Is this an acceptable ph range for an sps dominate tank

[lubeck]

Is this an acceptable ph range for day and night?

i have a 32 gal biocube that is very young. Put water in it December 29th 2021. I don’t run a skimmer. Flow is good with mp10 and upgraded return pump. All parameters are good and steady accept nitrates are low.

I haven’t run the water test yet but have been keeping my patio door open as much as I can.

this pic shows the last week which is a good reflection of what it’s been since the start. I will say it hasn’t dipped below 7.70 since I installed a two part doser on Friday.

 

[blaxsun]

The lower scale of the pH is what's a bit concerning - it really shouldn't be dropping so much (somewhere in the 7.9-ish range would be expected). On the other hand, it is a fairly small tank - so sometimes you do see larger swings). And if everything is really healthy and doing well...

Have you tested your pH independently of the Neptune system?

 

[lubeck]

The lower scale of the pH is what's a bit concerning - it really shouldn't be dropping so much (somewhere in the 7.9-ish range would be expected). On the other hand, it is a fairly small tank - so sometimes you do see larger swings). And if everything is really healthy and doing well...

Have you tested your pH independently of the Neptune system?

I have not and I should. Need to get a meter. I would say my tank is doing well for how young it is but would say only 20% of my sps have polyp extension.

So if I were to say polyp extension were to be an indicator of happiness then I would say the tank is not happy. Is there a correlation between ph and polyp extension?

 

[Reef_prop88]

I wouldn't want my ph to ever dip below 7.8 personally. I only say this because I run ph pretty high in my tank between 8.2-8.4 and get some pretty solid growth. What is your alk at right now? What do you dose for alk?

 

[lubeck]

I wouldn't want my ph to ever dip below 7.8 personally. I only say this because I run ph pretty high in my tank between 8.2-8.4 and get some pretty solid growth. What is your alk at right now? What do you dose for alk?

I dose bionic daily on a doser. Alk is at 8.4

 

[Reef_prop88]

I believe b-ionic is sodium bicarbonate. If you dose sodium carbonate instead it will give you a little ph bump. Do you dose hourly?

 

[lubeck]

I believe b-ionic is sodium bicarbonate. If you dose sodium carbonate instead it will give you a little ph bump. Do you dose hourly?

Yes I dose 24 hour period

 

[Reef_prop88]

If it’s bicarbonate you are using now, try switching to dosing sodium carbonate hourly instead. You should get a bump in ph.

 

[lubeck]

If it’s bicarbonate you are using now, try switching to dosing sodium carbonate hourly instead. You should get a bump in ph.

When I was dosing manually and adding it all at once my ph would always jump up .2 each time.

 

[Reef_prop88]

It would be a good step forward to get a skimmer on the tank. The skimmer adds a ton of aeration which should help your ph issue.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/cont...fzj7UgHV9RCJbRSYjLRycVacPZO9mtZhoCQWYQAvD_BwE

 

[lubeck]

I’m going to hold off on the skimmer. I would like to start kalk dosing in place of my ato. Would that be okay?


im not ruling out a skimmer I had one on the tank for the first week. The cheap Coralife one that came with the cube Tons of bubbles and the reason I took it out. It did not raise the ph as I posted it was 7.6 the first week.

 

[Reef_prop88]

Should work. I’ve never dosed kalk so I’d be interested in your results.

 

[lubeck]

Should work. I’ve never dosed kalk so I’d be interested in your results.

I just don’t want to screw up my alk as it’s been stable for several weeks. We will see. I’m getting it tomorrow

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I believe b-ionic is sodium bicarbonate. If you dose sodium carbonate instead it will give you a little ph bump. Do you dose hourly?

Normal B-ionic is carbonate.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It would be a good step forward to get a skimmer on the tank. The skimmer adds a ton of aeration which should help your ph issue.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/post/top-5-tips-how-to-raise-ph-in-reef-tanks-and-saltwater-tanks-reef-faqs?utm_term=&utm_campaign=DSA>RLSA+Global&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=7373341438&hsa_cam=843440857&hsa_grp=41971741854&hsa_ad=522339347966&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=aud-1051244029597:dsa-295317350131&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=CjwKCAiA6seQBhAfEiwAvPqu12drMVkGQgyae8_1gq9KMhfzj7UgHV9RCJbRSYjLRycVacPZO9mtZhoCQWYQAvD_BwE

Aeration can raise or lower pH, depending on the CO2 level in the home air.

 

[lubeck]

@Randy Holmes-Farley I saw you asked me in another about my ph and this is thread for my ph.

I don’t have a c02 meter and just wanted to know if these are acceptable levels for day and night? See image above

I did start adding kalk as part of my ato throughout the day. I started this today. i realize this doesn’t necessarily identify what is the cause of the lower numbers.

Question- have you ever experienced or tested for polyp extension when ph is at 7.8 or lower when Alk is at 8.2.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do not know if the pH is accurate (it may not be), but if real, pH below 7.7 is a significant concern, IMO.

I'm not sure polyp extension is a good guide. Aragonite (e.g., coral skeleton) can slowly dissolve at that pH and alk, and calcification is made more difficult.

 

[X-37B]

It appears you have very little surface agitation. You cant aim the mp at the surface. Can you aim the return to get surface agitation.

 

[lubeck]

I do not know if the pH is accurate (it may not be), but if real, pH below 7.7 is a significant concern, IMO.

I'm not sure polyp extension is a good guide. Aragonite (e.g., coral skeleton) can slowly dissolve at that pH and alk, and calcification is made more difficult.

The 7.7 only happened for a brief moment in the early hours of the morning. I need to get another meter to cross check. I have not seen this happen in the last three days.

 

[lubeck]

It appears you have very little surface agitation. You cant aim the mp at the surface. Can you aim the return to get surface agitation.

I do have my return aimed at the surf and can adjust a little more I had where it was creating too many micro bubbles and a vortex in the corner of the tank.