Raising pH

BlueDevil · Aug 14, 2016

Anyone know of a way to raise pH without impacting alkalinity? I didn't think there was one but thought I'd check. My pH range is currently 7.98 - 8.10. While this might be fine is prefer it to be 8.10 - 8.30 or thereabouts.

The only additives I know of are pH buffer or kalk. Both will raise my alkalinity which I have rock solid at 9.0 dkh via dosers.

Rob.D · Aug 14, 2016

Open a window ya hermit!

BlueDevil · Aug 14, 2016

Rob.D said:
Open a window ya hermit!

With this heat I really would prefer not to boil the tank water by opening windows [emoji4]

Mark75 · Aug 14, 2016

pH is a the relationship of co2 to alkalinity. To increase pH you must reduce co2 or increase alkalinity and seeing your alk. is where you want it, co2 reduction is your only option. You can run your skimmer air intake line outside, open windows, or some have suggested adding live plants in their homes helped with high co2 levels. I would think your home would have to look like the jungle to get enough a noticeable reduction in co2 through plant respiration. Anything that inhales oxygen and exhales co2 contributes to high co2 levels, dogs, cats, wives,...are any of these "expendable"?

nbagnardi · Aug 14, 2016

i was literally just about to post the same type of question! except I'm down in 7.7 range at night. i did some research on the interwebs and seen BRS offers a co2 scrubbing media that can be ran to your skimmers intake but haven't read much about it yet. I've bounced it around a few of the fb clubs I'm in and been told not to chase it but its driving me nuts! calibrated, recalibrated, multiple test kits... all read the same thing.

BlueDevil · Aug 14, 2016

Hmm. Looks like I'm outta luck then. Not a big deal since it's not too far of the acceptable range. Hopefully in due course it will creep back up as I continue ramping up my lights. I'm still at fairly low on the full specs. With Fall round the corner opening windows will soon be an option as well.

nbagnardi · Aug 14, 2016

i've also been told to run my sump light when my display lights are off to try and help as well... but my sump light isn't powerful at all.

KJ · Aug 14, 2016

Rob.D said:
Open a window ya hermit!

LOL

Elementalj · Aug 14, 2016

Surface agitation brought mine up to 8.35 as of this week. Was hovering around 8.0 for a month. I also added a lime wood protein skimmer to help.

CastAway · Aug 14, 2016

You can pump outside air in, blow it through a wooden block in your sump perhaps.

Next build I do will hopefully incorporate outside air into the skimmer.

BlueDevil · Aug 14, 2016

CastAway said:
You can pump outside air in, blow it through a wooden block in your sump perhaps.

Therein lies the problem. The only way to get outside air in is the drill through the wall to the outside and my wife will have a conniption if I even mentioned that. I fear that I might not wake up to see the next morning the night after I bring up that idea. LOL!

I also plan on incorporating that in my next build that will be downstairs and will be easier to route a line to the outside.

Reefrookie220 · Aug 14, 2016

I've been having the same issues Yash , tried outside air and it did help, but having a line out of my window drive the queen crazy lol.

At the end of the day the most advice I got said something to the affect of "don't chase pH"

So far so good.

KJ · Aug 14, 2016

BlueDevil said:
I fear that I might not wake up to see the next morning the night after I bring up that idea. LOL!

In one case , I mentioned to my wife about upgrading my tank to 50 extra gallons when we move in a couple of months from now and she suggested that I upgrade my life insurance! Figure this stuff out!

BlueDevil · Aug 14, 2016

Reefrookie220 said:
I've been having the same issues Yash , tried outside air and it did help, but having a line out of my window drive the queen crazy lol.

At the end of the day the most advice I got said something to the affect of "don't chase pH"

So far so good.

Yeah as much as it might seem like I'm chasing numbers that's really not my end goal. The tank is happy as it is so I'm not overly concerned. Just thought if there was an easy fix I would be just a touch happier with the raised pH.

BlueDevil · Aug 14, 2016

KJ said:
In one case , I mentioned to my wife about upgrading my tank to 50 extra gallons when we move in a couple of months from now and she suggested that I upgrade my life insurance! Figure this stuff out!

If my wife told me to upgrade my life insurance, I'll be all the more afraid that I won't make it to the next morning [emoji23]

KJ · Aug 14, 2016

BlueDevil said:
If my wife told me to upgrade my life insurance, I'll be all the more afraid that I won't make it to the next morning [emoji23]

LOL

Chriscrna · Aug 14, 2016

Mark75 said:
pH is a the relationship of co2 to alkalinity. To increase pH you must reduce co2 or increase alkalinity and seeing your alk. is where you want it, co2 reduction is your only option. You can run your skimmer air intake line outside, open windows, or some have suggested adding live plants in their homes helped with high co2 levels. I would think your home would have to look like the jungle to get enough a noticeable reduction in co2 through plant respiration. Anything that inhales oxygen and exhales co2 contributes to high co2 levels, dogs, cats, wives,...are any of these "expendable"?

Where did this guy come from?