Ph crash last night

[808jaymakoa]

Normally my ph varies from 7.8 in the morning and 8.15 at the end of the day. I woke up this morning and ph was at 7.45. What would cause this? Aeration is awesome. So gas exchange was good last night. I didn't feed to much yesterday cause the ph seemed a little low the day before and I didn't want bacteria to consume all the oxygen. Nothing died but seems a bit weird. I do weekly water changes of 5 gallons.

 

[808jaymakoa]

Oh and I've added buffer yesterday and I did this morning offcourse

 

[Murfman]

How are you measuring your pH?

 

[808jaymakoa]

Seneye reef monitoring system and I double check with API.

 

[808jaymakoa]

this is readings right now. The low ph reading was at like 5 this morning so in 5 hours it has risen significantly. Almost to fast.

 

[jcdeng]

you have a constant pH monitor? or a pH checker? did your tank's tempature change? And what was your ALK?

 

[808jaymakoa]

It checks params every 30 minutes. And no temperature is stable at 78. It varies .4 degrees thru out the day. I don't have an alk test kit.

 

[jcdeng]

NVM that, I assume you have a fish only tank? try running your skimmer intake out the window for fresh air, should help the pH

 

[808jaymakoa]

Nah don't worry about it. I'm relatively new and learning as I go. Ill go get one today. I've never had an issue with params that I knew off yet so I never had a reason to go get one. What should alk be and how does alk affect ph or other parameters. This is why I have you guys. When I need someone you guys are there and hopefully I can return the favor one day. I was told by some ppl that if I use good salt (reef crystals) and check calcium I wouldn't need alk tester. I don't know if that's true but for what it's worth

 

[808jaymakoa]

NVM that, I assume you have a fish only tank? try running your skimmer intake out the window for fresh air, should help the pH

I have a few corals and all are doin great. With signs of growth. Running skimmer intake outside window isn't an option where my tank is.

 

[cdness]

I was told by some ppl that if I use good salt (reef crystals) and check calcium I wouldn't need alk tester. I don't know if that's true but for what it's worth

Good thing you found Reef2Reef as that was bad advice... However with a fish only tank you don't need to worry about alk as much.

Get some fresh air into the house and you should be ok. It is dropping due to the CO2 in the air now that we all run AC units and close up the house to keep them cool.

 

[jcdeng]

Nah don't worry about it. I'm relatively new and learning as I go. Ill go get one today. I've never had an issue with params that I knew off yet so I never had a reason to go get one. What should alk be and how does alk affect ph or other parameters. This is why I have you guys. When I need someone you guys are there and hopefully I can return the favor one day. I was told by some ppl that if I use good salt (reef crystals) and check calcium I wouldn't need alk tester. I don't know if that's true but for what it's worth

whoever told you that got it backwards. If you are allow to buy one and only one parameter test kit, it would be an ALK test kit, not a cal test kit. Given that you only have a few corals then its true if u use RC and do regular water changes then the ALK, CAL, and Mg should be replenished by just that.

 

[duke4130]

The three big things in a reef tank that are part of making up PH is ALK, CAL, MAG. Along with clean water and airation, those three things will decide what your PH level is. They all need to be in order to have correct PH. For example, if your ALK is low then then your corals will be unable to utilize the calcium and magnesium then will most likely result in a spike of your cal and mag causing your PH to drop and can actually kill your corals if not resolved in a timely matter. The same is with the CAL and MAG. If any of the three are not where they are supposed then it will cause you PH to drop. After all three are in line and your PH is still dropping then you need to check the other parameters of your water. Hope this helps.

 

[808jaymakoa]

Thanks guys. I'm gonna get a alk and magnesium test kit and check today

 

[beaslbob]

add 2 teaspoons of baking soda and report back in the morning. :wink:


or better yet:

add macro algaes to suck out the co2


Start the diy 2 part system to get calcium around 400ppm, alk around 8-10 dkh, and magnesium ~1350ppm.

Then report back in the morning. LOL

my .02

 

[808jaymakoa]

So went to lfs and he does not have alk or magnesium test kit. I picked up this though.

mag supplement and 2 part calcium dkh supplement.

 

[808jaymakoa]

add 2 teaspoons of baking soda and report back in the morning. :wink:


or better yet:

add macro algaes to suck out the co2


Start the diy 2 part system to get calcium around 400ppm, alk around 8-10 dkh, and magnesium ~1350ppm.

Then report back in the morning. LOL

my .02

I do have macro in my tank

 

[808jaymakoa]

current params by the way

 

[Mike J.]

Please don't add any supplements before you test and find a need. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a ph of 8.0. There are ways to hold your PH more stable. And there's not any dramatic things that are going to happen if your PH varies a couple points at night.

 

[ritter6788]

Please don't add any supplements before you test and find a need. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a ph of 8.0. There are ways to hold your PH more stable. And there's not any dramatic things that are going to happen if your PH varies a couple points at night.

This^^^

You can throw your alk out of whack and cause real damage dosing buffers to increase pH.

I don't test for pH or recommend others do in a saltwater tank. Keep alk, cal and mag in line and pH will follow. If you don't have stony corals and clams that use up alk, cal and mag then you likely won't ever have to dose it.