Low ph

[mimiki0912]

Hi guys I owned a Red Sea max 250 since I started I've always have problems with my low ph 7.4 at nigth 7.8 daytimeive done a few things I've heard around like run a phosban reactor with cdx from two little fishies I have to said it improved a 25% not much but still low that only works one or two days but my ph still on 7.8, 7,4 I also drip kalk at nigth but nothing when I tested in the morning was at 7.4 so the last thing was run a airline tube outside the apt. Cause my dt is on the middle of my living room no windows around so I run the tube and drill the hole on the wall I connect it on the skimmer air valve but my ph it's seen to be the same maybe I need to adjust it or I'm doing something wrong I don't know my skimmer is a factory one I've seen it skimming but I would like an advice from expert please help!!!!!! What should I do?

 

[tzsetzse]

Hi.
Low pH can be caused by quite a few things. May I ask a few questions to get a better idea of your overall system?
How long has your 250 been established? Is it a reef, FOWLR or FO? What's the bioload?. (# of fish....no inverts cause they don't contribute). Are you using live rock, a wet-dry, UG or fluidized bed filtration system? Each has their own peculiar signature and impact on pH. I am not familiar with Red Sea Max systems so forgive the question.
Do you test for dKH, (alkalinity)? pH and alkalinity go hand-in-hand in a closed system. Dosing kalk at night, (lights out) is to keep pH from spiking. Not your issue so I'd try it under illumination to see what impact that may have. Fluctuating pH is very stressful to fish and corals so STABILIZING is key.
Po4, (phosphate) doesn't necessarily drive pH down on it's own merit. It IS a contributing factor but not the whole enchilada.
I'm not going to throw stuff out there until I know more about what's INSIDE your system. Be happy to help once I have more info and background.
Oh, and protein skimming does remove DOC's, (dissolved organic compounds) but has little impact on a low pH.

 

[glb]

Other than the low ph, is your tank doing well? Mine runs from 7.8-8.0 without a problem.

 

[808jaymakoa]

I always had a low a ph problem and tried everything I could think off and nothing helped. I changed salts based on lfs recommendation and voila, no more low ph. Just an idea. Makes sense tho. Alk cal mag concentration levels in salt vary brand by brand. I was using reef crystals. Now I use neo marine.

 

[mimiki0912]

Really!i wasn't thinking about it I was using aquachem salinity,I hate it before I used Red Sea pro ,love it and I switch to ocean water from my lfs but I'm thinking to switch back to Red Sea coral pro I will try but didn't ocean water is supposed to be better values? Like ph and all that?what you think?

 

[redfishbluefish]

With all do respect, unless you have a tremendous carbon dioxide problem in your house, I don't believe the 7.4 number. You need to verify your pH testing method. How are you measuring pH? Assuming it's not a CO2 problem, I wouldn't chase pH. Keep you alk and calc (and mag), where they need to be and pH ill take care of itself.

 

[NanaReefer]

With all do respect, unless you have a tremendous carbon dioxide problem in your house, I don't believe the 7.4 number. You need to verify your pH testing method. How are you measuring pH? Assuming it's not a CO2 problem, I wouldn't chase pH. Keep you alk and calc (and mag), where they need to be and pH ill take care of itself.

A+++ Ph only becomes a danger when the swings are drastic. Although a little low it seems pretty stable


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