PH and Alkalinity questions....?

[InDahOcean]

I need help... For the last few days, my PH seems to be really low 7.8-7.9 in the day time. It's usually around 8.1. I checked my alkalinity just to make sure it's not too low. The alk. test turned out to be around 8.4~9.8. It seems like the alk. is good. Can you guys help me out here?

• What is the cause of the lower in PH?
• Any way to increase the PH, without increasing the ALK?
• Will adding PH buffer or CO2, and other methods lower my Calcium or MG?

 

[Macdaddynick1]

It's getting cold are you keeping your doors closer or did you turn down you skimmer. Stirring detritus lowers the ph a bit for a day or two.

 

[kazikage42]

Add kalkwasser or a CO2 scrubber to help raise your pH. I prefer the CO2 scrubber but it gets costly to get media refills, which is why I stopped. Or if u got the space, you add a refugium with 24/7 lighting. I wouldnt chase pH much as long as your tank is doing good. 7.8 -7.9 is still in the recommended range.

 

[kazikage42]

Don't trust any pH buffer bc they still increase your alkalinity even though it says that it doesn't.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I need help... For the last few days, my PH seems to be really low 7.8-7.9 in the day time. It's usually around 8.1. I checked my alkalinity just to make sure it's not too low. The alk. test turned out to be around 8.4~9.8. It seems like the alk. is good. Can you guys help me out here?

• What is the cause of the lower in PH?
• Any way to increase the PH, without increasing the ALK?
• Will adding PH buffer or CO2, and other methods lower my Calcium or MG?

First, pH 7.8-7.9 is fine and many tanks have it in tha trange.

pH is determined mathematically by the alkalinity and the carbon dioxide level. If the alk is normal or high and the ph is low, then low pH is due to excessive CO2 in the water.

There are ways to reduce CO2, but there are NO chemicals that can be added to a reef tank that boost pH and not also alkalinity.

This has a lot more:

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