase phone is open windows in the house or add a tube to your skimmer air in let that goes out side . I have to do this in the winter

 

[jgvergo]

Yes, CO2 becomes carbonic acid when in solution, so removing CO2 (by opening windows) will help raise PH. Agitating the water helps too.

 

[greenhorn reefer]

But I have the AC on... Could we come up with another solution? Air stone in the sump?

 

[morgan175]

What is mag just wondering. Mine drops about equal when correct.

 

[jgvergo]

Airstone could help. Point powerheads in the display tank towards the surface (within reason!) to create surface agitation in the DT too.

 

[bubbaque]

My ph was around 7.8 and wanted to get it up a little. I live in Florida so I didn't want to open a window either. SoI ran a tube from my skimmer intake to outside and it raised my ph to 8.1.

 

[greenhorn reefer]

My tank isn't in an appropriate place to run tubing.

 

[morpheas]

Here's my experience with a diy CO2 scrubber. You can also buy a BRS air filter if you don't want diy.

 

[CodyRVA]

Do you have a fuge? I run my fuge light 12 hours over night and that helps keep my PH up. My PH used to run 7.8 and my corals were all happy as can be, I wouldn't worry about it unless you're having issues.

 

[DeniseAndy]

With pH, I have done the tubing outside also. A simple test to see if it is the house causing the lower pH is to run an airstone in a cup of water for 1 hour inside house. Check pH. Now take a cup of tank water outside with airstone for 1 hour and test pH. If higher, your house is causing some of the lower pH. That is what I found at my house.

If tubing to outside is not an option, I would look into the scrubber. I plan to add one soon as I do not always trust outside with chemicals from lawn and such.

 

[RobBaglieri]

I invested in a pH meter. It's helped me diagnose swings. My pH dips when I add CA.

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

If you're talking a momentary raise, don't sweat it, it happens. If you're talking permanently, I find dosing alk hourly works very well. I use the red sea stuff too.

 

[AdamNC]

Could also try Kalkwasser in your ATO. I was having the same issues where at night it would drop to sometimes 7.5 and during the day I'd be lucky to hit 7.9. Now at night it's at 7.7 and during the day it hits about 8.1 +. Currently now it's sitting at 8.14 according to my Apex.

 

[kyleflahardy]

I'd recommend buying a ph raising chemical. They are inexpensive and work like a charm.

 

[cj in sac ca]

Ok chemistry wasn't my strong point lol. What or how does the house cause ph to swing?