larryhaynes
Active Member
my ph continues to stay low 7.8-7.6 any reasons anyone can think of it has just finished cycling what do i need to do
PH problems help
- Thread starter larryhaynes
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ritter6788
Coral Fraud Private Eye
I'd let it ride. Don't stress too much over pH. Keep all your other parameters in line and pH will follow.
JSB
Usually Confused
I chased ph for a long time to my detriment. Then I was advised to not worry about it, but instead worry about Alk/Ca/Mag. After that, pH took care of itself. No worries.
jayhawk
Active Member
That's the best advice any reefer can give. I chased it too long. Once you get the Ca, Mag, Kh in line test ph. If it's lower than you want, the system needs more oxygen. I think keeping the parameters in check will fix it...
Lower levels of pH any time of year that the house is all closed up, is due to elevated levels of CO2 in the household atomosphere. As long as your other parameters are within acceptable ranges, there's nothing to worry about. Opening some windows will help, the use of kalk in your top off will utilize some of the CO2, and help increase your pH. You could also run an air line from your skimmer intake to the outside, if practicable.
As some have said as long as your alkalinity is ok your morning pH at 7.8 or so is fine. What does it go up to say by 6 or 7 pm when your lights have been on for some hours?
And also as was pointed out you may have too much CO2 in the air in the room where the tank is. A quick way to find out is to put a bubbler in the tank with a small air pump and re-test your pH after a few hours and if it went up to say 8.1 or so, you do indeed have too much CO2 getting into the water at the air water interface.
And if you are using a skimmer you may wish to consider using a CO2 scrubber to remove it before the air gets into the water via the skimmer intake. You can easily make one yourself. All you need is Soda Lime and a container to put it in and draw the air through it. Sada Lime (color changing) is sold for instance by the Airgas Co. which has locations nationwide but big box DIY stores sometimes sell it as well. Look for DIY plans for CO2 scrubbers on the forum or on the Net.
Hope this helps
