Ph help

jpontier212 · Feb 28, 2016

Happy Sunday guys. I'm a newbie. I'm presently in the final stages of the initial cycle. I'm presently losing about a gallon to a gallon and a half a week to evaporation. I was told to keep my temp above average to help with the initial cycle. I have 5lbs of live rock in my sump right now and 50 lbs of dry key largo rock in DT. 49lbs of carib sea black hawaiian substrate.
Parameters
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrate 50-75
Ph 7.4
Cal 420
Phosphate 7.0
Salinity 1.024
Temp 81°f

When i top off I'm using purified RO water from the dispenser at Publix. Could this be keeping my PH low and can i add some red grasillaria to my sump with my live rock?

AdamNC · Feb 28, 2016

How's the water agitation at the water surface? Try pointing a power head at the surface to help with gas exchange.

jpontier212 · Feb 28, 2016

AdamNC said:
How's the water agitation at the water surface? Try pointing a power head at the surface to help with gas exchange.

I have 2 800 gph powerheads going full throttle.

deerhunter06 · Feb 28, 2016

no way your ph is 7.4, how are you testing

jpontier212 · Feb 28, 2016

deerhunter06 said:
no way your ph is 7.4, how are you testing

I'm taking my water to my LFS to have it tested. I figured If they test it, they will let me know when I'm ready for a clean up crew and i can purchase it right then. What are your thoughts on the red gracileria for the sump?

AdamNC · Feb 28, 2016

deerhunter06 said:
no way your ph is 7.4, how are you testing

It could be possible as neutral ph is at 7.0. Could be his top off water.

Try pointing one of them angled upward or pick up a third one. I've got three in my tank with two pointing straight and the third one on a 45 degree angle pointing back to front. My ph varies from day at 8.1 to night at 7.8.

deerhunter06 · Feb 28, 2016

you can add all the macro algae you want, 7.4 is a big issue if its right and no amount of macro is going to fix it. I would cross check that ph with another test. You are almost to the point of dissolving coral skeletons with that.

jpontier212 · Feb 28, 2016

AdamNC said:
It could be possible as neutral ph is at 7.0.

Try pointing one of them angled upward or pick up a third one. I've got three in my tank with two pointing straight and the third one on a 45 degree angle pointing back to front. My ph varies from day at 8.1 to night at 7.8.

I wish the video would come through so you can see the surface is very well agitated. Not a square inch is sitting still. I have a hood that covers the tank and also my stand is fully enclosed also. There's a substancial space towards the back of the aquarium good that's open and i don't have a back on the stand so i think it's getting enough air circulation but i was thinking about adding a fan to help with the evaporation and air circulation also.

AdamNC · Feb 28, 2016

Hmm just watched your video. One of 2 things I'd say is it's a bad test kit or too neutral ph in your top off water.

jpontier212 · Feb 28, 2016

AdamNC said:
Hmm just watched your video. One of 2 things I'd say is it's a bad test kit or too neutral ph in your top off water.

So should i get RO water from my LFS or continue using the disorder dispenser stuff from Publix?

deerhunter06 · Feb 28, 2016

AdamNC said:
It could be possible as neutral ph is at 7.0. Could be his top off water.

yes in regular water. The average PH in sw is 8.1.

jpontier212 · Feb 28, 2016

deerhunter06 said:
yes in regular water. The average PH in sw is 8.1.

Should i be adding something to my top off water to help with the PH issue. I heard baking soda at 1 tsp/gallon is a massive help

deerhunter06 · Feb 28, 2016

I would test your water yourself, 7.0 phosphate is crazy high for a brand new tank, PH reading is just not realistic. Not to mention most LFS employees don't know what they are talking about.

deerhunter06 · Feb 28, 2016

jpontier212 said:
Should i be adding something to my top off water to help with the PH issue. I heard baking soda at 1 tsp/gallon is a massive help

No not at this point, don't start adding thing till you know what you are doing, I'm telling ya, your PH is not 7.4

jpontier212 · Feb 28, 2016

deerhunter06 said:
No not at this point, don't start adding thing till you know what you are doing, I'm telling ya, your PH is not 7.4

Ok I'll get a kit this weekend and test all my parameters myself. Thank you for all your help deerhunter06. I really appreciate. I'll keep you guys updated on my progress

Diesel · Feb 28, 2016

What kind of salt do you use?
What is your ALK#
Po4 really at 7.0??
What kind of light do you run?

AdamNC · Feb 28, 2016

A lot of times low ph can also be attributed to low alk as they go hand and hand. Adding baking soda can also raise your alk. Have you tested your alk?

jpontier212 · Feb 28, 2016

Diesel said:
What kind of salt do you use?
What is your ALK#
Po4 really at 7.0??
What kind of light do you run?

I have yet to buy the first grain of salt. I buy salt and Ro water for to off and my parameters are tested by my LFS. I have yet to purchase my own test kit. API maybe? What would you recommend? My Alk is 6 DKH.

jpontier212 · Feb 28, 2016

AdamNC said:
A lot of times low ph can also be attributed to low alk as they go hand and hand. Adding baking soda can also raise your alk. Have you tested your alk?

Alk is also low. 6 DKH

deerhunter06 · Feb 28, 2016

jpontier212 said:
Alk is also low. 6 DKH

yes its low, but its fine for what you are doing right now. You start worrying about alk when you add corals. WIth an alk of 6.0 just tells me even more so that your ph isn't 7.4.