pH unaffected by drawing outside air

[DuesXX]

Oh how I am confused and frustrated. I have bad, horrible low ph (7.5-7.6) and nothing I have attempted seems to come close to remedy. I have tried co2 scrubber (iceCap, maybe bumped it to 7.8 for a few minutes a day) and now I have attempted the line outside, to no avail. It simply will not rise. I don’t know what else to do? Like water? It’s driving me nuts. If I leave the door open all day, it will increase. But I can’t do that. I know it’s atmospheric because I did the aeration test and it went to 8.12 outside, didn’t budge inside. I’m including some pictures, is my line to skimmer in the wrong place? I feel a draw on it, so I know it’s pulling. Totally lost here. It’s amazing how something that should be so simple, so isn’t.

 

[ArmyReefer]

I would hook your air line directly to your venturi on the skimmer and not on the silencer.

 

[DuesXX]

Ok, so directly to the pump on the inside.. I will try that.

 

[ArmyReefer]

I fight with Low PH in my reef due to 5 people and 3 dogs living in the house. I use a CO2 scrubber, and dose KALK to help combat it. With all of that I am between 7.7 - 7.9 during the day. In the winter months where I can open a window in the house it will go all the way to 8.4. Nothing I can do about it and I have come to accept it. The only real downfall I have seen is when it swings more than normal and goes below 7.6, but I think stability is the most important.

 

[DuesXX]

Although isn’t that more or less the same? The air is pulled through the silencer to feed the pump right?

 

[DuesXX]

I fight with Low PH in my reef due to 5 people and 3 dogs living in the house. I use a CO2 scrubber, and dose KALK to help combat it. With all of that I am between 7.7 - 7.9 during the day. In the winter months where I can open a window in the house it will go all the way to 8.4. Nothing I can do about it and I have come to accept it. The only real downfall I have seen is when it swings more than normal and goes below 7.6, but I think stability is the most important.

Well there’s only two of us and a dog, but we have a basement apartment so everything is super closed up I suppose. I just wish I could figure it out, frustrating me

 

[Dav2996]

Oh how I am confused and frustrated. I have bad, horrible low ph (7.5-7.6) and nothing I have attempted seems to come close to remedy. I have tried co2 scrubber (iceCap, maybe bumped it to 7.8 for a few minutes a day) and now I have attempted the line outside, to no avail. It simply will not rise. I don’t know what else to do? Like water? It’s driving me nuts. If I leave the door open all day, it will increase. But I can’t do that. I know it’s atmospheric because I did the aeration test and it went to 8.12 outside, didn’t budge inside. I’m including some pictures, is my line to skimmer in the wrong place? I feel a draw on it, so I know it’s pulling. Totally lost here. It’s amazing how something that should be so simple, so isn’t.

I had same issues this what I did. I switched to kalkwasser. I stopped using it because it raise calcium too high because I have a nano tank. Supplement part of the dosing with Kalk and the rest with 2 part. It got mine to raise from 7.6 to 8.2 during the day. I also reduced carbon dosing. Carbon reduces PH vastly. Can also get some tank fans, get more evap but higher PH. Also got a refugium and that raise it another .2.

 

[Mical]

Personally, I would like to see you Alk, Cal & Mag parameters...

 

[PBar]

@DuesXX ,
when you used CO2 scrubber, you mentioned that it bumped up only for a few days… and then back to low levels, right?
What happens next? Midia exhausted?

Just to be sure, did you already calibrate the ph probe?

Cheers

 

[Dav2996]

@DuesXX ,
when you used CO2 scrubber, you mentioned that it bumped up only for a few days… and then back to low levels, right?
What happens next? Midia exhausted?

Just to be sure, did you already calibrate the ph probe?

Cheers

My Hannah I have to calibrate every use for PH

 

[DuesXX]

Personally, I would like to see you Alk, Cal & Mag parameters...

I’m running Zeovit.

 

[DuesXX]

I had same issues this what I did. I switched to kalkwasser. I stopped using it because it raise calcium too high because I have a nano tank. Supplement part of the dosing with Kalk and the rest with 2 part. It got mine to raise from 7.6 to 8.2 during the day. I also reduced carbon dosing. Carbon reduces PH vastly. Can also get some tank fans, get more evap but higher PH. Also got a refugium and that raise it another .2.

Yeah, that’s where I’m headed, to lime water unless someone notices something I’ve missed. I don’t run any carbon dosing, and don’t really have space for a fuge

 

[Dav2996]

I’m running Zeovit.

That’s a low alkalinity level. Higher levels of alkalinity increase PH. I keep mine at 10. Most people keep there’s at 8.5.

 

[DuesXX]

@DuesXX ,
when you used CO2 scrubber, you mentioned that it bumped up only for a few days… and then back to low levels, right?
What happens next? Midia exhausted?

Just to be sure, did you already calibrate the ph probe?

Cheers

No, it only raised it for a brief time each day. The media turned purple but never pink after a month. Yes to ph. I just installed a new probe in my alkatronic and in the apex, I thought maybe they were worn out and not holding calibration. But my apira meter reads similar.

 

[DuesXX]

That’s a low alkalinity level. Higher levels of alkalinity increase PH. I keep mine at 10. Most people keep there’s at 8.5.

Well with Zeovit it’s supposed to be 7.6 or there about. Maybe that’s the piece I’m missing, the correlation between dkh and ph. One can’t be high without the other?

 

[LOVEROCK]

I would hook your air line directly to your venturi on the skimmer and not on the silencer.

I’m going to set mine up to the silencer , what’s the draw back ?

 

[SPS2020]

A couple of threads on the topic. On the zeovit site, it suggests that pH is going to be low with that system.

Reef2Reef thread

Zeovit thread

 

[Dav2996]

Well with Zeovit it’s supposed to be 7.6 or there about. Maybe that’s the piece I’m missing, the correlation between dkh and ph. One can’t be high without the other?

Alkalinity boosts PH that is kalkwasser is called alkwasser haha

 

[Dav2996]

Well with Zeovit it’s supposed to be 7.6 or there about. Maybe that’s the piece I’m missing, the correlation between dkh and ph. One can’t be high without the other?

I recommend using hydorxides like kalk they can really boost your ph. Hydroxide normal ph in fresh water is at 12. Takes a little for good boost.

 

[Dav2996]

Well with Zeovit it’s supposed to be 7.6 or there about. Maybe that’s the piece I’m missing, the correlation between dkh and ph. One can’t be high without the other?

Higher alk within reason like 10 and higher ph equals double the coral growth. Like 8.4 ph