PH problems.

[MichaelReefer]

Well, I went from kalk and supplementing alk, to full 2 part...but now I have a new problem...my PH has been steadily dropping and my co2 scrubber can barely keep up.... any recommendations? I have my alk pretty much balanced out, but can't keep my ph up! I'm using reef fusion 1 and 2

 

[MichaelReefer]

Bump

 

[sergifed91]

You could try running the airline outside.

 

[gbroadbridge]

The pH was quite high to start with, looks like it's settling into a normal range.

 

[PeterC99]

Do you recirculate scrubber air through skimmer cup?

Also has there been a recent change in the environment - closed windows due to heatwave and air conditioning? Has the CO2 increase in your home recently?

Finally when was the last time you changed CO2 Media?

Trying to rule out other things before landing on the Kalk keeping the pH up.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Do you recirculate scrubber air through skimmer cup?

Also has there been a recent change in the environment - closed windows due to heatwave and air conditioning? Has the CO2 increase in your home recently?

Finally when was the last time you changed CO2 Media?

Trying to rule out other things before landing on the Kalk keeping the pH up.

I run it through the skimmer. And I even added my second scrubber. Doesnt seem to be making a difference. I try to hold it around 8.3-8.4 but now that I'm off the kalk it dropped

 

[Garf]

I run it through the skimmer. And I even added my second scrubber. Doesnt seem to be making a difference. I try to hold it around 8.3-8.4 but now that I'm off the kalk it dropped

You can always dose a bit of Kalk and a reduced 2 part, if the pH concerns you. However, the levels you are at are not harmful. Personally I like it higher, as do you.

 

[MichaelReefer]

You can always dose a bit of Kalk and a reduced 2 part, if the pH concerns you. However, the levels you are at are not harmful. Personally I like it higher, as do you.

I was thinking about if it may be worth picking up a kalk reactor. I figured the Fusion part 2 would keep my PH up enough but apparently not -_-

 

[MichaelReefer]

Do you recirculate scrubber air through skimmer cup?

Also has there been a recent change in the environment - closed windows due to heatwave and air conditioning? Has the CO2 increase in your home recently?

Finally when was the last time you changed CO2 Media?

Trying to rule out other things before landing on the Kalk keeping the pH up.

I would say yes Co2 has probably increased in the home due to California burning right now. However the drop aligns with removing the kalk so thats why I'm thinking it was that.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you want the pH higher, you can replace the sodium carbonate in the two part with sodium hydroxide. It has twice the pH boost per unit of alk added, and matches kalkwasser in pH boost.

Second New DIY Two Part Recipe with Higher pH Boost

In a previous thread, I posted a true two part DIY recipe: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-diy-two-part-recipes-with-higher-ph-boost.344500/ But some folks may want to just swap the new ingredient into my 2/3 part recipe (as used by BRS, for example). Here's the original recipe link...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[MichaelReefer]

If you want the pH higher, you can replace the sodium carbonate in the two part with sodium hydroxide. It has twice the pH boost per unit of alk added, and matches kalkwasser in pH boost.

Second New DIY Two Part Recipe with Higher pH Boost

In a previous thread, I posted a true two part DIY recipe: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-diy-two-part-recipes-with-higher-ph-boost.344500/ But some folks may want to just swap the new ingredient into my 2/3 part recipe (as used by BRS, for example). Here's the original recipe link...

www.reef2reef.com

Do you recommend any brands? Also, you state it gets warm? Will that cause issues with my dosing containers?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you recommend any brands? Also, you state it gets warm? Will that cause issues with my dosing containers?

Any food grade is good. You can melt a plastic container if you try to make it too concentrated. Use all of the water at the start and add the sodium hydroxide slowly.