Ph help!

RyanAbuhoff · Jan 3, 2014

Specific gravity- 1.024

Calcium-400

Mag-1320

Alk- 9.8

PH-7.8

Ammonia-0.25

Nitrate-0

Nitrite-0
Phosphate-0.25
Hey guys, I have been having a problem raising my PH and am unsure why. Just by looking at these params, Calcium looks to be just a little low, Alk is a little too high for my liking, ammonia is way too high and phosphate is a little high. I have a tank setup just for corals that has no fish and I just put in around 10 pounds of live rock about 10 days ago. The live rock could account for the ammonia and the phosphates so I have been doing regular water changes to bring them down.
I currently run a 24 gallon Aquapod with a maxijet-900 and a 250gph power head. I took out the bio-balls and sponges and have replaced with filter floss, purigen and chemipure elite. I am looking into getting some Chaeto now, but want to fix this PH issue. I buffer when I do water changes and sometimes add in more buffer throughout the week, but my PH always drops back down to 7.8â€¦â€¦ CAN ANYONE HELP ME OUT WITH THIS? Any help would be appreciated!

Mike J. · Jan 3, 2014

A ph of 7.8 isn't going to kill anything - stability is more important. Getting more oxygen in your water and less CO2 will help. Use a skimmer, an air stone, direct your powerhead towards the surface. What kind of corals do you have now that require dosing? Detected ammonia indicates to me that you don't have enough denitrifying bacteria in your tank.

Calcium/Alkalinity Balance Calculator

Reefing Madness · Jan 3, 2014

Are there lids on the tank? Remove them if you do.
Do the powerheads break the water surface?

beaslbob · Jan 3, 2014

Ammonia of .25 with the api test kit can be a false positive.

I would add macro algaes. in a refugium of course. I think you will find you pH rises after adding the macros.

And I would also be sure to measure ammonia just before light out.

my .02

redfishbluefish · Jan 3, 2014

You’ve already heard it….you don’t have a pH problem. However, I’d keep an eye on ammonia…..that’s a killer!

What are you using to maintain alk?

RyanAbuhoff · Jan 3, 2014

Mike J. said:
A ph of 7.8 isn't going to kill anything - stability is more important. Getting more oxygen in your water and less CO2 will help. Use a skimmer, an air stone, direct your powerhead towards the surface. What kind of corals do you have now that require dosing? Detected ammonia indicates to me that you don't have enough denitrifying bacteria in your tank.

Calcium/Alkalinity Balance Calculator

I have been opening up my windows to prevent stale air but do not run a skimmer or air stone but will probably turn to a simmer soon.
I just directed the power head towards he surface so I will keep monitoring PH closely. I do not dose regularly since I have primarily LPS and Zoas (only 2 sps), but do notice that my calcium levels reduce after two weeks.

Should I add more denitrifying bacteria to my already established tank?

beaslbob · Jan 3, 2014

RyanAbuhoff said:
I have been opening up my windows to prevent stale air but do not run a skimmer or air stone but will probably turn to a simmer soon.
I just directed the power head towards he surface so I will keep monitoring PH closely. I do not dose regularly since I have primarily LPS and Zoas (only 2 sps), but do notice that my calcium levels reduce after two weeks.

Should I add more denitrifying bacteria to my already established tank?

You have denitrifying bacteria and low pH? Isn't that anaerobic bacteria or the result of vodka/vinegar dosing? that might explain the low pH. Macro algaes will consume the nitrates and raise the pH.

RyanAbuhoff · Jan 3, 2014

redfishbluefish said:
Youâ€™ve already heard itâ€¦.you donâ€™t have a pH problem. However, Iâ€™d keep an eye on ammoniaâ€¦..thatâ€™s a killer!

What are you using to maintain alk?

I have C-Balance two part, but have not been using Alk for a while since my alk was higher than 11. Through regular WC'S ive been able to get my Alk down to where it is now.

RyanAbuhoff · Jan 3, 2014

beaslbob said:
You have denitrifying bacteria and low pH? Isn't that anaerobic bacteria or the result of vodka/vinegar dosing? that might explain the low pH. Macro algaes will consume the nitrates and raise the pH.

I have not heard of vodka dosing being used to often, I figured it was an outdated method, but I will definitely look into that to solve this nuisance. Thanks!

Mike J. · Jan 3, 2014

I'd stop dosing everything and do regular water changes. Get some air in the water; you'd be surprised at how a simple air stone would help. You will only have enough bacteria that is needed to consume the ammonia that is being produced. If the bacteria are not fed they die. Adding the live rock put your load above what bacteria you have.

RyanAbuhoff · Jan 3, 2014

Plus vodka dosing seems to require a skimmer as a must and I do not have one yet, so I am looking for hopefully safer alternatives

RyanAbuhoff · Jan 3, 2014

Mike J. said:
I'd stop dosing everything and do regular water changes. Get some air in the water; you'd be surprised at how a simple air stone would help. You will only have enough bacteria that is needed to consume the ammonia that is being produced. If the bacteria are not fed they die. Adding the live rock put your load above what bacteria you have.

I will stop dosing immediately and continue the regular water changes....I will stop by my LFS today to pick up an air stone and some macro. Thanks for the advice