So much for good pH levels

[BanZI29]

So before, I did post about my pH being around 8.1+, and after I got my pH monitor, I discovered that my Hanna tester was... WRONG!
Thankfully, i re-calibrated and it was not to bad, it's at 7.96 during the day and 7.85 at nite.
SO...I ran a tube from my skimmer inlet to an outside air source for the last 3 days, and it really hasn't helped ( brought it up to 7.97 day and still 7.85 nite). I have a 40 gal AIO and my skimmer is kinda small. ( Aquamaxx NF-1 )

With that being said, what do you all think? is it too small to make a difference in pH with the added fresh air? Do I look into doing a recirculating CO2 Scrubber? Will that even help?

 

[Saltyreef]

So before, I did post about my pH being around 8.1+, and after I got my pH monitor, I discovered that my Hanna tester was... WRONG!
Thankfully, i re-calibrated and it was not to bad, it's at 7.96 during the day and 7.85 at nite.
SO...I ran a tube from my skimmer inlet to an outside air source for the last 3 days, and it really hasn't helped ( brought it up to 7.97 day and still 7.85 nite). I have a 40 gal AIO and my skimmer is kinda small. ( Aquamaxx NF-1 )

With that being said, what do you all think? is it too small to make a difference in pH with the added fresh air? Do I look into doing a recirculating CO2 Scrubber? Will that even help?

For AIO's, if possible, i like to run the water level inside as high as possible so the cascade of water down the weir into the back chamber is a tad turbulent.

Also, what does your flow inside the tank look like? Is there a lot of surface movement?

 

[BanZI29]

For AIO's, if possible, i like to run the water level inside as high as possible so the cascade of water down the weir into the back chamber is a tad turbulent.

Also, what does your flow inside the tank look like? Is there a lot of surface movement?

Yea a good amount of movement. I have 2 wave pumps, one on the front left and one on the back right. I also have 2 RFG on my main pump. The water level in my main back chamber is about 4 inches below the 2 drop offs from the side chambers, so a good amount of mixing happens.

 

[Saltyreef]

Yea a good amount of movement. I have 2 wave pumps, one on the front left and one on the back right. I also have 2 RFG on my main pump. The water level in my main back chamber is about 4 inches below the 2 drop offs from the side chambers, so a good amount of mixing happens.

How many GPMs are your pumps?
You can try lowering them a bit and pointing them upwards.

Also, the airline on the small skimmer you mentioned may not be enough to overcome a high c02 load in the home.

Do you have a lot of people or animals in the home? Are your windows always open or closed?

 

[Jasonak]

I also ran hose to outside air. It didnt do much if anything. I opened the window and that makes a huge difference. But that will stop here in about a month as we are going into winter. Not sure where port st lucie is but if you can try opening window.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, more surface agitation is likely to lower the pH, not raise it, if the home CO2 level is that cause of the low pH (as it usually is).

The problem with any attempt to raise pH by aerating the water with low CO2 air (outside scrubbed, etc.) is that it is fighting against tank top aeration with high CO2 air.

Fresher air in the room solves that problem.

 

[BanZI29]

How many GPMs are your pumps?
You can try lowering them a bit and pointing them upwards.

Also, the airline on the small skimmer you mentioned may not be enough to overcome a high c02 load in the home.

Do you have a lot of people or animals in the home? Are your windows always open or closed?

the pumps are 660 gph, and the front one is set to surge up to 50%, or it just blows sand and corals around to much. the back one is also set to surge at 60%. my main pump is set at 80%
As for the air line, it's pulling in outside air.
there is 3 humans and 3 cats in the house. We live in S. florida so windows and doors being open is not possible, Sadly.

 

[jda]

If the room co2 is near to 400, then the co2 scrubber nor skimmer air from the outside will not do much. Neither of these can overcome high indoor co2 very well - like over 700. Do you happen to know the co2 levels inside your home? You can get a meter for pretty cheap on Amazon.

People just rule out exchanging air, but even a minute or two a day for a week or two with a slight breeze can lower indoor co2 quite dramatically and hardly even impact the temperature of the home... not to mention the health benefits for humans and pets without living in waste product.

