Raising pH

[Avictus]

Posting this again as I think the first time it didn't go through.

New tank (32 Coralife Biocube) has been setup for about 2 months now. I've had no luck however raising my pH to the optimum level. It has been teetering between 7.8 and 8.0. I've tried putting in new filtration options, adjusting my return pump and jet directions to cause more displacement with the top of the water, and conduct 5 gallon water changes weekly. Any help here is greatly appreciated.
Specs are below.

Tank:
32 Coralife Biocube
Rio 6HF HyperFlow Water Pump - 350 GPH
Hydor Koralia Nano 425
25 pounds of live rock
7 pounds of dead rock
10 pounds of argonite sand
2 Ocellaris Clownfish
9 Trochus snails

Water parameters:
Salinity: 1.025
pH: 7.8 (today)
Ammonio: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm

Filtration:
In-Tank Media Basket
- Filter floss up top
- Purigen in the middle
- Chemipure Elite at the bottom
(Had a Coralife 29 skimmer, took it out though about a week ago as I just can't get it to skim properly)

 

[Reeferdood]

pH between 7.8-8.0 is fine, what level do you consider optimal and why? Try to open a window and see if it goes up, if so your home likely has excess C02, keeping your numbers down.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There are lots of ways to raise pH, but simple aeration doesn't usually work since elevated CO2 in the home air is the most frequent cause.

I agree that if the pH stays 7.8 or above, it is OK.

If you want to raise it, ways include more fresh air to the room, a CO2 scrubber on a skimmer inlet, outside air to a skimmer inlet, and using hydroxide as your alkalinity supplement.

This has more:

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

 

[Clownfishy]

@Avictus , have a look at this thread as this shows how I used a C02 scrubber, kalkwasser and 2 part part to maintain my pH in the 8.30 range -
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-experience-raising-ph.394826/

 

[uhgster1]

The skimmer that you have is adequate. I had the same one in a jbj 28. The skimmer will not pull anything out if there’s nothing to take out. You will benefit just from the extra aeration it produces. The chemipure is stripping most of the phosphate and nitrates before it gets to the skimmer which is alright. Don’t fret if you don’t see skimmate coming out constantly.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The skimmer that you have is adequate. I had the same one in a jbj 28. The skimmer will not pull anything out if there’s nothing to take out. You will benefit just from the extra aeration it produces. The chemipure is stripping most of the phosphate and nitrates before it gets to the skimmer which is alright. Don’t fret if you don’t see skimmate coming out constantly.

FWIW, skimmers won't skim out nitrate or phosphate anyway. Only organics, or whole bacteria with whatever is inside of them.

 

[Avictus]

pH between 7.8-8.0 is fine, what level do you consider optimal and why? Try to open a window and see if it goes up, if so your home likely has excess C02, keeping your numbers down.

Everything I've been able to read has me aiming for it to be at 8.3. Eventually I intend to do some soft corals, maybe an anemone and many other inverts. If 7.8-8.0 though is still acceptable for all these, great!

 

[Avictus]

There are lots of ways to raise pH, but simple aeration doesn't usually work since elevated CO2 in the home air is the most frequent cause.

I agree that if the pH stays 7.8 or above, it is OK.

If you want to raise it, ways include more fresh air to the room, a CO2 scrubber on a skimmer inlet, outside air to a skimmer inlet, and using hydroxide as your alkalinity supplement.

This has more:

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

Thats for the tips here. I've read about adding hydroxide to water changes. Maybe I'll give it an attempt here while my tank is still at a lower population

 

[Avictus]

So I have plans to set up a mini-fuge in the back in the 2nd chamber using In-Tank's Refugium basket with the intent of putting some Macro Algae in there. Read a lot that the Macro Algae will raise the pH and if I run a reverse lighting cycle for it, it would prevent pH drops through the night. Have any of you done the same thing here or able to comment if this is the case?

