Low ph and I'm not sure why

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 25, 2015

I don't think it matters right now. Since you have it, I'd use it then go back to the limewater as calcium declines.

glb · Apr 25, 2015

Thanks. It made my Alk go up a full point. Grrrr. I should've checked with you first.

miamiangler · Apr 25, 2015

you want to keep things stable . That's why I use Kalkwasser . I also have all those product sitting In a cabinet . Don't worry to much about PH , just keep your Alk between 8.5-9.5 . target Alk 9 you will be fine.

My friend says your corals will love you for It

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 25, 2015

glb said:
Thanks. It made my Alk go up a full point. Grrrr. I should've checked with you first.

I wrote to Aquavitro. Let's see what excuse they give.

glb · Apr 25, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I wrote to Aquavitro. Let's see what excuse they give.

Seriously. And thanks!

glb · Apr 25, 2015

miamiangler said:
you want to keep things stable . That's why I use Kalkwasser . I also have all those product sitting In a cabinet . Don't worry to much about PH , just keep your Alk between 8.5-9.5 . target Alk 9 you will be fine.

My friend says your corals will love you for It

That pic is hilarious!

miamiangler · Apr 25, 2015

One of my favorite fish In my 60 gal

glb · Apr 27, 2015

Skimmer is producing skimmate, not super dark but it's pulling out something. Ph is between 7.8-8.0 since I installed it. I'm going to try to keep the Alk at about 9.5kh. I'm wondering if the additions aeration by the skimmer is helping bring up ph by reducing co2.

tigerdragon · Apr 27, 2015

By reducing co2 you will see an inc in ph

glb · Apr 27, 2015

tigerdragon said:
By reducing co2 you will see an inc in ph

That was my hope, that it would help with my co2 problem, even if it didn't skim much. But I'm very pleased that it's producing skimmate too!

glb · Apr 27, 2015

Well it's still skimming. Even if it doesn't do a lot, it's definitely pulling out some junk. My nitrates are 5ppm and phosphates are .05ppm. Also, the ph has stabilized somewhat. It's staying between 7.8-8.0,8.1. Kh is 9.4. Adding 1/3 cup kalk raises the ph by .1 and the kh by .2. I'm going to try to keep it somewhere between 9-9.5. The SPS seem fine. The favia has seen better days, but it's been stressed by the fluctuations while I figured this out. I think the aeration provided by the skimmer has reduced the co2 in the tank. Looking good.

glb · Apr 30, 2015

Would it make sense to add a little co2 scrubber to the skimmer to get the ph in the 8.1-8.3 range? I'm at my limit with the kalk if I want a good Alk. I know I shouldn't chase numbers, but is 8.0-8.3 really a better range than 7.8-.8.0? I know I'm being a little OCD but I'm curious.

miamiangler · Apr 30, 2015

You are doing fine with 7.8-8.0 . I have run my tanks that way for a long time . Now that I went to Klakwasser in my ATO my Ph stay stable between 8.1-8,2 depending on the time of day .It`s lower at night and higher during to the day . If your corals are happy I would no worry too much . your corals will tell you when something is wrong . Hope that make sense .

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 1, 2015

glb said:
Would it make sense to add a little co2 scrubber to the skimmer to get the ph in the 8.1-8.3 range? I'm at my limit with the kalk if I want a good Alk. I know I shouldn't chase numbers, but is 8.0-8.3 really a better range than 7.8-.8.0? I know I'm being a little OCD but I'm curious.

Scrubbers end up being expensive, and the effectiveness depends on the relative amount of aeration with the scrubber air vs the tank top and other means. I probably wouldn't bother in this scenario.

glb · May 1, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Scrubbers end up being expensive, and the effectiveness depends on the relative amount of aeration with the scrubber air vs the tank top and other means. I probably wouldn't bother in this scenario.

My husband calls me gadget girl for a reason.

hart24601 · May 1, 2015

glb said:
Would it make sense to add a little co2 scrubber to the skimmer to get the ph in the 8.1-8.3 range? I'm at my limit with the kalk if I want a good Alk. I know I shouldn't chase numbers, but is 8.0-8.3 really a better range than 7.8-.8.0? I know I'm being a little OCD but I'm curious.

While mixed, there is some research that indicates a pH of over 8 is better than under 8, but messing too much with the tank will probably do more harm than good unless there is an easy way to modify the existing setup.

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/reef-chemistry-randy-holmes-farley/188104-ph-carbon-dioxide-question.html

If I was in the same situation as you I wouldn't worry about the pH though. I would just plan on using kalk to meet the ca and alk demand as the coral starts to grow.