 

[BanZI29]

If the room co2 is near to 400, then the co2 scrubber nor skimmer air from the outside will not do much. Neither of these can overcome high indoor co2 very well - like over 700. Do you happen to know the co2 levels inside your home? You can get a meter for pretty cheap on Amazon.

People just rule out exchanging air, but even a minute or two a day for a week or two with a slight breeze can lower indoor co2 quite dramatically and hardly even impact the temperature of the home... not to mention the health benefits for humans and pets without living in waste product.

I do want to try that, I like opening the door and back door to let the breeze thru, I will be doing that soon, its just so humid and hot where we are, and our house is kinda small.
I do need to get a CO2 meter though. Can you please recommend one?

 

[exnisstech]

Yea a good amount of movement. I have 2 wave pumps, one on the front left and one on the back right. I also have 2 RFG on my main pump. The water level in my main back chamber is about 4 inches below the 2 drop offs from the side chambers, so a good amount of mixing happens.

Seriously if my tank looked like that I wouldn't even worry about pH.
Interesting the skimmer airline didn't help. I normally never check pH but found my old Hanna tester in a pile of stuff a while ago so I decided to check. The tank in our bedroom was going from 8.3 to 7.9 over night with 2 adults and 2 dogs closed up inside. I ran an airline into the attic that is isolated from the living area and vented outside and now pH is 8.3 in the am. Skimmer is a bubble magus curve 5 so not huge.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Yea a good amount of movement. I have 2 wave pumps, one on the front left and one on the back right. I also have 2 RFG on my main pump. The water level in my main back chamber is about 4 inches below the 2 drop offs from the side chambers, so a good amount of mixing happens.

Omg, what a gorgeous tank! I wouldn't worry about the pH... everything looks great!

 

[BanZI29]

Omg, what a gorgeous tank! I wouldn't worry about the pH... everything looks great!

Thank you. The coral growth as come to a screeching halt though. I mean yea everything is stable but I still want to see growth.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Thank you. The coral growth as come to a screeching halt though. I mean yea everything is stable but I still want to see growth.

Yeah, and then frag some of that frogspawn and send it to me!

 

[BanZI29]

Yeah, and then frag some of that frogspawn and send it to me!

yea that thing needs it. Last I counted, there are 28 heads on it.

 

[jda]

Air it out in the AM when the temperature is lower.

Just remember that you don't have to warm your house up. The walls, furniture, etc. will all be cooler and the air that you bring in will not move it that much if you do it quickly. Yes, just get a through-breeze for a bit.

I am a huge believer in air quality for humans. There is benefit to lowering co2 in the home even if stuff does not grow in the tank. My Aunt from Miami just visted for a few weeks and slept so much better here that she ordered a meter and has started to air their house out when she got back.

I got this one. Battery is garbage, so get one with the cord and leave it plugged in. We take it on vacation with us and are amazed at how high co2 is in some homes or Hotel rooms. I don't think that NASA would use this, but it is good enough for us.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Air it out in the AM when the temperature is lower.

Just remember that you don't have to warm your house up. The walls, furniture, etc. will all be cooler and the air that you bring in will not move it that much if you do it quickly. Yes, just get a through-breeze for a bit.

I am a huge believer in air quality for humans. There is benefit to lowering co2 in the home even if stuff does not grow in the tank. My Aunt from Miami just visted for a few weeks and slept so much better here that she ordered a meter and has started to air their house out when she got back.

I got this one. Battery is garbage, so get one with the cord and leave it plugged in. We take it on vacation with us and are amazed at how high co2 is in some homes or Hotel rooms. I don't think that NASA would use this, but it is good enough for us.

This is for monoxide, not dioxide...

 

[jda]

My bad... I have the same looking one with the cord but for co2.

There are many of them on Amazon... Inkbird has one that looks just like it with their name on it.

 

[BanZI29]

I just ordered a CO2 monitor. lets see what happens

 

[BanZI29]

My bad... I have the same looking one with the cord but for co2.

There are many of them on Amazon... Inkbird has one that looks just like it with their name on it.

I saw the one you listed, but the CO2 version. I did order a slightly cheaper one but it did have all the same features and had good reviews for accuracy. lets see what happens

 

[BanZI29]

The one I got