Raise PH without changing Alk or Ca?

[GK3]

The PH in my aquarium is always low. I believe it is due to the fact I am in a condo with two people and two dogs. The CO2 content in the air is thus quite high. I installed a CO2 scrubber on my skimmer intake which seems to help some, but not enough. I want to raise it.

All other methods I have found require chemicals, but they seem to always change ALK or Cal. As of yesterday, my PH is 7.85, Alk is 8 and Cal is 440.

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[ycnibrc]

There are a lot of ways to increase Ph like add more flow to the top, use air from outside for protein skimmer air intake, add air stone, open window......however the best way is to add Kalkwasser. It has a Ph 12 so if you add it to your tank it will raise your Ph guarantee. You need to dial down your Alk and Cal dosing and find the balance point between the Kalk and your old dosing. Get a Kalk reactor and hook up and small dosing pump to a controller such as apex and dose small quantity every hour through out the day. Test Alkalinity until your desire setting then monitor your Ph.

 

[GoVols]

The PH in my aquarium is always low. I believe it is due to the fact I am in a condo with two people and two dogs. The CO2 content in the air is thus quite high. I installed a CO2 scrubber on my skimmer intake which seems to help some, but not enough. I want to raise it.

All other methods I have found require chemicals, but they seem to always change ALK or Cal. As of yesterday, my PH is 7.85, Alk is 8 and Cal is 440.

Anyone have any thoughts?

I live in a town home and had the same issue.

I piped my skimmer's intake to the garage and as crazy as it seems...

We keep the AC and or Heat on, and raise the windows... ;Wacky from time to time.

As long as your ph is 7.8 or above I sure would not chase it.

Stay away from Seachem PH Buffer. It has borate in that product.
Borate will through off your test.

 

[GoVols]

There are a lot of ways to increase Ph like add more flow to the top, use air from outside for protein skimmer air intake, add air stone, open window......however the best way is to add Kalkwasser. It has a Ph 12 so if you add it to your tank it will raise your Ph guarantee. You need to dial down your Alk and Cal dosing and find the balance point between the Kalk and your old dosing. Get a Kalk reactor and hook up and small dosing pump to a controller such as apex and dose small quantity every hour through out the day. Test Alkalinity until your desire setting then monitor your Ph.

Kalk would be a great fix.

 

[GoVols]

@GK3

Have you researched how to kalk dose threw your auto top off system?

Kalk might be able to handle your alk / cal and ph, on it's own.

 

[DarthSimon]

I second the fresh air from outside into your skimmer... Most natural way.

 

[GK3]

Thanks for the input. Can I actually put kalk directly into my ATO res or do I need a reactor?

I can’t run my skimmer line to the outside, that is why i did the CO2 scrubber.

 

[Velcro]

Kalk adds alkalinity.

The ONLY way to raise pH without affecting alk is to remove dissolved CO2 from the water. The only way to do that is air exchange with air that has lower concentration of CO2. This means co2 scrubber on air intake of skimmer. Or pull outside air into skimmer.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Kalk adds alkalinity.

The ONLY way to raise pH without affecting alk is to remove dissolved CO2 from the water. The only way to do that is air exchange with air that has lower concentration of CO2. This means co2 scrubber on air intake of skimmer. Or pull outside air into skimmer.

Maybe also calcium chloride, check it out

 

[Velcro]

Maybe also calcium chloride, check it out

Calcium chloride has very little effect on pH. If anything it with lower pH.

 

[pickupman66]

As long as it's steady I would not worry about it. Ice ran a very successful 7.75 -7.85 tank. There are many there.

 

[Seminoles76]

Thanks for the input. Can I actually put kalk directly into my ATO res or do I need a reactor?

I can’t run my skimmer line to the outside, that is why i did the CO2 scrubber.

To answer the question. Yes. You can add Kalk directly to your top off reservoir. You do not need a reactor.

I highly recommend adding Kalk via dosing pumps. I have always kept everything very stable that way. Apex doses Kalk for my tank 48 times a day and that volume is just under my daily evaporation rate. Auto top off handles the rest.

PH benefit for my tank was significant and far better than soda lime.

Ph before Kalk. 7.7 to 7.9. After Kalk 8.0 - 8.2. When I ran a scrubber I was seeing higher ph numbers than the Kalk but the ph swings were far greater. Between the swings and cost I ditched the scrubber an opted for Kalk. Couldn’t be happier.