I need help with the Ph

[tylerczubachowski]

Hi guys!

I currently have a 24g reef aquarium with a pair of clownfish, royal gramma, skunk shrimp and the cleaner crew. I do have a few corals.
I am having a problem with being my Ph up to 8.3. I am currently using the marine buffer which will bring it up to 8.3 but it’s really not working. I always find myself struggling to meet the goal of it. All my other parameters are perfect. The problem is when I try to get it up to 8.3 my Kenya tree coral fall over and are limp. Does anyone know how they can help me with this?

 

[Reef and Dive]

Kenya does not like high alk.

My suggestion is to aim for air exchange, with good flow and pumps directed to the surface, instead of too much buffer.

 

[tylerczubachowski]

How do I bring down alk?

 

[redeyejedi]

Corals will bring alk down.

 

[Reef and Dive]

How do I bring down alk?

Just stop with the buffer and let it be consumed. Slow is always better.
I would say 7 to 8 would be a nice range.

 

[Quietman]

Are you trying to keep pH at 8.3 or is it a side effect of the Alk you're using?

 

[tylerczubachowski]

Definitely a side effect because it has happened before. It just sucks because I’m trying to do everything right for the fish and coral but I just can’t get this ph right because it spikes alk

 

[Quietman]

I get it. If you need to meet certain parameter goals of yours, you may have to switch methods.

I would suggest maybe not focusing so much on specific numbers and find a range that your corals respond positively to.

Either way is correct. But stressing too much on a hobby really kills the fun.

 

[homer1475]

Ph buffer is alkalinity supplements. It will temporarily bring your PH up, but will spike alk. This effect on PH is only temporary. So you add more buffer trying to get it to 8.3, all the while increasing ALK. This is probably why your softies are deflated(high ALK). Just stop adding the buffer, and let PH be what it is. There are other ways to effect PH without adding buffers.

Any idea what your ALK is? And what your PH is without adding buffers?

 

[tylerczubachowski]

Ph before buffer is about 7.9

 

[RC Corals]

What is your PH at that you're not happy with?
What is your Alk normally at that you're not happy with?

 

[homer1475]

7.9 isn't an issue. You can raise it to promote better coral growth, but it's not needed.

There are other ways to effect PH without buffers.

Still want to know what ALKALINITY is?

 

[Dkmoo]

High co2 is the most common cause of difficulty of keeping ph at a high stable level

Under normal co2 concentration, alk @ 7 - 8 should be enough to stabilize ph around 8.3

 

[tylerczubachowski]

How do I test alk? I dont think I have a test kit for it.

 

[tylerczubachowski]

my last test two days ago from my fish store was 192

 

[homer1475]

192PPM? I'm going to assume so. So were talking roughly 10DKH to nearly 11. Have you been adding buffer since that reading? Would certainly explain why your corals are sulking.

Stop adding PH buffer.

 

[tylerczubachowski]

Yeah, its ppm. Sorry Im new to all of this. Any ways to lower it? Im assuming water change.

 

[Dkmoo]

Many salt mixes also have artificially high Alk since most tanks that only rely on WC tend to have low alk.

I'd just stop with the buffer and let your corals and coraline naturally consume it down.

 

[homer1475]

Being new is OK, we have all been there at one time. Your asking questions, and responding appropriately, thats the important part. Learn from your mistakes.

WC is effective as long as the water your changing with is lower.

Are you mixing your own water? If your are, what salt mix are you using?

 

[Dkmoo]

Yeah, its ppm. Sorry Im new to all of this. Any ways to lower it? Im assuming water change.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/

This is a very nice read to help manage your ph/alk relationship