Low PH - newbie here

Reef_dachs · Sep 16, 2020

HI,
I have a 36 gallon tank. It's about 4 months old. I have a clownfish, dartfish, cleaner shrimp, LTA and few beginner corals. My PH keeps dropping to around 7.8 even after water changes (weekly 20%) & adding Marine Buffer. I am also having an issue (last 3 weeks) with other water parameters:
Ammonia - .25ppm
Nitrite 0
Nitrate between .10 & .20 (can't tell the color difference)
Salinity 1.027
Temp 78

I am doing 20% water changes every week. I am currently using the API Saltwater Master Test Kit. I have ordered the Salifert based on research on Reef2Reef but it has not arrived yet.
Everything in the tank looks great. Could it be the test kit or is the tank still to new?

un5tab1e · Sep 16, 2020

.25 is normal with API

Albertan22 · Sep 16, 2020

Check your alkalinity first and foremost. If it is low it can drag the ph down with it. New tanks can eat up alk fast as the bacterial population establishes.

Pistondog · Sep 16, 2020

lacynic said:
HI,
I have a 36 gallon tank. It's about 4 months old. I have a clownfish, dartfish, cleaner shrimp, LTA and few beginner corals. My PH keeps dropping to around 7.8 even after water changes (weekly 20%) & adding Marine Buffer. I am also having an issue (last 3 weeks) with other water parameters:
Ammonia - .25ppm
Nitrite 0
Nitrate between .10 & .20 (can't tell the color difference)
Salinity 1.027
Temp 78

I am doing 20% water changes every week. I am currently using the API Saltwater Master Test Kit. I have ordered the Salifert based on research on Reef2Reef but it has not arrived yet.
Everything in the tank looks great. Could it be the test kit or is the tank still to new?

I don't remember if low ph is normal for new tanks, but high co2 in the house due to ac on with closed windows will acidity the water some.

dwest · Sep 16, 2020

Good move getting Salifert kits. But pH is very hard to measure with any test kit. I would only trust a calibrated pH probe.

I would keep the alkalinity as constant as possible somewhere in the 7-11 range and not worry about pH.

Biglew11 · Sep 16, 2020

Don't use a ph buffer. Test and dose alkalinity if needed. 7.8 isn't bad.

spiraling · Sep 16, 2020

Agreed with several of the above. Keep you alk 8-9 then don't worry about PH.

There are many threads in the chemistry forum about low PH and what to do. As long as it is fairly stable you should be fine. Opening windows to let in more fresh air might raise it.

Mine runs 7.8 - 8.1 each day. I've tried using the co2 scubbing media and it only raises it a little bit. I've calibrated my probes several times, opened windows, not much helps. But the tank looks great.

Reef_dachs · Sep 16, 2020

Pistondog said:
I don't remember if low ph is normal for new tanks, but high co2 in the house due to ac on with closed windows will acidity the water some.

Ahh, I do live in area where it is hot and humid. Definitely have ac on and windows closed right now.

Reef_dachs · Sep 16, 2020

spiraling said:
Agreed with several of the above. Keep you alk 8-9 then don't worry about PH.

There are many threads in the chemistry forum about low PH and what to do. As long as it is fairly stable you should be fine. Opening windows to let in more fresh air might raise it.

Mine runs 7.8 - 8.1 each day. I've tried using the co2 scubbing media and it only raises it a little bit. I've calibrated my probes several times, opened windows, not much helps. But the tank looks great.

I will check out the chemistry forum. I didn’t see that. I will definitely start testing for alk- I haven’t done that. Thank you!

Reef_dachs · Sep 16, 2020

Biglew11 said:
Don't use a ph buffer. Test and dose alkalinity if needed. 7.8 isn't bad.

Ok, I haven’t tested for that. I was worried about the corals needing higher PH. Will definitely test the alkalinity. Thanks so much!

spiraling · Sep 16, 2020

lacynic said:
I will check out the chemistry forum. I didn’t see that. I will definitely start testing for alk- I haven’t done that. Thank you!

most people like red sea or salifert kits better than api. There are plenty of polls on that here

ReefRDY · Sep 16, 2020

7.8 is ok co2 is most likely the problem, try leaving a crack on the window/running skimmer line outside.

Reef_dachs · Sep 17, 2020

ReefRDY said:
7.8 is ok co2 is most likely the problem, try leaving a crack on the window/running skimmer line outside.

I have an internal skimmer. Perhaps I switch to an external?

Biglew11 · Sep 17, 2020

internal or external skimmer won't matter if they are both taking in air from the same place.

ReefRDY · Sep 17, 2020

lacynic said:
I have an internal skimmer. Perhaps I switch to an external?

Your breather hose that pulls in air to create bubbles extend it and have it pull in air from outside your home, I usually would drill a hole in the wall or push it outside of a window.

Phil D. · Sep 17, 2020

As stated above, run your Alk around 9 as that will help with Ph. BRS has a new video discussing this.

Dom · Sep 17, 2020

Run a fan in the room and be sure you have good air exchange between that room and the rest of the house. This will help lower CO2 levels and allow pH to come up. If this doesn't give you the results you want, you can also open a window for some outside air.

fishguy242 · Sep 17, 2020

hi,like to add,check calcium too,go hand in hand with alk,also when checking ph ,do at same time of day,every time ,constant movement as lights go on and off