I'd like some help raising pH

TD13 · Feb 8, 2016

my pH that is. I've been all over the board and I'm sure Randy is tired of seeing my screen name in his forum. However, I can't for the life of me get my pH above like 8.05. I would really like to figure out how to do that. I have tried dosing Kalk and couldn't get it. Now I'm dosing Soda Ash and Calcium Hydroxide to maintain the Calc and Alk in my tank. Is there ANY way of bumping pH in the tank without messing too much with Alk?

McMullen · Feb 8, 2016

Did you do the open a window trick?

kimba · Feb 8, 2016

What happens if you just maintain it at 8? The reason I ask, is mine is consistantly 8 and I was thinking of trying to raise it, but I only have a 12 gal and am nervous about ups and downs. So I was just going to post this, when I saw yours. Hope you don't mind.

saltyfilmfolks · Feb 8, 2016

Ive done so many odd things in a tank and never run into that kind of problem. what kind of system are you running? Might help others to diagnose as well.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 8, 2016

A pH of 8.0 is perfectly fine.

If you want it higher, you'll need to bring more low CO2 air to the tank somehow. A CO2 scrubber or air from outside, for example.

This has more:

http://www.reefedition.com/ph-and-the-reef-aquarium/

Downbeach · Feb 9, 2016

What time of day are your taking your measurements? What are you using to measure it with? FWIW, I successfully ran a predominantly SPS 180 mixed reef for many years with a pH running between 7.9 (AM) and 8.2 (PM); measured with a Pin Point meter, using a properly calibrated lab grade probe, so I figure that's about as accurate as you can get using our hobby grade of equipment. The use of kalk, used both in ATO and/or dosing pump, would give me a boost of about .1 pH units, so without the kalk my readings were between 7.8 and 8.1.

k_dog345 · Feb 9, 2016

I'm running a biocube 14. Had the same exact problem. My fix? I put an air stone in the over flow.

PH, from what I learned, can be due to a lack of oxygen along with many other things. It makes sense that an airstone would resolve my problem, as I've always had my cover on and gas exchanges were most likely very low for my tank.

Hope it helps

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 9, 2016

k_dog345 said:
I'm running a biocube 14. Had the same exact problem. My fix? I put an air stone in the over flow.

PH, from what I learned, can be due to a lack of oxygen along with many other things. It makes sense that an airstone would resolve my problem, as I've always had my cover on and gas exchanges were most likely very low for my tank.

Hope it helps

FWIW, pH has nothing to do with O2.

It is determined mathematically by the alkalinity and the carbon dioxide level in the water.

If the airstone helped you, then you had a situation where the tank was not being aerated enough and was accumulating CO2 relative tot he home air. I agree it makes sense for a covered tank, especially one without a skimmer.

TD13 · Feb 9, 2016

I have a 28 Gallon Nano, XR 15, WAV, a reactor with ROX 0.8 GAC. I dose NoPoX to drop No3 and Po4.

Alk - 11.62 (bringing it down slowly to 10.5)
Calc - 425

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
A pH of 8.0 is perfectly fine.

If you want it higher, you'll need to bring more low CO2 air to the tank somehow. A CO2 scrubber or air from outside, for example.

This has more:

http://www.reefedition.com/ph-and-the-reef-aquarium/

I use a reactor with an air stone and CDX in it to absorb Co2. I guess I'll have to figure out how to pump air in from outside.

Downbeach said:
What time of day are your taking your measurements? What are you using to measure it with? FWIW, I successfully ran a predominantly SPS 180 mixed reef for many years with a pH running between 7.9 (AM) and 8.2 (PM); measured with a Pin Point meter, using a properly calibrated lab grade probe, so I figure that's about as accurate as you can get using our hobby grade of equipment. The use of kalk, used both in ATO and/or dosing pump, would give me a boost of about .1 pH units, so without the kalk my readings were between 7.8 and 8.1.

