PH Issues

[Redfoxtang]

How are you dealing with it if you are dealing with it? With everyone staying at home C02 builds up quite quickly in my house (wife, kids, dogs).

I have literally tried everything to try and keep my PH up beside buffer ( will not use this). I live in FL so it’s not always welcoming opening windows or doors as it’s brutally hot and humid.

So with that I have tried C02 scrubbers and I burn through media only to give me .1-.2 rise. My tanks are close to outside so I drilled through the walls to bring outside air in to the skimmer. That does absolutely nothing. Only that helps is opening windows in the morning before it gets nasty hot.

So my 220g sits in the 7.4 range for PH and my 60g sits in the 7.6 range. This is via Apex and PH Hanna checker. Haven’t even bothered checking my 125. So what are you guys/gals doing to combat this if your having issues!

 

[bobssecrtsn]

I was having the same issues. My fix was

getting rid of the co2 scrubbee, adding a tube from outside to my slimmer inlet, run 1 teaspoon per gallon of Kalk. And algae scrubber.
I was getting 7.8 and now I am at 8.2 at the lowest point.

 

[Redfoxtang]

I was having the same issues. My fix was

getting rid of the co2 scrubbee, adding a tube from outside to my slimmer inlet, run 1 teaspoon per gallon of Kalk. And algae scrubber.
I was getting 7.8 and now I am at 8.2 at the lowest point.

I have done this to both tanks running outside air in to skimmer and that seems like it did nothing. Added Kalk to ATO but that’s only a small buffer. Also have refugiums on both tanks running opposite light cycles and still nothing to punch it out of the 7.4/7.6 range.

 

[bobssecrtsn]

Are you using a carx?

 

[Redfoxtang]

No just manually dosing right now.

 

[bobssecrtsn]

what about a DSB? I've read high humidity causes lower PH. are you guys having that atm?

 

[Redfoxtang]

I have a bare bottom tank. My humidity in my house sits between 45 to 55%. Never read anything about that but it is interesting.

 

[Redfoxtang]

No one else is having PH issues?

 

[m_t_r_86]

I tried the co2 scrubber. It worked but the media didn't last long. I then moved the tank to an exterior wall and ran a line outside for the skimmer. Ph is now stable around 8.15.

 

[homer1475]

Outside airline to the skimmer. Not all skimmers are created equally(IE they do not all draw the same amount of air).

With my old skimmer an outside airline did nothing, literally nothing. My PH stayed the same regardless(7.89).

When I bought my new skimmer I thought i would try the outside airline again. My PH now stays a stable 8.26 daytime, to 8.01 at night.

 

[Redfoxtang]

Outside airline to the skimmer. Not all skimmers are created equally(IE they do not all draw the same amount of air).

With my old skimmer an outside airline did nothing, literally nothing. My PH stayed the same regardless(7.89).

When I bought my new skimmer I thought i would try the outside airline again. My PH now stays a stable 8.26 daytime, to 8.01 at night.

I do have and airline ran outside for the slimmer but like you said does absolutely nothing. C02 scrubber only gets me to 7.8 for a couple days then media is shot. If I use nothing my PH hits 7.2 at night.

 

[Dr. Jim]

I ran a 25' PVC pipe (1") to a window and inserted two 1/2" I.D. tubes from the skimmer into the pipe. Made a HUGE difference! From pH 7.99-8.13 (night/day) to 8.11 - 8.25. (Wife wasn't happy but now that I know it works I can re-route the pipe so it looks a little nicer!)

I'm in the process of modifying two BRS scrubbers (standard RO cylinders). They come with 3/8" barbs (which only gives you a 1/4" I.D.) so I drilled the openings large enough to insert 1/2" I.D./5/8" O.D. tubing. (I just glued them in place and sealed with silicone). Now there is very little flow resistance thru the two cartridges connected in series. I like the idea of connecting 2 in series because you can let the first one become fully exhausted so as not to waste any media and it will not lose its efficiency since there is the backup. Then, the second cartridge is moved to the first position.
Right now I have the two cylinders on just one tube (going to the 1" pipe). I may end up getting a solenoid and putting it on the "free" tube (without the scrubber) and set it up on my GHL Controller so the "non-scrubbed" air will be shut off when the pH drops below 8.2. (The scrubber system has been in action for only a couple of days now....so still experimenting).

 

[Redfoxtang]

Maybe I need to open the hole a little larger from outside like you did to get more air to the skimmer. Instead of relaying on the skimmer to pull the air. Kinda like what @homer1475 said I don’t believe my skimmers can pull enough air to raise the PH from outside. The 60g has a Nyos 120 pulling air from outside from about 4’ away. My 220 has a Reef Octopus 202s pulling from about 8’ away.