Solving my low pH

[stanleo]

I do weekly tests on tank. For the entire time, testing with API, my pH has read 8. I have been fine with this but the last two weeks it has been lower, just above 7.8 it seems. I read this article on low pH http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/#:~:text=A common cause of low,of acid to the tank.
I am in the process of testing if it is an issue with high CO2 in the tank by letting a cup of water sit outside with an air stone.

Some info on my tank. 120 gallon with a 55 gallon DIY sump located in my basement fish room. Fuge is 20 gallons with chaeto growing very well. The DT has a glass lid and the water at the top of the DT is constantly moving. The water in the sump is stagnant. Other tests are Alk 7.8, calcium 500 and mag 1520 all tested with Red Sea test kits. Salinity is 35ppt. temp is 78F. NO3 is 2ppm and PO4 is .03 tested with Salifert kits. The cal and mag has been stable for months but the alk was fluctuating for a while when I was dosing with a two part system. I decided a couple weeks ago to stop dosing to see if I can get the alk to stabilize. It did at 7.8, has been like that for two weeks (I've been testing it daily). Now my understanding is that with a high calcium, you should have a low alk,but is that too low? And after reading the article, I learned that a lower alk like I have can correlate to a lower pH. I am not really comfortable with this drop. I also learned that a lower pH can make it difficult for most aquarium animals to use the calcium in the water. Is this why I constantly have a high calcium and magnesium with no drop in those levels?

My corals seem to grow ok. My Monti grows and the soft corals like Kenya tree and xenia are out of control. The hammer seems to do well. The birdsnest grows but I don't think very well. I recently added a clam a few weeks ago that just died. Fish seem happy and the crabs and shrimps don't seem to have a problem molting. Snails do well.

Some other info. I use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals salt. RODI water, filters recently changed. The skimmer is constantly running. The Fuge light is on the same schedule as my tank. I have tested at night and during the day and could not find a pH swing between night and day. I also test at different times during the day and get the same results.

So here are my questions. I don't want to panic and start chasing a number but I do want my pH to be stable at 8.2 or so. If this aeration test shows a high CO2, would adding a small pump to the fuge to get the water moving there solve my issue? If that is not the issue, should I change my fuge light to come on opposite the DT? I would like to try one solution at a time to figure this out and not cause more issues than the one I am trying to solve. I have an ATO but I do not use any limewater additives like kalkwater. I do have a bag of carbon that I try to change out every three weeks, although I must admit, I rarely succeed and this one was about three weeks over due. I just changed it today.

 

[stanleo]

OK, the test is done and it the pH of the sample did rise. It reads as 8. The color is very different. So would adding a pump to the fuge work to raise the pH?

The vial on the right is the test from the tank and the one on the right is the test from the sample.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I do weekly tests on tank. For the entire time, testing with API, my pH has read 8. I have been fine with this but the last two weeks it has been lower, just above 7.8 it seems. I read this article on low pH http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/#:~:text=A common cause of low,of acid to the tank.
I am in the process of testing if it is an issue with high CO2 in the tank by letting a cup of water sit outside with an air stone.

Some info on my tank. 120 gallon with a 55 gallon DIY sump located in my basement fish room. Fuge is 20 gallons with chaeto growing very well. The DT has a glass lid and the water at the top of the DT is constantly moving. The water in the sump is stagnant. Other tests are Alk 7.8, calcium 500 and mag 1520 all tested with Red Sea test kits. Salinity is 35ppt. temp is 78F. NO3 is 2ppm and PO4 is .03 tested with Salifert kits. The cal and mag has been stable for months but the alk was fluctuating for a while when I was dosing with a two part system. I decided a couple weeks ago to stop dosing to see if I can get the alk to stabilize. It did at 7.8, has been like that for two weeks (I've been testing it daily). Now my understanding is that with a high calcium, you should have a low alk,but is that too low? And after reading the article, I learned that a lower alk like I have can correlate to a lower pH. I am not really comfortable with this drop. I also learned that a lower pH can make it difficult for most aquarium animals to use the calcium in the water. Is this why I constantly have a high calcium and magnesium with no drop in those levels?

My corals seem to grow ok. My Monti grows and the soft corals like Kenya tree and xenia are out of control. The hammer seems to do well. The birdsnest grows but I don't think very well. I recently added a clam a few weeks ago that just died. Fish seem happy and the crabs and shrimps don't seem to have a problem molting. Snails do well.

