Major PH drop.

[Rakkasan]

Newly cycled tank 30 gallon
2 days ago PH was 8.1
Alkalinity 200ppm /11.1 (I know it's high)
Phosphate. 05
Calcium is 430
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 1ppm

I have been preparing for softies and beginner corals so I have added in microvert 20 drops, calcium 10ml, coral-vite 5ml and amino acid today 5 drops.
Yesterday I added a pair of goliath clowns (babies)
Today I added 4 zoa's and 2 small birdnest and a paly.
Noticed clowns were struggling to breath for a lack of better terms so I pulled them out and out them into my established tank where they revived quickly. Ran a test and PH is 7.4 ish

I did a water change, and added a air stone to the pump house and opened a window. I had two snails die and a cleaner shrimp and my nessarius snails are going nuts.

I tested with api

 

[Doctorgori]

7.4 isn’t deadly by any stretch...bad, not good but not instantly fatal something else is probably amiss or in conjunction...
can you pull the corals.? Maybe leave one zoa as a mine canary
try multiple 30% water changes over a few days, see what’s up...
Also I personally don’t add a dang thing to any new tank for months if not the 1st year (been reefing a long time and can’t say I’ve been compelled to buy the stuff you mention well at least not to “prepare “ a tank) .... maybe kalkwasser and water changes ...I dunno some stuff stays on LFS shelves way too long, might be ok but not seeing plain ole saltwater go downhill as you mentioned without help ...I’ve learned the hard way to keep it simple esp on a new tank

 

[Taylor t]

I would post in the chemistry forum also, at least research that forum. There is a difference between how carbonate and bicarbonate work, one raises KH WITHOUT raising PH. One raises both carbonate AND PH and acts as a “buffer”.

Just my opinion, I don’t buy into all the chemical gimmick products. Not worth it. Only thing I add are the “main 3”, and fish food (nori sheets only for tangs, fish poo feed the rest ) But if you’re adding something called an “amino acid” common sense tells me, it sounds like it might bring PH down! I would only consider using things if this nature once a very good understanding of chemistry is in place, and it does have a place, but IMO/IME, only when trying to alter the color of corals.

7.0 is neutral. Below this is called acidic. Above this is basic (or I consider buffer).

On a young tank, I think your actions are the best route, water changes will be safest.

You can also use soda ash or kalk to raise ph and kh, but these should get dripped because the ph is so drastically different. Don’t make any changes too fast, other than water changes, those are always safest to use as a “reset”.

 

[VA5]

I think you may have added too much too quickly, although usually this effects nitrates not pH.
From what I’ve seen pH swings are caused by water changes. Too much water changes, not enough natural filter (live rock ect) and using tap water instead of RODI.
Also we all tend to economize with our time and change out things like filter socks during water changes. This is fine in established tanks but in newer tanks they can be an important biological filter
One last comment , most of what you added was appropriate for newly cycled tank but I’d stay away from shrimp and sps (birds nest) for awhile

 

[Billdogg]

I do not check pH. I haven't in over 25 years. There really is no point. Your pH can be affected by many things, the most common being a closed up house with people in it. It is especially apparent in the winter when the furnace kicks in using up even more 02.

Chasing any specific pH value can have serious consequences in a marine aquarium. The common buffers (Kalkwasser, soda ash. baking soda) will, indeed, cause a temporary change in pH, but more importantly, will cause the Alkalinity of the system to go too high.

My advice? Throw away the pH test kit. Concentrate on the important things - salinity (1.025-.026), Calcium (400ish ppm) Alkalinity (8-10dkh - I keep mine at 8.5), and magnesium (1350) You will find that if your Mg is low, you cannot add enough of the other two to get them to come into range.

The only other thing I dose is Vibrant for reefs. It seems to help with algae issues.

I do not dose anything else - no "amino acids" (btw - won't affect pH), no other magic elixirs at all. Save your money for more important things!