PH levels

[Ariana R.]

Hi!
I’m new to having a saltwater tank. I have a 55 gallon, and I’m having trouble keeping my ph normal. I’ve noticed whenever I have my glass lid on my ph will drop. When I leave it off it goes back to normal. Is there a solution for this? I need to have a lid because I have two dogs a a cat who shed a lot.

 

[Silent]

Welcome to R2R

 

[Waters]

Hi!
I’m new to having a saltwater tank. I have a 55 gallon, and I’m having trouble keeping my ph normal. I’ve noticed whenever I have my glass lid on my ph will drop. When I leave it off it goes back to normal. Is there a solution for this? I need to have a lid because I have two dogs a a cat who shed a lot.

Are you running a sump or protein skimmer? Have you thought about using a mesh top rather than a glass lid? What are your PH levels at? Welcome by the way !!

 

[Ariana R.]

Thank you!

 

[Ariana R.]

Are you running a sump or protein skimmer? Have you thought about using a mesh top rather than a glass lid? What are your PH levels at? Welcome by the way !!

Thank you! I have a sump, and my normal range for ph is 8.4. But when I have the lid on it drops around 7.9.

 

[dvgyfresh]

Might need more oxygen in the water to keep PH raised , when you put the lid on oxygen exchange is lessened causing lower PH. Skimmer or wave maker pointed to surface can help

 

[ajjw0828]

Lots of things can help. What is you pH range now?

1.) Run outside air line or co2 scrubber to skimmer.
2.) Run reverse lighting schedule with refugium.
3.) Dose Kalkwasser via kalk reactor or ATO. (Be careful, can easily keep pH up but if too much is added can raise Alk and sometimes increase pH too much)
4.) Replace glass lid with screen mess lid. I don't think the hair would be a problem, but the cat falling in could be, so this may not be an option.

Welcome to R2R. Good luck!

 

[KingTideCorals]

Welcome! There are a lot of reasons why it could be! @ajjw0828 pointed out a lot of good reasons why it could be!

Welcome to R2R and the hobby! My channel may have some helpful info if you are just starting out in reefing!

King Tide Corals

Welcome to King Tide Corals, just a simple reefer who is looking to inspire, educate, and learn as I take you along my reef keeping journey.

www.youtube.com

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That pH range (7.9 to 8.4) is fine. More aeration will likely lower pH it when it is near its peak.

If you are new to reefing, I'd list raising that pH 7.9 end as a low priority.

 

[headonkey]

I would suggest a screen lid. I need to make one myself!

 

[Waters]

Thank you! I have a sump, and my normal range for ph is 8.4. But when I have the lid on it drops around 7.9.

As stated, your PH is perfectly fine. No reason to make any changes at this point.

 

[RC Corals]

Don't change things until they are a real problem and you're changing something to "fix" that specific problem. Your tank and corals will be fine... shoot for stability rather than a specific number someone somewhere dictated as "best".
Fix problems, not create problems.

 

[Philly Reefer]

Welcome to R2R.
Do you have an overflow? If you do, you dont need to worry about the shed. It would go down and caught on your filter socks

 

[schuby]

I have lids on my tank. To keep my oxygen-level up for my fish, I run a skimmer in my sump. My cabinet is closed so I have two built-in fans: one blows in and one blows out. When I've had to turn my skimmer off (such as after dosing chemiclean for red cyano), I run air-stones in my sump.

 

[Pistondog]

Hi!
I’m new to having a saltwater tank. I have a 55 gallon, and I’m having trouble keeping my ph normal. I’ve noticed whenever I have my glass lid on my ph will drop. When I leave it off it goes back to normal. Is there a solution for this? I need to have a lid because I have two dogs a a cat who shed a lot.

Welcome Ariana,
Lots of good advice.
Like Schuby and other have said, a skimmer is a good idea for cleaning the water and gas exchange.

 

[AirIck]

Hello, I have a newly cycled tank and completed my first water change over a week ago. I tested my parameters today and noticed my PH level rose from 8 to 8.2 to 8.5 in a span of 5 days. I use the Hanna PH 2 pt tester (red one that cost about $40). All other levels are good (except alkalinity that is high). However, I only have 2 clowns in the tank right now with live rock. I am no where close to being ready/experienced for corals.

My question: Should I be concerned my PH level is rising this fast within 5 days? Is 8.5 bad? Is there anything I can do to lower the PH level or prevent it from possibly rising to more dangerous levels? Also, I have not changed any filter media (I have a Fluval Flex 32.5) that came with Carbon in the top container and BioMax in the bottom container. I did replace the media foam with Intank Media baskets this morning as I heard the baskets were an upgrade from the styrofoam. Please advise!

 

[schuby]

@AirIck I'd suggest creating a new thread in the Reef Chemistry forum containing your entire post. It sounds very unusual to me for a newly cycled tank to have PH that high. Others in that forum will have a more educated perspective.