Low pH

[reefrider777]

My tank about 2 months ago battled an ALK swing from a bad batch of low ALK salt. Most of the SPS browned out and some perished. I have some that have bounced back and others are still brown and not growing. I have my all stable at 8.3dkh, 485ppm Ca, 1285ppm Mg. PO4 and NO3 measure zero and I am dosing nitrate trying to get it up. I wonder if I am starving the corals and need to get NO3 up. Today I tested pH and it was low 7.4 (Salifert). I have had my skimmer off for about 3 weeks trying to get my NO3 up. So here is my question...would having my skimmer off lower my pH? I typically get a 7.7-7.9pH. How can I raise my pHand not affect my Alk? I do not chase numbers, but I would like to get my pH up.

We do have natural gas heat and I do open the windows as often as I can to let the house breathe.

Thanks for reading and hopefully helping

 

[Ocelaris]

Absolutely, the skimmer releases co2 and will help the pH. However I wouldn't worry about it too much. Some people run that low because of calcium reactors and are fine. If your parameters are fine, don't worry about the pH. However I'd suggest also getting that phosphate up a tad also. What kit are you using for phosphates?

I know you want to raise your pH, but short of raising your alkalinity, there's no easy way short of running an airline outside or using co2 media which is expensive. If you get your nitrates and phosphates up you could run your alkalinity higher which would be fine. But stability is way more important than what the alkalinity or ph is reading. Are you dosing regularly and testing alkalinity frequently?

 

[reefrider777]

Absolutely, the skimmer releases co2 and will help the pH. However I wouldn't worry about it too much. Some people run that low because of calcium reactors and are fine. If your parameters are fine, don't worry about the pH. However I'd suggest also getting that phosphate up a tad also. What kit are you using for phosphates?

I know you want to raise your pH, but short of raising your alkalinity, there's no easy way short of running an airline outside or using co2 media which is expensive. If you get your nitrates and phosphates up you could run your alkalinity higher which would be fine. But stability is way more important than what the alkalinity or ph is reading. Are you dosing regularly and testing alkalinity frequently?

Hanna LR HI-713 for PO4. I have been testing alk about every other day or 3rd day using a Hanna and also Salifert test kit. I do dose 2 part. I figured that raising pH would also affect Alk. I don't really want to raise my Alk bc when I make SW the Alk is usually around 8.3-8.6. I put the skimmer back online and just have it turned to dry, so hopefully I can get my nutrients up.

 

[Ocelaris]

Hanna LR HI-713 for PO4. I have been testing alk about every other day or 3rd day using a Hanna and also Salifert test kit. I do dose 2 part. I figured that raising pH would also affect Alk. I don't really want to raise my Alk bc when I make SW the Alk is usually around 8.3-8.6. I put the skimmer back online and just have it turned to dry, so hopefully I can get my nutrients up.

That's the phosphate, not phosphorous kit, so if it reads zero, you might still be ok. Honestly it sounds like you're doing everything correct. My opinion, higher alk isn't scary if you keep your nutrients up, and pH isn't really worth watching for the most part. Dry skim should help.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don't think a pH of 7.4 is something to be ignored, although it may not be accurate..

A natural gas furnace should not increase CO2 since it will be vented outside, but a gas stove and people and pets will. So would an unvented gas fireplace.

There are lots of good ways to raise pH. All of them involved reducing CO2 in the water somehow.

This has more:

pH And The Reef Aquarium
http://www.reefedition.com/ph-and-the-reef-aquarium/

 

[GoVols]

Opening the windows / turning on ceiling fans / leaving the AC thermostat alone while switching the fan from auto to on.
Getting the trapped in Co2 out... Junkie, over here