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What would cause your PH to be Low?
What would cause your PH to be Low?
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TwistedTiger
Active Member
Low alk would be the first thing I'd check for. There are several other things that could also cause low ph. Make sure your reading is correct, check alkalinity. Here is a really good in depth article that may help you.
The “How To†Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners Part 3: pH by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
The “How To†Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners Part 3: pH by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
RichieT
Valuable Member
Excess carbon dioxide in the tank. This occurs when there isn't a lot of surface agitation to aid in gas exchange. This is especially true in deep summer and winter when heating and cooling keep you from getting fresh air circulation
jayhawk
Active Member
Ph is correlated to stable magnesium, calcium and alkalinity. Oxygen in the water is another factor. If the elements are stable and within acceptable ranges, the tank likely needs more oxygen. Adding an air-stone in the sump, adding a fan near the tank...Of course the obvious is first, is the test kit measuring Ph accurate? Hope that helps
RichieT
Valuable Member
When I lived in the Midwest I also ran an airstone in the tank to help out with gas exchange
Alabamareef
Well-Known Member
If your running a Ca reactor it can cause low ph. After adding a calcium reactor, many aquarists complain that the pH of the tank is lower than it was previously. Aquarists often think that excess CO2 in the effluent that has not had time to react with and dissolve the media is the reason for the reduced pH. However, remember that the calcium reactor is adding alkalinity, mainly in the form of bicarbonate, (which itself will depress the tank pH) until excess CO2 is degassed into the atmosphere. Some of the bicarbonate is then converted into carbonate. This is very similar to the effect observed when adding sodium bicarbonate to your tank as a buffer.
In order to rid the tank of any excess CO2 and maintain a good pH, it is essential to have good circulation at the air/water interface.
The pH can also be boosted by using limewater as top-off water. Limewater (also known as kalkwasser) works by using the CO2 in the tank water and the hydroxide ions from the limewater to increase the alkalinity. In turn, removal of the excess CO2 leads to an increase of the tank pH.
Another popular technique to remove excess CO2 is to degas the effluent, either by running it through an additional container of calcium carbonate chippings or by dripping the effluent into a small container housing an air stone. Results from these methods vary, with some aquarists reporting significant increases in alkalinity or pH and others seeing little observable difference (probably due to different calcium reactor designs and their effectiveness). With both of these methods you must be careful. As the pH is driven back up towards natural seawater levels, some of the bicarbonate is converted into carbonate. Once the water becomes supersaturated with carbonate, it will be more inclined to precipitate onto calcium carbonate surfaces, and some alkalinity will be lost.
Info from Simon Huntington - Reefkeeping.com
In order to rid the tank of any excess CO2 and maintain a good pH, it is essential to have good circulation at the air/water interface.
The pH can also be boosted by using limewater as top-off water. Limewater (also known as kalkwasser) works by using the CO2 in the tank water and the hydroxide ions from the limewater to increase the alkalinity. In turn, removal of the excess CO2 leads to an increase of the tank pH.
Another popular technique to remove excess CO2 is to degas the effluent, either by running it through an additional container of calcium carbonate chippings or by dripping the effluent into a small container housing an air stone. Results from these methods vary, with some aquarists reporting significant increases in alkalinity or pH and others seeing little observable difference (probably due to different calcium reactor designs and their effectiveness). With both of these methods you must be careful. As the pH is driven back up towards natural seawater levels, some of the bicarbonate is converted into carbonate. Once the water becomes supersaturated with carbonate, it will be more inclined to precipitate onto calcium carbonate surfaces, and some alkalinity will be lost.
Info from Simon Huntington - Reefkeeping.com
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I have a lot of Surface Agitation (Power Head X2, Hang on the Back Cascading Filter, Protein Skimmer).
But thinking about that I have the Top Completly Covered (Almost) with Glass.
Could that be why I have Low PH?
Does having an Open Top Aquarium give you Higher PH?
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I never see people using Air Stones.
I thought that that was a Freshwater Only Concept.
Am I Wrong?
If I add PH Buffer to Raise it does that then Throw off Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium?
Or does adding PH Buffer to Raise the PH do nothing besides actually Raising the PH?
RichieT
Valuable Member
If you are running the tank covered you aren't allowing enough gas exchange even though you have a lot of surface agitation. Carbon Dioxide will definitely cause the pH to decrease. I would avoid pH buffers all together because they are masking the problem. A low pH is caused by something, either poor gas exchange or an imbalance in your reef chemistry (cal, alk, and mag). If your Ca, Alk and Mg are all in line then more than likely you have poor gas exchange.
Take a look at your tank parameters first and if they are in line then try an airstone or replacing the glass top with a mesh screen
jayhawk
Active Member
Aerating the water can be done through many techniques. Air stone is just one. It's not specific to fresh water environments.
Alabamareef
Well-Known Member
Whats your ph running at?
beaslbob
2500 Club Member
+1 for all the carbon dioxide.
To me balancing out the tank with macro or other algeas will bring pH up just before lights out. And do it faster then any other method. So the tank becomes a ned consumer of carbon dioxide and producer of oxygen every 24 hour period.
my .02
To me balancing out the tank with macro or other algeas will bring pH up just before lights out. And do it faster then any other method. So the tank becomes a ned consumer of carbon dioxide and producer of oxygen every 24 hour period.
my .02
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Usually 7.8 in Morning (Occasionally have seen it at 7.4 but usually 7.8)
8.1 at Night
RichieT
Valuable Member
7.8 to 8.1 is a pretty natural swing in my opinion.
saltyfish
Active Member
Running glass lids on your tank doesn't necessarily mean you will have a low pH. I have lids on my tank and my pH is 8.34 during the day and 8.21 at night. My tank is lightly stocked on fish and heavy on corals. If you have a lot fish, it could be a CO2 problem but I would make sure your other parameters are stable first. Do you know what your Alkalinity is at?
Its not necessarily going to cause low Ph to have glass lids. But that would be the first thing I would look at in this situation. Inadequate gas exchange can definitely be the issue. High carbon dioxide levels in the house can also be an issue. Lots of factors come into play with this though. Do you have a sump, skimmer, refugium with algae etc...
I would suggest taking off the lids for a couple days and see what happens.
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Some of my Tanks have No Fish and still have the Low PH.
Alkalinity is anywhere from 7-10 Depending on the Tank (Have 4 ).
But all have Low PH.
saltyfish
Active Member
A pH of 7.8-8.1 isn't terrible. Using a fan to blow fresh air inside my stand helped mine out a bit. Take off the glass lids and open your windows as much as you can and take pH readings for a few days to see if it helps. If not, then there is something else going on.
