Low PH - newbie here

[Reef_dachs]

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]

.25 is normal with API

 

[Albertan22]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[spiraling]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[Reef_dachs]

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]

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

 

[ReefRDY]

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.]

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

 

[Dom]

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]

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

 

[vetteguy53081]

Unless you have an array of coral, I wouldn’t fret about it
Keeping it steady is just as valuable as being at a certain target value