New tank. Use kalkwasser to raise ph?

[Kris Hamann]

Hi everyone. I have a new 60 gallon cycling and I notice that my ph is pretty low. It's at like 7.6. There's nothing in it right now so I'm wondering if adding kalkwasser now would start to raise everything where I want it before adding corals. Obviously still checking everything so my other levels dont get extremely high. Thanks.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi everyone. I have a new 60 gallon cycling and I notice that my ph is pretty low. It's at like 7.6. There's nothing in it right now so I'm wondering if adding kalkwasser now would start to raise everything where I want it before adding corals. Obviously still checking everything so my other levels dont get extremely high. Thanks.

Limewater (kalkwasser) is a suitable way to add calcium and alkalinity, and a possible way to raise pH (there are others too).

But if you do not need alkalinity yet, I would not look to use it.

 

[Vahanyos]

Add more surface agitation and it'll balance the PH out. Easier solution than dosing kalk.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Add more surface agitation and it'll balance the PH out. Easier solution than dosing kalk.

It may reduce the day to night swing, but it may do that by lowering the pH high, which in this case may be worse than doing nothing.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Im with Randy. Dont add kalk to increase Ph. 7.6 is not horrible especially since you have nothing in the tank yet. Adding kalk will increase alk and cal as well and the increase in Ph will be temporary. Kalk is great for increasing alk and cal when its needed in a reef tank. Try opening up some windows in the house if outside temps allow it. How are you measuring the Ph? What time of day, lights on or lights off?

 

[Kris Hamann]

Thanks everyone. I think I'm just going to do windows (80s in buffalo ny right now) I checked at noonish with my lights on. The tank is only around 2-3 weeks old.

 

[Vahanyos]

It may reduce the day to night swing, but it may do that by lowering the pH high, which in this case may be worse than doing nothing.

What do you mean lowering the PH high?

 

[ZoWhat]

Time out....

How are you testing pH?
Calibrated pH probe?
pH drip test?

 

[Kris Hamann]

Time out....

How are you testing pH?
Calibrated pH probe?
pH drip test?

I have a Milwaukee mc122 ph controller

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What do you mean lowering the PH high?

I mean that more aeration may lower the pH, especially the peak pH near the end of the light cycle.

So, for example, pH that ranges from 7.7 to 7.9 each day, might drop to a steady pH 7.7 with more aeration with indoor air, and that, IMO, is not a desirable effect. I suggest it is undesirable.

The exact result you get will depend on the CO2 level in the air you are using for aeration. Aeration can raise or lower pH, or even both in the same tank depending on the time of day.