Raising PH alternatives

dank reefer · Dec 16, 2018

Paul J said:
I use soda lime and this has kept a higher PH and the PH is stable. Put soda lime in a container (I use a plastic bottle) put holes in the bottom with some sponge filter add the soda lime, screw top with hole in the top and connect with air line to the skimmer. I use the colour changing soda lime.

Can you post a picture of your soda line setup, just so that I can have a visual?

I'm going to upgrade the light in the fuge first to see if it will help grow my chaeto, and raise ph a bit. Found a h380 for sale here and snagged it. I'll give that a couple of weeks to see if it improves.

One thing i did read up on is that if you use natural gas as a heat source, that it will bring your ph down quite a bit. And that's what we have here.

Today it's been a bit on the warmer side (50f) and was able to open the windows up. PH has been steadily rising up

Sven57 · Dec 16, 2018

No fuge but here is my scrubber.

Dr. Dendrostein · Dec 16, 2018

Jose Esteves said:
Hello fellow reefers

I am wanting to find out what other alternatives our out there to raise PH in a reef tank?

I can't open the windows to allow fresh air to come in this time of year cause of the weather being too cold. I am in a rental, so I cant drill a whole and run tubing from my skimmer to the outside to get fresh air that way. Not sure if running an airstone in the sump would help since it would be pulling air from inside the house either.

I don't want to run KALK because I am currently dosing 2 part. Even though its a small amount I am dosing at this time (6ml of both ALK and CAL to keep it at around 9.5 ALK), I just don't rust myself dosing KALK with all the horror stories I have read about it.

My Tank runs ATM at around 7.9-8.1 PH and fluctuates during the day, and night. I have my DOS dripping ALK at night during lights out and CAL during the day. When I was able to open up the windows my PH would hover around 8.15-8.29.

I know stability is key in this hobby, and we don't want to chase numbers. But I feel that I should at least try and increase my PH so that it stays above 8 at least.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Happy Reefing!

PH in some ocean water is 8.0, you're fine

Scrubber_steve · Dec 16, 2018

Jose Esteves said:
One thing i did read up on is that if you use natural gas as a heat source, that it will bring your ph down quite a bit. And that's what we have here.

That's only if the heater isn't flued.

dank reefer · Dec 16, 2018

@Paul J what was your ph before the soda lime and after you implemented it?

Paul J · Dec 18, 2018

It was around 7. I was always trying to get it up to the 8's and above. Alk up to 10 now, and I have a good strong 8.2ph - Topic Marin test kit reading.

dank reefer · Dec 24, 2018

I took @Scrubber_steve recommendation and upgrade the fuge light with the h380.

If this light doesn't grow chaeto, then I'll use it to grow some other type of green plant...lol

dank reefer · Jan 9, 2019

So wanted to give an update on the new fuge light. This light is a mother messing beast. Since receiving the light a couple of weeks back till today, the chaeto growth has gone into overdrive.

I also removed my filter socks from setup. And started dosing vinegar on a every other day schedule to bring down my nitrate, and phosphate. Once I get those levels to a more desirable range, I'll stop dosing vinegar and let the chaeto do its job.

The light hasnt really made a difference in keeping my PH level at night time. But WTFE, its growing my chaeto!

Nitrate @ 20 API
Phosphate @ .38 Hannah ULR