Low ph with high dkh

dmcoates · Oct 3, 2015

hey guys,

I have been in the hobbie for a 1 or so and just upgraded to a 100 gallon system. I'm using IO reef crystals mixed with rodi water at 1.024.
My ph in the tank is running 7.8 both on RKE and API test kits with the DkH running at 10. I keep the fudge light on all the time trying to get the ph up but it's staying right at 7.8

I am running 1 tsp per gallon of Kalk in my ATO

The tank is a modeterly stocked mixed reef with 6 sps

Should I not hurry to much on ph and get keep the DkH around 10?

Thanks

twilliard · Oct 3, 2015

That ph is of not much concern. There can be slight variations in testing.
Ph is one of those I don't test much of.
I use elos ph tests for mine when I do test

And WELCOME to R2R!!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 3, 2015

I agree that if the pH does not drop much below 7.8, that is OK.

What time of day did you measure (it is lower at night/early AM) and how did you measure it?

dmcoates · Oct 3, 2015

It's drops to 7.77 or so at night then up to around 7.81 or so durning th day.
It's a cadlights 100 gal artisan so I am running open top tank

Using the RKE ph probe

Would you guys recommend bumping the DkH up to 11 or so.

The LFS recommend 8.4 buffer but after reading I don't think a buffer will help

Thanks

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 3, 2015

No a buffer won't help. The limewater is far more effective.

IMO, I wouldn't do anything special about the pH, and the alk at 10 dKH seems fine and I wouldn't raise it.