Low Ph

[JARReefer]

I'm new at this hobby, about 4 weeks into it. I bought a cycled 30 gal tank with Klein butterfly and realized we needed something bigger so we purchased a new a 55gal tank. Setup and inhabitants are listed below

55 gal tank
HOB 75 gal rated filter ( was running additional filter from used tank but removed to make room for protein skimmer )
HOB Skimmer
Air stone
1" live sand
16lbs of live rock
24lbs of washed lace rock

Fish and entry order to system
1 extremely happy Klein butterfly
2 clowns
2 Damsels ( 1 domino, 1 three strip )
1 coral beauty
3 turbo snails
8 smaller snails

Deaths and removals
1 yellow tail damsel due to aggression from 1 dang blue devil damsel
1 blue devil damsel removed due being a A hole to the other damsel
1 really cool skunk shrimp

I check my ph, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates regularly and have used PRIME and SAFE for emergency spikes in levels. Ive done three water changes in span of 6 weeks. Ph consistently seems to be 7.6-7.8 ....can't get it higher.

Any suggestions and advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[reptilemedic]

Following the ride. Seeming to have the same issue. My stays around 7.7-8

 

[JARReefer]

I have tried opening a window to let more fresh air into the house to adding the air stone. I did see a upward spike once I added the air stone but it dropped back to lower levels. I have marine buffer and will try to see if that helps

 

[recess62]

Here you go

http://www.reefedition.com/ph-and-the-reef-aquarium/


Buffers alone are not generally a good method for raising (or lowering) pH because they raise (or lower) pH relatively little, and often result in excessive alkalinity

 

[trido]

What kind of test kit are you using? Do you have a power head causing surface agitation?

 

[JARReefer]

I'm using API MARINE saltwater master test kit and I just installed a power head today so I hope to see some results soon