PH won't raise for anything!

[Aquatic Bobs]

Hey everyone I'm brand new to this site and this is my first post. I created an account because I saw a lot of wisdom on this site when it comes to reef tanks and there seems to be a lot of aquarium experts I have a 55 gallon tank the ammonia is 0.01, nitrate 0 PPM, nitrate is about 5 PPM. We just added our first 2 corals (hammer and button) yesterday. Tank has been fully established and cycled for a few weeks now. Over the last couple days I've noticed that my pH has dropped to 7.9 or 8.0 depending on the time of day and I can't get it to raise back up to 8.2 or 8.3. I've tried creating more waves on the surface, I've added Instant Ocean sea buffer exactly as directions say once a day.. oh and my salinity is at about 1.025 / 33.8.

If any of you have any recommendations as how I can raise and keep my pH around 8.2 or 8.3 I would really appreciate it we have two O clowns, yellowtail blue damsel, Firefish, flame angel, and Klein's butterfly. We've also just recently added a Mini Carpet Anemone and the bubble tip anemone which both are on opposite sides of the tank. We have two Phlizon 165W lights that come with an array of different colors primarily blue and white. Thanks and Merry Christmas

 

[James M]

Welcome to reef2reef !!
I would stop adding instant ocean buffer. I think it raises alk so you might want to test for that. It’s okay if your ph isn’t at 8.3. 8.0 is a good level for ph
Do you know where your ammonia is going from ? There should be 0 in the tank

 

[Flippers4pups]

Welcome to reef2reef !!
I would stop adding instant ocean buffer. I think it raises alk so you might want to test for that. It’s okay if your ph isn’t at 8.3. 8.0 is a good level for ph
Do you know where your ammonia is going from ? There should be 0 in the tank

This^. Welcome to Reef2reef and Merry Christmas!

 

[Aquatic Bobs]

It might just be from the fish pee or from feeding yesterday? I have the API Master saltwater test kit where in separate test tubes you add little droppers to test for different ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH levels.

 

[jsker]

To add on some good advice.

Can you vent the system, using the protean skimmer inlet to outside air?

You can also add a Co2 Scrubber

Crack a window by the system so that the system get more fresh air is the easiest way, but in colder climates this take a toll on the heating and vent if possible is the next step

Venting link

Co2 Scrubber link

 

[jsker]

It might just be from the fish pee or from feeding yesterday?

This would raise you nitrites and nitrates and lower your ORP and would only have a slight effect on PH

My PH runs around a 7.79 to a 8.0 and you should not have an issue with lower PH.

 

[Aquatic Bobs]

Yeah nothing in the tank really looks stressed out except for the Mini Carpet anemone which is kind of just shriveled up it looks a little more pasty white then his original color when I got him. I know sometimes they shrivel up when they're pooping but he's been like this for almost two days now. My wife and I did just decide to get a protein skimmer but it won't be here until later this week. Right now I have a Cascade canister filter for a 100 gallon set up with 3 extra bags of Biomax and no carbon. I did add a bottle of ATMs colony about a week ago which seriously helped the tank big-time overall!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Welcome to Reef2reef!

Fwiw, the furor over PH is due to is effect of the formation of stony coral skeletons primarily and its a slight indication of co2 to 02 concentrations in the water. Dirty tanks will have quite low ph in general.

So, if you don’t have stony coral and have ph above 7.5 you are fine.
This is why we say , DONT Chase ph no matter how trendy it is or what else you can buy to fix it.
There is no reason to adress it in a new tank.

Have a happy holiday and sit back and just enjoy the tank.

 

[Coralreefer1]

Kalkwasser will raise pH which is why it is best to dose it at night once the lights are off since most of our tanks are at a constant 8.2-8.4. When you turn the lights off photosynthesis ceases so pH naturally drops.
When are you testing your pH?

 

[Aquatic Bobs]

Kalkwasser will raise pH which is why it is best to dose it at night once the lights are off since most of our tanks are at a constant 8.2-8.4. When you turn the lights off photosynthesis ceases so pH naturally drops.
When are you testing your pH?

Pretty much all throughout the day but I do notice the pH is higher when I go to bed

 

[Oldreefer44]

agree with those that are cautioni9ng that your current PH is fine. IMO, we often fall into the trap of chasing what is considered to be the ideal parameters only to find that the solution to one issue just creates another etc.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I will add that chasing PH isn’t a good practice and can lead to issues with water parameters as already stated.

Running a refugium light on a reverse light schedule than your DT will help.

Using kalkwaser in your ATO top off has its benefits in keeping your PH up as well.

Soda lime used inline with your skimmer intake can help, as will running a outside fresh air line to your skimmer intake can help.

 

[Brew12]

Just to reinforce this... there are only 2 ways to raise pH in a reef tank. You can either increase alkalinity or you can reduce CO2 in the water. Buffers work by increasing alkalinity (although they do temporarily lower CO2) and using too much buffer will drive alkalinity to dangerous levels.
I agree with everyone else, don't worry about it as long as you are where you are at. If it does go lower, the only safe way to address it (imo) is to handle the CO2 side of things.

 

[Aquatic Bobs]

Just to reinforce this... there are only 2 ways to raise pH in a reef tank. You can either increase alkalinity or you can reduce CO2 in the water. Buffers work by increasing alkalinity (although they do temporarily lower CO2) and using too much buffer will drive alkalinity to dangerous levels.
I agree with everyone else, don't worry about it as long as you are where you are at. If it does go lower, the only safe way to address it (imo) is to handle the CO2 side of things.

So what are some good ways to reduce CO2 in the water? I have a canister filter that flows back into the tank and is almost like a waterfall which is creating a lot of air bubbles in the water.

 

[Brew12]

So what are some good ways to reduce CO2 in the water? I have a canister filter that flows back into the tank and is almost like a waterfall which is creating a lot of air bubbles in the water.

Do you run a skimmer or an airstone? The most common and economical way is to run the airline that feeds them from outside.
Low CO2 in reef tanks is normally caused by houses being closed up. The CO2 builds up in the house and then that air is what is exchanged with the tank. Running an air supply from outside uses lower CO2 air and raises pH.

 

[Aquatic Bobs]

Do you run a skimmer or an airstone? The most common and economical way is to run the airline that feeds them from outside.
Low CO2 in reef tanks is normally caused by houses being closed up. The CO2 builds up in the house and then that air is what is exchanged with the tank. Running an air supply from outside uses lower CO2 air and raises pH.

 

[Aquatic Bobs]

Okay well that might be possible someday but as for now we are still waiting for our protein skimmer to come, hopefully soon. Also we live in Duluth Minnesota so it's below 32 degrees outside pretty much half of the year

 

[ihavecrabs]

A lot of excellent advice above.

My advice is do nothing... pH is not that important as long as it is "in range". Mine runs between 7.8 and 8.1 and I couldn't be happier lol.

 

[Brew12]

Okay well that might be possible someday but as for now we are still waiting for our protein skimmer to come, hopefully soon. Also we live in Duluth Minnesota so it's below 32 degrees outside pretty much half of the year

My wife is from Duluth. I'm very familiar! At least you can have the windows open all summer and enjoy the higher pH then! We have to run AC for 3/4 of the year!

 

[Aquatic Bobs]

My wife is from Duluth. I'm very familiar! At least you can have the windows open all summer and enjoy the higher pH then! We have to run AC for 3/4 of the year!

Oh nice! If your wife was into aquarium's when she lived here then she would probably know there's not a lot to choose from up here LOL we have one pet store that sells saltwater fish and then one store called The World of Fish that's a little drive out of town