PH dropping

Sharkattackmack · Jan 29, 2021

I woke up this morning to an email saying that my ph was low. Seemed to be slowly dropping all night and keeps heading south. I will check again before I leave work as I was going to leave the tank until Sunday and go see my parents for the weekend. I added a new fish and CUC last night along with 3 pieces of coral.

If I don't see a rise in ph by the end of the day I'll have to head back to my house instead of leaving right to work to my parents.

What should I test for? How would me adding some things to the tank cause my ph to lower? I know alkilinty and ph are somewhat related so would a good start be testing for those both?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 29, 2021

Sounds more like a measurement issue than real low pH. I wouldn't do anything fast, unless you might possibly have a CaCO3/CO2 reactor where the solenoid may be stuck open releasing CO2.

reeferKen · Jan 29, 2021

I found Mr. palettas' info on ph helpful when you get some spare time.

Sharkattackmack · Jan 29, 2021

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Sounds more like a measurement issue than real low pH. I wouldn't do anything fast, unless you might possibly have a CaCO3/CO2 reactor where the solenoid may be stuck open releasing CO2.

I will be waiting to see what the results are when I get off work. I work at a nuclear power plant and were not allowed to take our phones inside. Hoping once the lights turn on it raises back up. Worst case I'll blast home and do a quick waterchange. I know alk and ph are linked so it's possible with all the stoney corals I've been adding maybe they're using the alk faster than I thought.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 29, 2021

smackenzie128 said:
I will be waiting to see what the results are when I get off work. I work at a nuclear power plant and were not allowed to take our phones inside. Hoping once the lights turn on it raises back up. Worst case I'll blast home and do a quick waterchange. I know alk and ph are linked so it's possible with all the stoney corals I've been adding maybe they're using the alk faster than I thought.

Water changes are never the best solution to actual low pH, unless something strange was dumped into the water.

The only things that determine pH are CO2 and alkalinity.

This has more:

http://www.reefedition.com/ph-and-the-reef-aquarium/

Duffer · Jan 29, 2021

i'm a firm believer during the winter months of installing the airline to the skimmer to the outside.

I just did this 2 weeks ago for the first time as i noticed my PH was dropping. Ever since than my PH is now at 8 low end and 8.21 at the high end.

Sharkattackmack · Jan 29, 2021

I'm no longer running a skimmer. Everyone keeps telling me how useless Nano skimmers are. I might try it again as I am going to use my old biocube one as the fluval one I'm not impressed with. The intake media basket I have in chamber 1 does a much better job at flow control anyways.