Some other info. I use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals salt. RODI water, filters recently changed. The skimmer is constantly running. The Fuge light is on the same schedule as my tank. I have tested at night and during the day and could not find a pH swing between night and day. I also test at different times during the day and get the same results.

So here are my questions. I don't want to panic and start chasing a number but I do want my pH to be stable at 8.2 or so. If this aeration test shows a high CO2, would adding a small pump to the fuge to get the water moving there solve my issue? If that is not the issue, should I change my fuge light to come on opposite the DT? I would like to try one solution at a time to figure this out and not cause more issues than the one I am trying to solve. I have an ATO but I do not use any limewater additives like kalkwater. I do have a bag of carbon that I try to change out every three weeks, although I must admit, I rarely succeed and this one was about three weeks over due. I just changed it today.

I will answer your question simply. Your question is if the aeration test shows high CO2 will adding a small pump to the Fuge fix that the answer is no if you find high CO2 in your house the only way to correct it is to lower the CO2 in your house this is done by opening your windows and ventilating the house

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I do weekly tests on tank. For the entire time, testing with API, my pH has read 8. I have been fine with this but the last two weeks it has been lower, just above 7.8 it seems. I read this article on low pH http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/#:~:text=A common cause of low,of acid to the tank.
I am in the process of testing if it is an issue with high CO2 in the tank by letting a cup of water sit outside with an air stone.

Some info on my tank. 120 gallon with a 55 gallon DIY sump located in my basement fish room. Fuge is 20 gallons with chaeto growing very well. The DT has a glass lid and the water at the top of the DT is constantly moving. The water in the sump is stagnant. Other tests are Alk 7.8, calcium 500 and mag 1520 all tested with Red Sea test kits. Salinity is 35ppt. temp is 78F. NO3 is 2ppm and PO4 is .03 tested with Salifert kits. The cal and mag has been stable for months but the alk was fluctuating for a while when I was dosing with a two part system. I decided a couple weeks ago to stop dosing to see if I can get the alk to stabilize. It did at 7.8, has been like that for two weeks (I've been testing it daily). Now my understanding is that with a high calcium, you should have a low alk,but is that too low? And after reading the article, I learned that a lower alk like I have can correlate to a lower pH. I am not really comfortable with this drop. I also learned that a lower pH can make it difficult for most aquarium animals to use the calcium in the water. Is this why I constantly have a high calcium and magnesium with no drop in those levels?

My corals seem to grow ok. My Monti grows and the soft corals like Kenya tree and xenia are out of control. The hammer seems to do well. The birdsnest grows but I don't think very well. I recently added a clam a few weeks ago that just died. Fish seem happy and the crabs and shrimps don't seem to have a problem molting. Snails do well.

Some other info. I use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals salt. RODI water, filters recently changed. The skimmer is constantly running. The Fuge light is on the same schedule as my tank. I have tested at night and during the day and could not find a pH swing between night and day. I also test at different times during the day and get the same results.

So here are my questions. I don't want to panic and start chasing a number but I do want my pH to be stable at 8.2 or so. If this aeration test shows a high CO2, would adding a small pump to the fuge to get the water moving there solve my issue? If that is not the issue, should I change my fuge light to come on opposite the DT? I would like to try one solution at a time to figure this out and not cause more issues than the one I am trying to solve. I have an ATO but I do not use any limewater additives like kalkwater. I do have a bag of carbon that I try to change out every three weeks, although I must admit, I rarely succeed and this one was about three weeks over due. I just changed it today.

You will find by doing that adding a air pump to your fuse will actually lower your PH if the issue is high pH in your house you will just be introducing more CO2 to your water by doing that

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Best thing you could do is open all the windows in your house and put a couple fans in the windows to exchange all the air in the house and he will see you very quickly after a few hours a drastic change of words in PH

 

[jose hernandez]

I had low ph I was using a co2 scrubber but it became ver expesive d so just added a tube connected it to the skimmers silencer and the other end put it out the window ph is above 8 just added a refugium also in hopes getting a higher ph so far so good

 

[stanleo]

I will answer your question simply. Your question is if the aeration test shows high CO2 will adding a small pump to the Fuge fix that the answer is no if you find high CO2 in your house the only way to correct it is to lower the CO2 in your house this is done by opening your windows and ventilating the house

You're making perfect sense, thank you. I am running the test in my fishroom now. If there is no change, will after what you are saying I expect there won't be, then I will keep the two windows in the basement open with fans and keep my door to the room open. WIll that help?

