pH, How low is too low before it is a problem?

[jasonrusso]

I know not to chase pH in the reef tank, but in my fowler (I just started carbon dosing, and I realize it should stabilize again) the pH is bottoming out at 7.74. In the winter in New England the house is pretty sealed up, so low pH is the norm, but it is usually 7.8 or 7.85 at the bottom.

The fish show no signs of distress.

 

[EmdeReef]

I know not to chase pH in the reef tank, but in my fowler (I just started carbon dosing, and I realize it should stabilize again) the pH is bottoming out at 7.74. In the winter in New England the house is pretty sealed up, so low pH is the norm, but it is usually 7.8 or 7.85 at the bottom.

The fish show no signs of distress.

7.7 is fine, I wouldn’t worry. If you want to raise it can try adding a CO2 scrubber to your skimmer.

Usually 7.8 is the lower end, calcification slows down as ph drops so you want to make sure your alk and calcium levels are adequate.

 

[JimWelsh]

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

 

[jasonrusso]

7.7 is fine, I wouldn’t worry. If you want to raise it can try adding a CO2 scrubber to your skimmer.

Usually 7.8 is the lower end, calcification slows down as ph drops so you want to make sure your alk and calcium levels are adequate.

That's what I do on the reef tank. I'm not worried about calcification on the fowler. The scrubber lasts 3 weeks on my small reef. I think that it would last a week on the big tank.

 

[EmdeReef]

That's what I do on the reef tank. I'm not worried about calcification on the fowler. The scrubber lasts 3 weeks on my small reef. I think that it would last a week on the big tank.

Ah sorry missed that.
There’s some indication that fish can get stressed in a low ph environment, but if I recall most experiments were in the 7.2-3 zone.