Low ph and Cloudy Water

[Behemoth]

Hello all,
I have had my tank set up for a few months now and have run into some issues. First I cannot get the ph in my tank to 8.3; it generally stays around the 7.8 range and I am running a recirculating CO2 scrubber and a refugium and still cannot break above 8. I recently saw a video that suggested using air stones in the sump would help but this just seems to lower my ph more. Secondly I have had a couple of days where the water in my tank is cloudy where the night before it was crystal clear. Is this some sort of biological bloom and should I be concerned about it? Thanks in advance.

 

[codytbuckner]

What are your other water parameters? If your alkalinity is too low, it can cause your PH to drop.

 

[Behemoth]

What are your other water parameters? If your alkalinity is too low, it can cause your PH to drop.

Most recent tests -
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 12ppm
Phosphate: 0
Alkalinity: 7.9 dkh
Calcium: 420ppm
Magnesium: 1240ppm

 

[Deep dive coral]

Raise your alkalinity to about 8.3. Open a window if you can and get fresh air into the system. The reason your PH is dropping with an air stone is your house might be high with CO2 and your just forcing more into the water.

 

[Deep dive coral]

And if you cant keep a window open, try running an air line outside and attach it to your skimmer air intake.

 

[codytbuckner]

Most recent tests -
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 12ppm
Phosphate: 0
Alkalinity: 7.9 dkh
Calcium: 420ppm
Magnesium: 1240ppm

Definitely raise your Alkalinity. I bet your PH won't be anywhere near as big a problem.

 

[Behemoth]

I'll work on raising the Alk tomorrow and see how things go. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Behemoth]

Update: I have been able to raise my alkalinity to 8.3 but my pH is just at around 8 at this point. I am ordering some calibration sachets to ensure that it isn't the probe that is the issue. I have seen advice elsewhere of running an Alk higher than what was suggested here. Would this cause issues? Also this is after having had a window near the tank open all day.