Low pH?
- Thread starter bucfan
- Start date
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Bacteria, will contribute to the CO2 that causes this problem, especially in the early stages of colonization when it is very active. Is your skimmer in good working order? Is your tank covered? Can you open window's? What is your Alk and Ca reading? Are you using a Ca reactor?
mcarroll
10K Club member
If all else appears well you should feel free to discount the results of a pH test.
That's to say, find the cause of your low pH if it really is low, but take heart knowing that if your tank's pH was off in any way that seriously mattered, you'd know it already by another indication that something was wrong.
-Matt
Sent Via the R2R Forum APP
That's to say, find the cause of your low pH if it really is low, but take heart knowing that if your tank's pH was off in any way that seriously mattered, you'd know it already by another indication that something was wrong.
-Matt
Sent Via the R2R Forum APP
Turn your power heads at the surface of the water, you need to airate the tank really well at this stage.
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bucfan
Active Member
I have 2 MP40s running. That should give plenty of movement?
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bucfan
Active Member
Used Salifert tester.
I think you are fine with alk being 10 and ca at 450. Usually more concerned when alk level and ca get low they work together and you seem to have the balance. Keep testing weekly and add your addivtives as needed.
Movement yes, breaking the surface and releasing gas?? We can't see it, only you can judge that one. Is the water surface rippling good?
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bucfan
Active Member
The skimmer sits in the sump which is in the cabinet under the aquarium. This is enclosed so I wonder if it's not getting enough air. Need to figure out how to get the airline out of the cabinet.
navila06
Well-Known Member
sorry I meant outside your house. got the idea from this video. I didnt believe it but I tried it and it helped.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPiPZlMGzlA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPiPZlMGzlA
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bucfan
Active Member
That's a challenge. Think the wife will put me outside the house with the airline.
navila06
Well-Known Member
I did mine when she wasent there, I put a small hole behind the tank (hidden) fished it out threw the attic and put it threw the vent along side the trim of the house. I let it ride for a few weeks, and said "look what I did"...lol...good times
Cbenner
Community Member
Be careful that neighbors are not spraying pestasides on the lawns this spring.
In winter months I run my skimmer air intake through Two Little Fishies CDX
It is a CO2 scrubber media that you put In a reactor dry and pull your skimmer air through.
It brought my ph up two numbers. I've been really happy with the product.
Good luck and happy Reefing.
In winter months I run my skimmer air intake through Two Little Fishies CDX
It is a CO2 scrubber media that you put In a reactor dry and pull your skimmer air through.
It brought my ph up two numbers. I've been really happy with the product.
Good luck and happy Reefing.
mcarroll
10K Club member
Honestly, if nothing is wrong with the tank outside of the number you're getting on a pH test I would be hard pressed to advise you do do anything significant about it. That's an important caveat though - does everything really look good right now? (Fish? Coral? Inverts molting? Etc)
Maybe some more thoughts to consider...
I agree with whoever said to run kalk in the ATO. This will help at least a little.
What is the air-circulation like in the house? Is there central AC? Is it running much this time of year? Try running a fan in the room - either in a doorway to draw in fresh air or blowing into/behind the cabinet (or both).
Assuming everything looks good in the tank currently, how will you know what if any effect a change would have? With any luck the system still looks good like before the change so you are back to asking your pH test instead of looking at and trusting your animals.
Also, assuming your pH number is accurate, it almost certainly indicates nothing more than excess CO2 in the water. In an otherwise healthy environment, your corals will use all the CO2 you can throw at them. Bonus! The risk is that CO2 also likes to bond with fish wastes to form carbonic acid - the more waste, the more acid can form - you have to watch your pH and be extra vigilant in minding alkalinity. If you over stock or over feed the effects could be worse.
Algae should also find the low pH / high CO2 environment we are inferring to be hospitable, but there's no mention of algae in the tank so far.
The biggest problem with lower pH is that it's usually part of a "pH swing" where pH will vary quite a bit between the day and night cycles. If your is 7.4 but it's rock solid, you many never seen an effect worse than slightly slower coral growth. Some people wish for this!
People with Ca reactors often run their tanks sub-8 pH, I doubt the accuracy of your pH number enough to justify lumping you in with them. Hence, I would worry no more (nor less) than any of them do if I were you.
-Matt
Maybe some more thoughts to consider...
I agree with whoever said to run kalk in the ATO. This will help at least a little.
What is the air-circulation like in the house? Is there central AC? Is it running much this time of year? Try running a fan in the room - either in a doorway to draw in fresh air or blowing into/behind the cabinet (or both).
Assuming everything looks good in the tank currently, how will you know what if any effect a change would have? With any luck the system still looks good like before the change so you are back to asking your pH test instead of looking at and trusting your animals.
Also, assuming your pH number is accurate, it almost certainly indicates nothing more than excess CO2 in the water. In an otherwise healthy environment, your corals will use all the CO2 you can throw at them. Bonus! The risk is that CO2 also likes to bond with fish wastes to form carbonic acid - the more waste, the more acid can form - you have to watch your pH and be extra vigilant in minding alkalinity. If you over stock or over feed the effects could be worse.
Algae should also find the low pH / high CO2 environment we are inferring to be hospitable, but there's no mention of algae in the tank so far.
The biggest problem with lower pH is that it's usually part of a "pH swing" where pH will vary quite a bit between the day and night cycles. If your is 7.4 but it's rock solid, you many never seen an effect worse than slightly slower coral growth. Some people wish for this!
People with Ca reactors often run their tanks sub-8 pH, I doubt the accuracy of your pH number enough to justify lumping you in with them. Hence, I would worry no more (nor less) than any of them do if I were you.
-Matt
