What are you doing for pH?

[Reef Pets]

Over the last 3 months or so I have had the hardest time keeping pH up.. So, about a month ago I added a Kalk Stirrer thinking that dripping Kalk would solve the issue but it has not. I am using ESV / B-Ionic Kalk and I can't get pH above 7.8 and its dropping to 7.6 when the lights are off. I realize its a safe range but would like to get 8.2.

What are you guys doing to keep pH where it should be?

 

[dakotasreef]

These are things I have tried-
Fuge(works good, but I lack space)
Fresh air line(didn't make noticeable difference)
Co2 scrubber(raised ph from 7.8 to 8.0)

Have not tried ozone.

I eventually stopped the scrubber, never saw an improvement in livestock. Now my ph is 7.8-8.1 everything is growing just the same.

 

[mainereefer]

what is alk? I dont usually check ph just alk

 

[returnofsid]

Typically, the largest influence on pH, other than the salt mix, will be the atmosphere in the room and the way the atmosphere interacts with the water.

In an air tight environment, Co2 will build up, oxygen levels will drop, which will drop pH.

Do a couple simple tests...

Remove a cup of water, stir it up and let it sit on the counter for a few minutes, then test pH. Did it change? If so, the problem is a lack of circulation, decreasing the amount of oxygen entering the water. Increase circulation, especially at the surface.

If the water, sitting on the counter didn't change, put it outside for a few minutes and then test it again. Did it change? If so, it's a sign that your environment is air tight, building up Co2. Open a window. You can also introduce O2 to the tank, via an airline tube, plumbed to your skimmer and plumbed outside.

One other thing to consider...

Excessive decomposition, in your tank, will drop your pH. This could be in the form of a dead and rotting fish, dead algae, excessive detritus, etc.

If you're running a refugium, place it on an opposite light cycle, from your tank. This will put the refugium algae into a photosynthesis cycle, creating oxygen, opposite the tanks light cycle.

You can temporarily increase your pH, by dosing Baking Soda, but it's only a temporary fix, only lasting a few hours.

 

[DJ_in_WV]

I ran a line outside and into a scrubber of soda lime and then to the skimmer raised .3. Do you have any surface agitation

 

[Reef Pets]

Thanks for all of the information guys. I have roughly 3000 gallons of water volume and have plenty of fresh air to the system. I have a 10' X 10' overhead door on the shop that is open a lot lately due to the nice weather and of course to help with humidity. Alk stays between 9 - 10, calcium 440 - 450, mag 1400. I uses 4' X 4' tanks that have 3 Koralia 4's in each tank, a couple of the SPS tanks have 4 in them. All of them are pushing water across the surface of the water and I have 4 Koralia 4's in the sump that are used only to push water across the surface.
I dont have excessive decomposion, a little detritus here and there that gets cleaned out with every water chance. All of the tanks are bare bottom therefore stay clean. I have a total of 12 small tangs in the system that have a primary use for cleaning.
I have a sump and refugium. The sump is live rock only and the refugium consist of live rock and Chaeto. The light on the Chaeto stays on 24/7.

I have all of the correct elements to have a decent pH but just cant get it above 7.8..

 

[DJ_in_WV]

Try the scrubber you can get the soda lime at place like airgas or im sure other places that handle gases and medical supplies it will give you a raise as to how much varies system to system

 

[Reef UP]

So you mentioned BB tank therefore you don't have the buffering properties of sand you'd be surprised what a fluidized sand bed would do for you craibsea's special grade I've found buffers the best it's easy to do for your size tank I'd recommend a 29 tall with the oldschool sand filter reverse the flow through it with with around a mag8-9 put a overflow on the tank and have it dump back into the sump you'll notice a great increase in your systems buffering capacity

 

[returnofsid]

How are you testing your pH? Have you used an alternative test procedure, to verify that your testing is accurate?

The idea of sand, as a buffer, is kind of a myth. Sand will dissolve, buffering our water, BUT, our pH needs to drop to about 6.4 before aragonite sand will start to dissolve. Our pH never falls that low, so our sand never starts to dissolve.

 

[CJO]

Thanks for all of the information guys. I have roughly 3000 gallons of water volume and have plenty of fresh air to the system. I have a 10' X 10' overhead door on the shop that is open a lot lately due to the nice weather and of course to help with humidity. Alk stays between 9 - 10, calcium 440 - 450, mag 1400. I uses 4' X 4' tanks that have 3 Koralia 4's in each tank, a couple of the SPS tanks have 4 in them. All of them are pushing water across the surface of the water and I have 4 Koralia 4's in the sump that are used only to push water across the surface.
I dont have excessive decomposion, a little detritus here and there that gets cleaned out with every water chance. All of the tanks are bare bottom therefore stay clean. I have a total of 12 small tangs in the system that have a primary use for cleaning.
I have a sump and refugium. The sump is live rock only and the refugium consist of live rock and Chaeto. The light on the Chaeto stays on 24/7.

I have all of the correct elements to have a decent pH but just cant get it above 7.8..

It sounds like you are doing everything about right. I would try the cup outside test just to make sure that the CO2 is getting out, but it sounds like it should. Also, I wouldn't run the chaeto on 24 hours. Try 16 and see if that makes an improvement.

CJ

 

[Nuocmam]

Just hooked up a CO2 scrubber. My numbers were the same as yours. It hasn't dropped below 8 in the middle of the night since. I'm very happy that it works.

 

[lsingh]

I lost a battle to raise my ph years ago... When lights r out it drops down to 7.5 and during photoperiod it up to around 8.1... My live stock is healthy and growing.... I read and researched a lot about it over the years ... 7.5 is not bad atall... As long as there not too much swing on daily basis I should be fine... The key is stable ph. Raising up to 8.2 or 8.3 wouldn't gud... It might wrk opposite for u since changing the chemistry of ur water .... If ur ph is stable even at 7.5 ur tank adapts it... So no need to worry unless u see sme problem in ur tank


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[Reef Pets]

Thanks for the information guys! I want to stay away from sand for sure. I would have to add a ton of sand and with the amount of tanks that I have it would not be cost effective at all.
I use a pH probe that is dialed in and a API test kit and both are getting the same readings. Ill try the test today to see if its an oxygen issue because if so thats an easy fix if so. If thats not the issue I may resort to getting a scrubber. Either way I like the Kalk Stirrer that I added, it helps a lot with the ALK.

 

[returnofsid]

Are you using a Calcium Reactor? If so, do you have the effluent dripping into something that will drive of the Co2, before entering the tank? It could be that your Co2 bottle needs to be closed off slightly, as it might be dumping too much Co2 into the tank, holding down the pH.

 

[Reef Pets]

No, I don't use a Calcium Reactor. I have always dosed 2 part by hand and just added the stirrer about a month ago.