 

[((FORDTECH))]

You're making perfect sense, thank you. I am running the test in my fishroom now. If there is no change, will after what you are saying I expect there won't be, then I will keep the two windows in the basement open with fans and keep my door to the room open. WIll that help?

Yes that should help

 

[stanleo]

I had low ph I was using a co2 scrubber but it became ver expesive d so just added a tube connected it to the skimmers silencer and the other end put it out the window ph is above 8 just added a refugium also in hopes getting a higher ph so far so good

thank you. I was thinking of trying that solution as well. I don't think it would be too hard, would just need about 20 feet of hose which might make it not feasible.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

You're making perfect sense, thank you. I am running the test in my fishroom now. If there is no change, will after what you are saying I expect there won't be, then I will keep the two windows in the basement open with fans and keep my door to the room open. WIll that help?

As jose points out above most people Eventually end up adding a outside airline to their skimmer which is what I did because keeping your windows open during summer time letting the AC out eventually it gets expensive

 

[((FORDTECH))]

thank you. I was thinking of trying that solution as well. I don't think it would be too hard, would just need about 20 feet of hose which might make it not feasible.

What I have found with doing this though is it’s not worth it unless you can get at least a one and 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inch line going outside because two small is too much of a restriction and does not work

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Here’s mine 1 1/2 inch pvc thru the window with bulkhead

 

[Justin Cook]

I borrowed a CO2 monitor from a friend and the CO2 levels in my crawlspace are pretty equal to outside. The crawlspace is easier to access and I'm in the process of running the skimmer intake line through the floor and into the crawlspace to address the exact same issue.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I borrowed a CO2 monitor from a friend and the CO2 levels in my crawlspace are pretty equal to outside. The crawlspace is easier to access and I'm in the process of running the skimmer intake line through the floor and into the crawlspace to address the exact same issue.

Yes this is an option if co2 in attic is same as outside. My sump is in basement next to window so to go up thru 2 floors would not work for me and honestly I feel being so long would effect How efficient this works. We definitely need at least one and a half inch pipe for that long of a run

 

[stanleo]

As jose points out above most people Eventually end up adding a outside airline to their skimmer which is what I did because keeping your windows open during summer time letting the AC out eventually it gets expensive

What I have found with doing this though is it’s not worth it unless you can get at least a one and 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inch line going outside because two small is too much of a restriction and does not work

Here’s mine 1 1/2 inch pvc thru the window with bulkhead

Interesting, thank you. Your setup would be doable in my case. Can I ask, why do you have 2 tubes running from the PVC? I would think you would only need one to lead the skimmers silencer?

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I am also in the process of adding a helper vacuum pump to my 1 1/2 inch pvc to help it draw fresh air in even more

 

[stanleo]

Yes this is an option if co2 in attic is same as outside. My sump is in basement next to window so to go up thru 2 floors would not work for me and honestly I feel being so long would effect How efficient this works. We definitely need at least one and a half inch pipe for that long of a run

Now you bring up another point. My run if I do this would be about 15 feet. Would I also need a 1.5 inch PVC to make it work?

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Interesting, thank you. Your setup would be doable in my case. Can I ask, why do you have 2 tubes running from the PVC? I would think you would only need one to lead the skimmers silencer?

This is why. My skimmer h

Interesting, thank you. Your setup would be doable in my case. Can I ask, why do you have 2 tubes running from the PVC? I would think you would only need one to lead the skimmers silencer?

this is because I run a huge skimmer that has 2 pumps.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Now you bring up another point. My run if I do this would be about 15 feet. Would I also need a 1.5 inch PVC to make it work?

It’s hard to say. If you put your finger on the hose from skimmer you will see that the vacuum is very little. 15 feet may cause a restriction that does not allow enough air thru now causing your skimmer to not work right creating a whole another problem

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I am also in the process of adding a helper vacuum pump to my 1 1/2 inch pvc to help it draw fresh air in even more

This is why I am also gunna do this