Low PH solutions?

Boboe77 · Apr 11, 2014

I have a 40 gallon reef tank and I just tested my PH and it's at 7.5. The only thing wrong with my tank right now is my PH. What can I do?

Is a bottled buffer a solution?

Does PH fluctuate during the day?

I had some acros die and I'm thinking it's the PH being low.

CastAway · Apr 11, 2014

Air - make sure the tank has fresh air and plenty of gas exchange. Kalk in your top off RODI perhaps. Tagging along....

Boboe77 · Apr 11, 2014

JeffBowlin said:
Air - make sure the tank has fresh air and plenty of gas exchange. Kalk in your top off RODI perhaps. Tagging along....

Ok do you think opening a window and using a fan will work?

CastAway · Apr 11, 2014

Boboe77 said:
Ok do you think opening a window and using a fan will work?

It's a great start I think. We'll see what the experts say. :smile:

redfishbluefish · Apr 11, 2014

If you maintain proper alkalinity and calcium, your pH becomes natural (unless you have a CO2 problem, which I doubt in that part of CA). Maintain alk and calc and take a hammer to your pH tester and everything will be fine. Definitely do not use "buffers" to try to adjust pH.

Boboe77 · Apr 11, 2014

redfishbluefish said:
If you maintain proper alkalinity and calcium, your pH becomes natural (unless you have a CO2 problem, which I doubt in that part of CA). Maintain alk and calc and take a hammer to your pH tester and everything will be fine. Definitely do not use "buffers" to try to adjust pH.

Ok! So if I just keep my CA and ALK levels good and stable, my PH should be stable too? I'm not using calk, should I get a calk reactor?

RLM60 · Apr 11, 2014

If co2 is lowering you ph theres a simple little test that you can do. after checking your ph, take a cup of your tank water and put it outside. After about an hour, check the ph of that cup of water. If your ph goes up you know that its a co2 issue.

Boboe77 · Apr 11, 2014

RLM60 said:
If co2 is lowering you ph theres a simple little test that you can do. after checking your ph, take a cup of your tank water and put it outside. After about an hour, check the ph of that cup of water. If your ph goes up you know that its a co2 issue.

Oh good idea I'll try that!