pH is low, but I don't know how to get it back up.

[evrydayzawrkday]

Hey all,

I just upgraded my tank from a Fluval 13.5 to a (insert brand name) 25g AIO. So far things appear to be stable wise, but once I hooked up the Apex EL unit yesterday, I found my pH levels were a little low.

Here is what the Trident/Apex is showing:
- ALK 12.4 (sits between 12-12.5 DKH)
- CA 445 (sits between 440-450)
- MAG 1288 (sits between (1280-1290)
- pH is sitting currently 7.63, tending down from 7.74. Lights just came on.

Only thing I am currently dosing is All for Reef (11ml total, distributed over 12x per day).

I plan on adding a HOB refugium (the Fiji Cube one, looked kinda cool) along with a small protein skimmer. Thoughts on what else I can do to immediately help the pH levels?

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Hey all,

I just upgraded my tank from a Fluval 13.5 to a (insert brand name) 25g AIO. So far things appear to be stable wise, but once I hooked up the Apex EL unit yesterday, I found my pH levels were a little low.

Here is what the Trident/Apex is showing:
- ALK 12.4 (sits between 12-12.5 DKH)
- CA 445 (sits between 440-450)
- MAG 1288 (sits between (1280-1290)
- pH is sitting currently 7.63, tending down from 7.74. Lights just came on.

Only thing I am currently dosing is All for Reef (11ml total, distributed over 12x per day).

I plan on adding a HOB refugium (the Fiji Cube one, looked kinda cool) along with a small protein skimmer. Thoughts on what else I can do to immediately help the pH levels?

My first step would be to calibrate the probe and retest.

Second would be to use another method to test.

If it still test low after the above, I would try to aerate a cup of tank water inside for 10 minutes and test that to see if the PH went up. If it did, then I know I need more agitation at the waters surface in the tank. If it did not, I would carry outside and aerate for 10 minutes then test. This should go up no matter what, unless in large downtown area with tons of traffic/smog lol. If it did not go up, then I have a testing error somewhere. If it does, I would look into ways to reduce CO2 in the area where the tank is.

This is where I would start, as you dkh is already high, so not much you can do additive wise to increase PH.

 

[evrydayzawrkday]

The probe was off, significantly. Initiallyh I calibrated the probe with the stupid little protector thing it ships with (I didn't realize that was supposed to be removed). I just recalibrated my probe, and with my doors wide open all day from the kids running back and forth, I am at 7.81.

Considering surface agitation, I did move my powerheads up a bit (which also helped with flow). I will continue with the HOB refugium (I just think they are cool if anything lol) and the protein skimmer as well.

Cheers and thank you!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would not assume your pH is as low as measured, but this article discusses the ways to raise pH:

pH and the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION

by Randy Holmes-Farley For many aquarists, pH is not something that they have much experience with aside from their aquarium. For many, pH is almost a black box measurement: something to be considered, but whose physical meaning makes little sense to them. This article will Read more here...

www.reefedition.com

 

[M1ke1980]

Hey all,

I just upgraded my tank from a Fluval 13.5 to a (insert brand name) 25g AIO. So far things appear to be stable wise, but once I hooked up the Apex EL unit yesterday, I found my pH levels were a little low.

Here is what the Trident/Apex is showing:
- ALK 12.4 (sits between 12-12.5 DKH)
- CA 445 (sits between 440-450)
- MAG 1288 (sits between (1280-1290)
- pH is sitting currently 7.63, tending down from 7.74. Lights just came on.

Only thing I am currently dosing is All for Reef (11ml total, distributed over 12x per day).

I plan on adding a HOB refugium (the Fiji Cube one, looked kinda cool) along with a small protein skimmer. Thoughts on what else I can do to immediately help the pH levels?

Icecap CO2 scrubber raised my ph.