Raise in average PH from 7.8 to 8.2 - what to expect ?

acropora4u · Oct 17, 2021

Added CO2 scrubber and recirculating to my skimmer …pH has gone up to an average of 8.2 from 7.8 what should I expect to see from my SPS better growth ? better polyp extension? What has been your experience ??

Best regards. Dean

guylaga · Oct 17, 2021

Generally higher pH will be more conducive to higher calcification rate which would mean faster growth.

stephj03 · Oct 17, 2021

Anticipate a significant boost in Alk consumption.

Skynyrd Fish · Oct 17, 2021

Fasten your seat belt. Your corals are about to hit what I call go mode.

ScottB · Oct 18, 2021

I added a KALK stirrer to raise mine. My skimmer isn't big enough to pull out enough CO2. But 8.2 is a good average.

The most visible outcome I experienced was coralline going nuts. Expect your MP40s/60s to see a citric acid bath more frequently.

acropora4u · Oct 31, 2021

ScottB said:
I added a KALK stirrer to raise mine. My skimmer isn't big enough to pull out enough CO2. But 8.2 is a good average.

The most visible outcome I experienced was coralline going nuts. Expect your MP40s/60s to see a citric acid bath more frequently.

i also changed my skimmer from a deltec 1000xi to a bubble king DC 200...ph is now almost 8.4 at max with a nite time low of 8.2

ScottB · Oct 31, 2021

acropora4u! said:
i also changed my skimmer from a deltec 1000xi to a bubble king DC 200...ph is now almost 8.4 at max with a nite time low of 8.2

Those are solid numbers. Now that it has cooled off and the windows are open more, my pH is really cranking up.

acropora4u · Oct 31, 2021

ScottB said:
Those are solid numbers. Now that it has cooled off and the windows are open more, my pH is really cranking up.

nice, and what changes are you seeing in acropora? better polyp extension or growth or coloration, be good to see what changes are common with higher PH..

ScottB · Oct 31, 2021

acropora4u! said:
nice, and what changes are you seeing in acropora? better polyp extension or growth or coloration, be good to see what changes are common with higher PH..

Nothing on color really. In my system, that seems more tied to nutrient at least for my most reactive acros.

But I do see them laying down new skeleton faster. A lit of white tips sprouting. Coralline is faster too.

Rickyrooz · Oct 31, 2021

A pH increase doesn't change color or polyp extension but it will increase your alkalinity consumption so check alkalinity daily because it will drop. Growth rates increase noticeably.

Rickyrooz · Oct 31, 2021

A pH increase doesn't change color or polyp extension but it will increase your alkalinity consumption so check alkalinity daily because it will drop. Growth rates increase noticeably.

acropora4u · Oct 31, 2021

ScottB said:
Nothing on color really. In my system, that seems more tied to nutrient at least for my most reactive acros.

But I do see them laying down new skeleton faster. A lit of white tips sprouting. Coralline is faster too.

Yes. Same here. Also water seems more clear.

Miami Reef · Oct 31, 2021

If your calcium and alkalinity are higher than average, expect much more precipitation in pumps etc. Keeping only slightly higher than seawater (8dkh-9dkh alk) with at least 1300ppm magnesium will mitigate precipitation.

High PH + high Alk & calcium is a waste of 2 part and time spent on cleaning.

acropora4u · Oct 31, 2021

Alk steady at 8.0 calcium and steady at 430. Mag 1300

acropora4u · Oct 31, 2021

acropora4u! said:
Alk steady at 8.0 calcium and steady at 430. Mag 1300

I run a calcium reactor and a Kalk reactor

ScottB · Oct 31, 2021

acropora4u! said:
I run a calcium reactor and a Kalk reactor

IMO, if you are running a CaRx, a kalk reactor/stirrer/whatever is almost a must. Unless you can open the windows most of the time.

acropora4u · Oct 31, 2021

ScottB said:
IMO, if you are running a CaRx, a kalk reactor/stirrer/whatever is almost a must. Unless you can open the windows most of the time.

?

Saltyanimals · Jan 28, 2022

I struggled with pH for a long time. Peak was 8 and lows 7.8s. The scrubber did help, but not much for me. Increasing draw in the DC skimmer does suck in more scrubbed air, but that just throws off the tuning of the skimmer. What I have noticed is that I switched gears and focused on the CaRX side of my tank. I tuned the CaRx to have lower drip effluent volume, but higher concentration. I.e. put less, but more potent CaRX water. Nothing else changed and my peaks now go to 8.2-8.3 without any other changes. This was huge for me personally. And I honestly don't think my scrubber does much, but it doesn't seem to color change to the exhausted indicator color. It's been months since I've changed scrubber media.. still white.

Game changer for me with the bump in pH.