 

[Reeferdood]

So I have plans to set up a mini-fuge in the back in the 2nd chamber using In-Tank's Refugium basket with the intent of putting some Macro Algae in there. Read a lot that the Macro Algae will raise the pH and if I run a reverse lighting cycle for it, it would prevent pH drops through the night. Have any of you done the same thing here or able to comment if this is the case?

It won't really raise the pH it will minimize the swings. Your pH is fine where it is, I honestly would not chase it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So I have plans to set up a mini-fuge in the back in the 2nd chamber using In-Tank's Refugium basket with the intent of putting some Macro Algae in there. Read a lot that the Macro Algae will raise the pH and if I run a reverse lighting cycle for it, it would prevent pH drops through the night. Have any of you done the same thing here or able to comment if this is the case?

I would suggest reading the article that I posted above a few days ago. It answers all of your questions about pH, including noting the effect of a refugium.

Many of us have lit refugia (myself included) either lit at night or lit 24/7. It can limit the nightly low pH.

 

[McGene]

Currently running a JBJ 45 with only 3 fish and no corals. My current pH reading is 7.96. While I'm not "chasing" a number, I would like to add a few corals (frogspawn/torch) down the road.
1. Do I need to raise the pH significantly to properly care for the coral mentioned above?
2. Will dosing part A & B raise the pH -- or only stabilize it at its current level? I am dosing now, but only about once each week.
Thanks,
-gene

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

No, the pH is fine for that coral.

Dosing a high pH alk supplement will help raise pH, depending on how much alk is needed each day, and how high of a pH it is designed to boost. Not all alk supplements raise pH.

 

[McGene]

Thanks, Randy. Will leave things alone for now.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sounds like a good plan.

Happy reefing.

 

[McGene]

Randy, if you have a minute, could you comment, please?
My pH seems to drift downward to around 7.8 or so -- probably lower at night (I haven't checked). I've been dosing with A&B -- but, have read that Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime from Wal-Mart could be a reasonable substitute at a substantial savings. I'm a bit apprehensive about putting it in my ATO -- largely due to the required pump and tubing maintenance. I'm also not sure it will provide the same overall results -- not just in improved pH. My last parameter results were as follows:
CA = 469; Mg = 1400; KH = 169 These results are strictly from using the A&B dosing solutions. I just added two small hammer corals which seem to be adjusting well. Your input would be greatly appreciated. Gene

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Limewater is a good option, but you can make a two part using sodium hydroxide instead of sodium carbonate (you use that, right, not sodium bicarbonate)? The hydroxide will give the same pH boost as the limewater does.

 

[McGene]

Well, actually, I don't use anything at this point except A&B dosing. Which, I think will be too costly over time and will not properly raise and maintain my pH.
Are you saying that sodium hydroxide by itself is the same thing as A&B? I think I need a chemistry course for "dummies"
I'm concerned that focusing too much on pH will be at the peril of CA and Mg -- sorry for the obvious ignorance.

 

[MnFish1]

I would suggest reading the article that I posted above a few days ago. It answers all of your questions about pH, including noting the effect of a refugium.

Many of us have lit refugia (myself included) either lit at night or lit 24/7. It can limit the nightly low pH.

Do you have a tank again???

 

[McGene]

Thank you. I have been reading the links provided by Randy. They can get a bit technical for me -- but, generally I understand the concept and directions.
I just finished reading the article on kaklwasser and the hyperlink to making a DIY setup. Very informative.
Yes, I do have a tank. Sorry my Avatar doesn't show it -- I'll try to fix that. I had a 125 DT with 30g refugium in Atlanta -- but sold it off when moving to FL.
After a 3 year hiatus, I've set up a small 45g AIO (first one ever for me). It's about 1.5 months old. As noted, my pH seems to hoover around 7.8 and as I add corals (likely softies) I want to be sure I'm doing what I should to ensure their survival and possibly even thrive!