I’m needing some help

Ericsreef · Feb 26, 2022

Hi I’m new here but I’ve been keeping a reef for a year now and everything has been going great except for the fact that my ph stays low and my alkalinity is through the roof. I’m not sure what’s causing my dkh to keep climbing. I do a 25% water change every other week. I’m not dosing A&B because my calcium stays pretty steady at 420 ppm or so but I do add seachem reef complete when calcium gets low and seachem reef buffer to raise my ph. I tested dkh this morning and it took me 30 drops to get the color to change from blue to yellow with the api test. If anyone wants to help me it would be greatly appreciated! My name is Eric and I live in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. Thanks in advance!

SeaworthyAquatics · Feb 26, 2022

Welcome to Reef2Reef! The api tests aren't great, pretty notorious for false and inaccurate readings, and you way want to consider a different test and measure everything again. Salifert tests are relatively inexpensive and more reliable ime.

blaxsun · Feb 26, 2022

Hi Eric, welcome to R2R. When you say "through the roof", what level of alkalinity are we talking about here? Also note that API tests can be notoriously unreliable.

MartinM · Feb 26, 2022

@Randy Holmes-Farley has an excellent and very helpful forum on reef chemistry as well!

Not an IT guy · Feb 26, 2022

Welcome. If possible your LFS might be able to test for free or a small fee. I’d ask what kits they use. As stated. aPI are hit or miss. Trust me. We all used api test kits.

Reeferjunkie · Feb 26, 2022

Welcome to r2r. Salferts or red sea for testers

tharbin · Feb 26, 2022

Welcome to R2R! I would take a sample to an LFS for testing. Sometimes reagents go bad.

Sebastiancrab · Feb 26, 2022

Welcome! I started out with some of the API and have switched to others. They are difficult to determine what the measurement is.

Fish Think Pink · Feb 26, 2022

Ericsreef said:
Hi I’m new here but I’ve been keeping a reef for a year now and everything has been going great except for the fact that my ph stays low and my alkalinity is through the roof. I’m not sure what’s causing my dkh to keep climbing. I do a 25% water change every other week. I’m not dosing A&B because my calcium stays pretty steady at 420 ppm or so but I do add seachem reef complete when calcium gets low and seachem reef buffer to raise my ph. I tested dkh this morning and it took me 30 drops to get the color to change from blue to yellow with the api test. If anyone wants to help me it would be greatly appreciated! My name is Eric and I live in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. Thanks in advance!

Welcome! Glad you joined. Agree with earlier post #5, get second opinion test results from LFS. When we had a problem, we even did third opinion using 2nd LFS just to make sure where we were at because our numbers (and test 2 results) were unusual.

Have you considered starting your build thread? I found its a great place to document my tank's evolution for myself. I started tank first then joined, so I'm still finding myself going back collecting pictures & updating historically as well as current state. Once you create your first post in your thread and link it to your account, they will give you build badge (look left, under my ID)

This is a good reference book type online article I still review:

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com

Fred2482 · Feb 26, 2022

Welcome! I would suggest to stop dosing the items you are using. PH can be boosted with CO2 scrubbing media which does not add any additives. It's very simple and can be attached to a protein skimmer if you have one.

MERKEY · Feb 26, 2022

Hello and welcome to R2R!

Sebastiancrab · Feb 26, 2022

Fred2482 said:
Welcome! I would suggest to stop dosing the items you are using. PH can be boosted with CO2 scrubbing media which does not add any additives. It's very simple and can be attached to a protein skimmer if you have one.

@Fred2482 Can you kindly point to that product at BRS or elsewhere? Thank you!

Sean Clark · Feb 26, 2022

Welcome Eric. Like others have already stated try another test or have your LFS test your water. Then you will have a better idea what path to take. Nice to have you here.

Fred2482 · Feb 26, 2022

Sebastiancrab said:
@Fred2482 Can you kindly point to that product at BRS or elsewhere? Thank you!

Color Changing CO2 Absorbent Media

Raise your Reef Tank's pH by controlling Carbon Dioxide! Bulk Reef Supply Color Changing CO2 Absorbent Media (Soda Lime) is the perfect solution if your aquarium has a low pH but proper alkalinity levels. It is most commonly used by connecting a carbon dioxide scrubber to your protein skimmer's...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Universal CO2 Scrubber

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) can directly affect the pH of your aquarium, and with a low pH, corals may not grow as fast. Connecting a CO2 scrubber directly to the venturi on your skimmer along with CO2 absorption media you can control the amount of CO2 that is being sucked into your skimmer...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

dedragon · Feb 26, 2022

Fred2482 said:
Color Changing CO2 Absorbent Media

Raise your Reef Tank's pH by controlling Carbon Dioxide! Bulk Reef Supply Color Changing CO2 Absorbent Media (Soda Lime) is the perfect solution if your aquarium has a low pH but proper alkalinity levels. It is most commonly used by connecting a carbon dioxide scrubber to your protein skimmer's...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Universal CO2 Scrubber

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) can directly affect the pH of your aquarium, and with a low pH, corals may not grow as fast. Connecting a CO2 scrubber directly to the venturi on your skimmer along with CO2 absorption media you can control the amount of CO2 that is being sucked into your skimmer...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

DIY scrubber can be made for super cheap with just a voss water bottle (i like that they are glass) and some hard airline tubing. Just put filter floss (polyfil) at the bottom if you are recirculating air from a protein skimmer as the actual soda lime shouldnt get wet, a lot of very humid air is pulled in this way but does get the most out of your co2 media

Sebastiancrab · Feb 26, 2022

dedragon said:
DIY scrubber can be made for super cheap with just a voss water bottle (i like that they are glass) and some hard airline tubing. Just put filter floss (polyfil) at the bottom if you are recirculating air from a protein skimmer as the actual soda lime shouldnt get wet, a lot of very humid air is pulled in this way but does get the most out of your co2 media

Can you kindly take a picture of yours?

G Santana · Feb 26, 2022

Welcome to R2R

Jimbhoy13 · Feb 26, 2022

Welcome to R2R and the salty world Eric. API not accurate kits as been said. Salifert, Hanna or Red Sea are much better. Also you could get a comparison test done at LFS. Lots of knowledgeable and helpful people here who will support and advise you when needed.

vetteguy53081 · Feb 26, 2022

Ericsreef said:
Hi I’m new here but I’ve been keeping a reef for a year now and everything has been going great except for the fact that my ph stays low and my alkalinity is through the roof. I’m not sure what’s causing my dkh to keep climbing. I do a 25% water change every other week. I’m not dosing A&B because my calcium stays pretty steady at 420 ppm or so but I do add seachem reef complete when calcium gets low and seachem reef buffer to raise my ph. I tested dkh this morning and it took me 30 drops to get the color to change from blue to yellow with the api test. If anyone wants to help me it would be greatly appreciated! My name is Eric and I live in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. Thanks in advance!

With ph, one thing I have learned over the last couple of decades especially when persons chase PH, Low is ok as long as it is Steady which is part of stability. Stable numbers will win in most cases.
Reef Buffer is an alternative and not a solution. Assure youre not getting false readings.
One way to confirm is to take a water sample to a trusted LFS that does NOT use API kits and see what readings they come up with and to compare with yours.
Salifert and Hanna kits are reliable ones