Low ph

[rkseaslug]

I have 2 tanks-20gal frag and 29biocube. I do the same in both,but my 29 ph is always low-7.7. I keep kh at 11 mag at 1450 cal at 450. I tried leaving refit um light on all day- did not work. I use acuavitro ph buffer daily. It will bring it up, then within a day drop back to 7.7. My other tank does not have this problem. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Neon Reef]

low ph problems are 99.99% due to either low oxygen levels/not enough water surface agitation or high bioload and too many organics in the tank not breaking down fast enough. what's your bioload like and what filtration do you have? my fix for my tank when i had the same problem was believe it or not, plants in the room to provide fresh/more oxygen and a tunze powerhead that agitates the surface water. of course, water changes help as well.

 

[cdness]

Buffers won't get you very far. They are a temporary fix while you attempt to solve the real cause of the issue.

Try running the hose for the air inlet of your skimmer to a higher point in the room or if possible to a fresh air source like a window. This will greatly help raise the available oxygen in the air.

If that is not possible, there is also the option of a CO2 scrubber to help remove the CO2 from the air. It works, but it's expensive to run long term.

I do like the plant idea. I may have to get some more into the living room where the tank is at. Good suggestion.

 

[rkseaslug]

I have slot of frags in tank and a small skimmer that's it. Sounds like I need to get some o2 in the tank.

 

[Neon Reef]

co2 might be the problem...you need h20 not co2 in the tank..lol

 

[Bernie]

The idea might sound tacky... but would a normal tank air pump and bubbler be a good way to raise O2 in the tank? Maybe run in the sump?

 

[beaslbob]

Co2 is definately the problem

(imho LOL)

try adding some macro algaes to suck the co2 out of the system. lights on pH should rise almost immediately.

my .02

 

[cdness]

an air pump would work, assuming the inlet is in a place where there is a higher concentration of o2 and not co2. It would be the same effect as raising your skimmer inlet for air though.

 

[MattinIdaho]

It's getting cold here where I'm from and as soon as we shut the windows my ph went down. I cracked them open and it went right back up and has stayed up. Don't know what I will do when it hits -20.lol

 

[rkseaslug]

Ok looks like every thinks more oxygen. I will try

 

[caudill187]

And letting your alk slowly drop down to 9 or 10 may help too....

 

[VegasRick]

Low oxygen is not the problem, I am not sure where that comes from. The problem is almost always co2. Whether its not enough surface agitation for gas exchange or whether its high room co2. Running an airstone if your room co2 is high will not help at all. CO2 is easily adsorbed into water but not so easy to get out. Adding buffer wont help low pH, unless you alk is below 6, then it might be an alk issue.
You have several good suggestions.
Make sure you have good surface agitation.
Running a refugium on an opposite light cycle from your tank will help with low pH at night.
Plants in the room and house could probably help.
Opening a door or window will definitely help. Get fresh air in with and lower the co2 level in the room.
Adding a co2 scrubber to your skimmer helps, not because you are putting more oxygen in the water but because you are putting less co2 in. Running the air inlet of your skimmer to the outside will help too.
The biggest thing that helps is using kalkwasser. This not only raises your pH in the tank simply because its high pH, but also because kw takes co2 in the system and converts it to usable carbonate by your corals