I use an Apex to monitor my pH. Here is everything from the last week. I'm dosing Soda Ash and have been playing with it to get it dialed in...

Screen%20Shot%202016-02-09%20at%209.28.34%20AM_zps5ljb2eag.png

beaslbob · Feb 9, 2016

TD13 said:
my pH that is. I've been all over the board and I'm sure Randy is tired of seeing my screen name in his forum. However, I can't for the life of me get my pH above like 8.05. I would really like to figure out how to do that. I have tried dosing Kalk and couldn't get it. Now I'm dosing Soda Ash and Calcium Hydroxide to maintain the Calc and Alk in my tank. Is there ANY way of bumping pH in the tank without messing too much with Alk?

Add macro algae to consume co2. that will raise you PH without affecting alk.

TD13 · Feb 9, 2016

beaslbob said:
Add macro algae to consume co2. that will raise you PH without affecting alk.

Thought on where I could put it? I have an empty PhosBan 150 and 550 reactors I could put it in. Does it need to tumble, and I'm not sure what kind of light it would get in there...

beaslbob · Feb 9, 2016

TD13 said:
Thought on where I could put it? I have an empty PhosBan 150 and 550 reactors I could put it in. Does it need to tumble, and I'm not sure what kind of light it would get in there...

Don't make it too hard.

Do you have a corner in the tank? Or a side of back that is free of rocks? All you need to do is use some egg crate to keep the macros away from the fish. And add a light shining horizontally to get the macros growing.

Just give it a try and see if the pH rises. If so then think of a more permanent operation.

Just my thoughts worth .02

beaslbob · Feb 9, 2016

TD13 said:
Thought on where I could put it? I have an empty PhosBan 150 and 550 reactors I could put it in. Does it need to tumble, and I'm not sure what kind of light it would get in there...

Don't make it too hard.

Do you have a corner in the tank? Or a side of back that is free of rocks? All you need to do is use some egg crate to keep the macros away from the fish. And add a light shining horizontally to get the macros growing.

Just give it a try and see if the pH rises. If so then think of a more permanent operation.

Just my thoughts worth .02

TD13 · Feb 9, 2016

beaslbob said:
Just my thoughts worth .02

I really don't, it's a 28 Gallon nano... pretty stocked up on SPS. Do you think it would work in a reactor? It's already plumbed in and hanging on the back of the tank, currently empty. I even have an LED cluster from my son's fresh water tank to put on it. The light is nothing special, just white... I think that will work...

beaslbob · Feb 9, 2016

Probably would work. I have heard of people with HOB filters by replacing the media with chaeto and adding a light. They were amazed how effective that was.
So give it a try and let us know how it works.
You may have just "invented" the ultimate phosphate remover.

my .02

TD13 · Feb 9, 2016

beaslbob said:
You may have just "invented" the ultimate phosphate remover.
my .02

Ok, stand back! I'll let you know how that works out.

beaslbob · Feb 9, 2016

rambling mind here. LOL
you might also consider an in tank algae turf scrubber.

Wesus · Feb 10, 2016

TD13 said:
my pH that is. I've been all over the board and I'm sure Randy is tired of seeing my screen name in his forum. However, I can't for the life of me get my pH above like 8.05. I would really like to figure out how to do that. I have tried dosing Kalk and couldn't get it. Now I'm dosing Soda Ash and Calcium Hydroxide to maintain the Calc and Alk in my tank. Is there ANY way of bumping pH in the tank without messing too much with Alk?

Why you want to rise PH?

deerhunter06 · Feb 10, 2016

8 is fine, stability is key. Don't mess with things that aren't broke. I maintained an sps dominated reef with PH dipping down to 7.6-7.7 every single night. I had kalk in ato airline to skimmer from outside sump on diffetent light cycle anything you can think of I did it. Finally I just said why do I care so much my corals and fish are fine. Leave it be IMO