Please help with my PH

[Zbutcher]

Hey folks,

I'm lost with my PH. I have 5x2 foot tank 16 inches tall. So 100 gallon and 25 gallon sump. My Ph is constantly swinging between (on a good day) 8.1 to (on a bad night) 7.8 at night which is a little insane to me.

I would love to see my PH at 8.4 but idk how to get it there. Yes I know about the oxygen issue and that isn't the problem. I've left my window open and blasted the heat in my house so the tank doesn't freeze since it's winter in Canada ATM.

I was told to never dose with bicarb. I run a trident and apex and dose pumps though my dosing pumps aren't set up yet because I just bought them. But since I have the apex I can check my ph constantly.

Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[joseserrano]

That’s not a bad swing. Do extensive research on what affects ph and how it comes into play before dumping things in. Brs has a lot of good videos

 

[Anthony Scholfield]

Its my understanding that PH always drops at night. That is why alot of people turn there refugium light to run opposite there tank lights.

 

[Zbutcher]

Its my understanding that PH always drops at night. That is why alot of people turn there refugium light to run opposite there tank lights.

But I have my scrubber light on all the time is that bad?

 

[Reef.]

But I have my scrubber light on all the time is that bad?

I think the point being made with the light is that it helps with ph, if yours is on 24/7 you are already getting that benefit.
Running the light in a refugium at night is also because the refugium light can not complete with the display light so it’s more effective when it’s the only light.

 

[flampton]

Definitely don't run your scrubber light 24 hours. You need to rest the algae. I'd max personally at 16 hours

 

[flampton]

Also don't chase numbers, what's the health of your tank?

 

[Zbutcher]

Definitely don't run your scrubber light 24 hours. You need to rest the algae. I'd max personally at 16 hours

Perfect I'll do that. I seeded it pretty hard with some hair algae and it's starting to grow. I'll leave it off until tomorrow night to give it a break. Any other tips for ph?

 

[Zbutcher]

Also don't chase numbers, what's the health of your tank?

Oh I mean other then that it's great. I only have seven fish. Lots of Coraline growth in the rocks and starting to get it into the glass I had alot more in the last tank before I upgraded.

Stocking list is as follows.
Purple tang
White tail bristletooth tang
2 clowns
Springer damsel
Baby mandarin
Cleaner wrasse
And of course inverts

Everyone gets alot great the tangs swim with eachother like they school in the wild. They are both juveniles.

I have five coral frags at the moment on magnet racks as I want to propagate. My tank as a whole has been running for a year now. But only a couple months in this new tank. I just kept upgrading hahaha

 

[flampton]

First make sure your scrubber is on the time when your lights are off. Algae and plants utilize CO2 during photosynthesis to produce sugars, this removes CO2(carbonic acid) and raises the pH. However just like most eukaryotes they respire so when lights are out they release CO2. Thus why you might want something always using CO2, so opposite schedules.

Now if I wanted to run pH a little higher, I would personally add some kalk to my ATO. Not saturation levels, just a bit. You'll need to have safeguards in place for a stuck ATO.

What are you using for your calcium/alkalinity supplement currently?

 

[Zbutcher]

First make sure your scrubber is on the time when your lights are off. Algae and plants utilize CO2 during photosynthesis to produce sugars, this removes CO2(carbonic acid) and raises the pH. However just like most eukaryotes they respire so when lights are out they release CO2. Thus why you might want something always using CO2, so opposite schedules.

Now if I wanted to run pH a little higher, I would personally add some kalk to my ATO. Not saturation levels, just a bit. You'll need to have safeguards in place for a stuck ATO.

What are you using for your calcium/alkalinity supplement currently?

ATM nothing my salt has always mixed decently high but I just started adding sps so that should go down hopefully soon. Because it's at like 11.

 

[Zbutcher]

First make sure your scrubber is on the time when your lights are off. Algae and plants utilize CO2 during photosynthesis to produce sugars, this removes CO2(carbonic acid) and raises the pH. However just like most eukaryotes they respire so when lights are out they release CO2. Thus why you might want something always using CO2, so opposite schedules.

Now if I wanted to run pH a little higher, I would personally add some kalk to my ATO. Not saturation levels, just a bit. You'll need to have safeguards in place for a stuck ATO.

What are you using for your calcium/alkalinity supplement currently?

But when it comes down and is appropriate for me to dose I'm going to use fritz part 1 2 and 3

 

[Tamberav]

That is within an acceptable range.

Stop testing pH and it will stop swinging.

I agree to not run the scrubber 24/7.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hey folks,

I'm lost with my PH. I have 5x2 foot tank 16 inches tall. So 100 gallon and 25 gallon sump. My Ph is constantly swinging between (on a good day) 8.1 to (on a bad night) 7.8 at night which is a little insane to me.

I would love to see my PH at 8.4 but idk how to get it there. Yes I know about the oxygen issue and that isn't the problem. I've left my window open and blasted the heat in my house so the tank doesn't freeze since it's winter in Canada ATM.

I was told to never dose with bicarb. I run a trident and apex and dose pumps though my dosing pumps aren't set up yet because I just bought them. But since I have the apex I can check my ph constantly.

Any ideas? Thanks.

Most people will find it very difficult to attain and stay at pH 8.4.

Using hydroxide for all alkalinity needs, and a CO2 scrubber and fresh air, plus photosynthesis in a refugium can all help.

This has more:

pH And The Reef Aquarium
http://www.reefedition.com/ph-and-the-reef-aquarium/