Low ph

[sergifed91]

I have had issues with my ph and I don't chase the numbers. noticed issues when my corals wouldn't open up at all. did the windows open nothing, co2 scrubber nothing. had ac co out and co2 levels around 400 - 450. recalibrated ph probe to apex and tested ph with api also and both the same. api test kit stayed yellow no turning of color. so threw in an air stone. which raise id to safe levels but still major drops at night and raised slowly during the day. decided to test alk, ca and mg. alk 10.3 ca 400 and mg really low at 1200. tested mg 3 time with salifert average after 3 tests 1200. so dosed mg and will retest again tonight. think if I get it all lined up could this be my issue.

 

[DomiKasReef]

I'm in a similar boat with my nano 20g, but I'll admit I'm chasing numbers at this point. Just don't understand why my pH stays on the low end of the spectrum despite trying most everything. CO2 Scrubber, Kalkwasser, additional air stone, refugium, even added some nice plants in the room.
Alk: 9.5 Cal: 430 Mg: ~1480
I'm going to be sending my water into Triton for the 1st time to get an idea of it's quality too.
Maybe that will shed some light?

At least after adding the refugium it's pretty consistent now at 7.8-7.9.

 

[sergifed91]

I'm in a similar boat with my nano 20g, but I'll admit I'm chasing numbers at this point. Just don't understand why my pH stays on the low end of the spectrum despite trying most everything. CO2 Scrubber, Kalkwasser, additional air stone, refugium, even added some nice plants in the room.
Alk: 9.5 Cal: 430 Mg: ~1480
I'm going to be sending my water into Triton for the 1st time to get an idea of it's quality too.
Maybe that will shed some light?

At least after adding the refugium it's pretty consistent now at 7.8-7.9.

I didn't chase mine. Until I noticed my corals where turning white. That's when I got concern. Ph tested with my apex 6.5. That's when i freaked out. I knew i had to do something at that point. If i have to use an air stone to stabilize it so be in. I'm going to get a marine land 75 reef ready. Not much of an upgrade from a 60 g. But that's fine wi tyh me.

 

[Coralreefer1]

Your pH will always fluctuate from day to night. You need to test your water at the same time otherwise you will always get different readings. PH will always be higher when your lights are on due to photosynthesis and the lack of carbon dioxide. At night, once it stops, your pH will drop because carbon dioxide causes pH to become more acidic.

 

[DomiKasReef]

Ph tested with my apex 6.5. That's when i freaked out.

Dang. Yea I'd freak out too. That's low low. I was doing the same thing too, recalibrated my Apex probe, tested with another handheld one which I calibrated, and a liquid test kit.
You have some bad salt or something? I've also read about DI resin somewhere making a bad plastic smell that caused similar issue like that. Maybe check that out. Your issue seems more severe than mine for sure.

 

[sergifed91]

Dang. Yea I'd freak out too. That's low low. I was doing the same thing too, recalibrated my Apex probe, tested with another handheld one which I calibrated, and a liquid test kit.
You have some bad salt or something? I've also read about DI resin somewhere making a bad plastic smell that caused similar issue like that. Maybe check that out. Your issue seems more severe than mine for sure.

I got it stable now. Even though in using an air pump. But its a lot more stable. I switz to fritz pro reef. Which could be the issue. But I will find another salt when I an almost out.

 

[W1ngz]

Ph tested with my apex 6.5. That's when i freaked out.

6.5 pH is outright acidic. Everything would be dead in that tank if that were the case, and it would begin to dissolve the rock and coral skeletons. Recalibrate or replace the probe, but I have some serious doubts on that number.

 

[DomiKasReef]

I got it stable now.

Good to know.

6.5 pH is outright acidic.

Yea I think that was a "fat finger" keyboard move, think he meant 7.5

 

[sergifed91]

Good to know.

Yea I think that was a "fat finger" keyboard move, think he meant 7.5

I did fat finger it. sorry. but I replaced the media in the co2 scrubber today. I have it hooked up to cycle the co2 through the protein skimmer. similar to the pic below. only difference is I have a eshopps hob skimmer. the psk -100h I believe is the model. the line to the air line going from the right side to the air intake and the other air tube to the left from skimmer to the co2 scrubber. just like in the picture. i'm wondering if I should decrease the surface agitation since it's in the basement.

 

[DomiKasReef]

i'm wondering if I should decrease the surface agitation ...

I wouldn't say so. I'd say the more the better. I'm going to try and run my little NuvoSkim airline outside and see if it can even pull in air from out there with it's baby pump.

 

[sergifed91]

I wouldn't say so. I'd say the more the better. I'm going to try and run my little NuvoSkim airline outside and see if it can even pull in air from out there with it's baby pump.

should I increase the agitation? i'll post a pick from my cell on a separate response

 

[sergifed91]

I wouldn't say so. I'd say the more the better. I'm going to try and run my little NuvoSkim airline outside and see if it can even pull in air from out there with it's baby pump.

 

[sergifed91]

I only have 1 circulation pump on it for right now.

 

[DomiKasReef]

Looks like good agitation to me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[sergifed91]

Looks like good agitation to me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

the lights are about to go out for the night in 8 minutes. for the cheato light on and flowing and the co2 scrubber circulating the air. so lets see how much it drops over night. last night it went from 7.9 to 7.81 for the PH. I took out the air pump from the equation tonight. just to see what will happen in the next 24 hours.