PH

[reef-nut]

Evertime I use RO water for a water change, it lowers my PH. What is the best, easiest, and cheapest way to keep my PH up? Also, does skimming effect your PH? I have been told both ways on running a skimmer. Most reefers run them 24/7, then some do not run them at all.

 

[coral88]

What salt are you using??? Your salt should buffer your water back to 8.2 if it is not then you need to add buffer or change salts. What is the ph KH of your freshly mixed salt water???

 

[coral88]

A skimmer can raise ph when it is running by taking out c02 I run mine 24/7

 

[reef-nut]

My LFS only caries instant ocean, reef crystals or oceantic.

 

[surfn]

how low are you talking about? and what range of fluctuations? IMO....monitoring pH is overrated unless you are running a calcium reactor.

 

[roshi719]

Are you using the RO straight out of the unit? If so this could be your problem. Most tap water sources are low in dissolved oxygen, which results in low pH. simple aeration is ussualy enough to remedy this. I run my RO into a garbage can and aerate with a powerhead overnight before I use it, and I have never had a problem.

Hope this helps.

 

[reef-nut]

Are you using the RO straight out of the unit? If so this could be your problem. Most tap water sources are low in dissolved oxygen, which results in low pH. simple aeration is ussualy enough to remedy this. I run my RO into a garbage can and aerate with a powerhead overnight before I use it, and I have never had a problem.

Hope this helps.

I do not have a RO unit. I buy it in 5 gal. bottles. I will try the garbage can idea with a power head, I am sure that will help. Thanks~~~

 

[reef-nut]

I tested my tap and the PH is 8.4. I tested the RO I use and its 7.8

 

[iani]

Which salt is it? If you are using oceanic they are known to have low ph/kh, high calcium.

 

[reef-nut]

I just bought a bucket of instant ocean. You know with my PH a little low and I had some shrooms melt and lost a few zoos, my ricordea never missed a beat. They are awesome. Is there something that could melt fuzzy shrooms, but not bother ricordea? I lost 2 awesome rocks of fuzzys, that melted and a few zoos, but the rics are awesome.

 

[coral88]

I think rics are a little hardier than most mushrooms. It is odd that your RO is at 7.8 It is normally lower. If you are going to use IO then you will need to add buffer. If I was you I would get a better salt after you run out of what you have now. I use RO right out of my RO unit and I don't have a problem.

 

[reef-nut]

I just checked my ph and it is 8.0. I have some radioactive dragon and some eagle eye zoos that are growing like weeds. They have doubled in size in 3 months.

 

[Hypertek99]

I think testing for PH is overrated also. I haven't tested for over a few years now.