Ph help...

[justjes45]

Ok- I can NOT seem to keep my Ph levels up...
DETAILS:

I live in Vermont.
It is winter and all windows and doors stay shut.
We have a wood stove that runs occasionally...

EVERY winter my tank suffers. I DO learn a bit as time goes on.

This year, I thought Kalkwasser in my ATO was the answer...

Still struggling.

Any advice?

I need to fix this ASAP.

40 gal Nuvo cube
Mixed tank

7.8 Ph now
Not awesome.

 

[ScottR]

What’s your tank temperature? I’m assuming you have a heater, right? I mean, unless there’s a huge air pressure difference, I don’t see how external factors would change pH. What’s the temp of your home?

 

[justjes45]

Our house is about 66 degrees in the winter
Tank is at 79

I read somewhere here about “carbon monoxide poisoning “ caused by lack of fresh air- wood stove off out etc...

Some people plumb in fresh air into the tank from outside. But here that is not really an option at my house.

 

[ScottR]

Well, I’m not a scientist. But carbon monoxide is created when oxygen is burned. I know that CO2 (carbon dioxide) creates acidic water when mixed with water. If you’re burning up lots of oxygen without fresh air, you could be creating molecules that - when mixed with water - may create an acidic environment in your tank water. Just an idea. pH doesn’t just drop during seasons without some other outside factor. What’s your salinity at? Do you run a low 1.020 or higher 1.025+?

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

pH is a directly effected due to buffering capacity and levels of CO2 levels in the air and in water. If you can air out the room, bring more fresh air to the area things will change.
I will strongly suggest not to chase the pH with chemicals as ALL chemicals increasing pH are temporary and are alkalinity increasing agents.
Try natural remedies like fresh air in the room or air line from outside, refugium with opposite lighting schedule and worse case CO2 scrubber.

Running heaters in winter time will increase CO2 buildup;

According to PropEx.com, certain appliances in a house can cause elevated levelsof carbon dioxide. These include space heaters, dryers, stoves and any other unvented gas appliance. One way to prevent the buildup is to make sure all appliances are properly vented.

 

[GabeM]

If you have a lot of CO2 in your air and that is lowering your PH you should use a CO2 scrubber on your skimmer:
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-universal-co2-scrubber.html

This will filter out the CO2 from the air going into your skimmer where your highest amount of gas exchange is occurring.

 

[ScottR]

I’ll give another example of pH due to carbon dioxide. Distilled water has a neutral pH because it’s pure. But because the water is pure, it wants to take on carbon atoms. So when exposed to air, the carbon will drop the pH heavily to around high 5 or low 6 pH. It just shows the relationship of carbon to water. This could be a big deal for your health - if the case. Please look into it.

 

[justjes45]

I’ll give another example of pH due to carbon dioxide. Distilled water has a neutral pH because it’s pure. But because the water is pure, it wants to take on carbon atoms. So when exposed to air, the carbon will drop the pH heavily to around high 5 or low 6 pH. It just shows the relationship of carbon to water. This could be a big deal for your health - if the case. Please look into it.

Yes sorry I meant dioxide not monoxide… So much to learn with these tanks! [emoji13] I have no idea how to get fresh air into my house. I would happily open up a door or window but I think my husband might kill me as he watches dollar bills fly out the window… Not that My having a saltwater tank is much different LOL[emoji2372]

I really do not want to use chemicals. I try to change my water a little more frequently )like a smaller change), but as the winter progresses I can see a few corals being less happy.

It took me a couple of years to figure out the pattern in this – and I believe it directly relates to winter time and the air in my house.

Maybe I can sneak a small bubbler line through a window crack....

 

[ScottR]

Yes sorry I meant dioxide not monoxide… So much to learn with these tanks! [emoji13] I have no idea how to get fresh air into my house. I would happily open up a door or window but I think my husband might kill me as he watches dollar bills fly out the window… Not that My having a saltwater tank is much different LOL[emoji2372]

I really do not want to use chemicals. I try to change my water a little more frequently )like a smaller change), but as the winter progresses I can see a few corals being less happy.

It took me a couple of years to figure out the pattern in this – and I believe it directly relates to winter time and the air in my house.

Maybe I can sneak a small bubbler line through a window crack....

I think at least something needs to be changed to say the least. I don’t believe in chemicals as they’re just about sweeping the problem under the rug as opposed to finding the root of the problem and permanently fixing it. Keep us updated and good luck!!!