What's up with my Ph?

[Dana Jackson]

Im using API tests to test everything. Looking into getting a ph monitor, now. I've never had a problem with my ph, ever. Its always been on the high end, but recently its dropped to 7.8... My ca is 420, dkh is 9. SG is 1.026. Is this ok? Should attempt to raise my Ph? I've tested in the morning and at night and the highest reading I've gotten was an 8.0.

 

[Zack K]

What have you added/removed/changed since you have seen the drop. 7.7-8.1 is a good range so i wouldn't be worried. Amount of CO2 on the water causes PH to swing

 

[Dana Jackson]

The only thing I could think of was A: I added a skimmer. And B: we moved into a new house and the tank is now in a bedroom, not in the open living room. But I did take a sample of my water outside, stirred and tested again... Same reading. I added a Bladtomussa merletti and some zoas? A new fish? Im not sure...

 

[LostInTheDark]

I had low ph during the winter. My tank is in the living room with a fireplace. Running the skimmer tube to an outside wall fixed that problem for me. The other option is hooking up a CO2 scrubber to the skimmer but that adds up quickly in media changes.

7.8 is also nothing to worry about

 

[Aaron Atkinson]

Hello Dana. I'm guessing your new house is sealed tighter than your old house which means lower energy bills and less fresh air coming in. To combat my low pH problem in our home I installed a CO2 scrubber in front of the skimmer air inlet. It increased pH about 0.2 for me.

 

[Zack K]

All well said above. If it is really bothering you you can do one of these suggestions above, but it is really okay where it is.

 

[Anirban]

The only thing I could think of was A: I added a skimmer. And B: we moved into a new house and the tank is now in a bedroom, not in the open living room. But I did take a sample of my water outside, stirred and tested again... Same reading. I added a Bladtomussa merletti and some zoas? A new fish? Im not sure...

A pH in between 7.8-8 is not bad at all. If you wish to increase it a bit then try connecting the skimmer air intake line with a airline tube to draw air from outside. This will help maintaining a bit more higher pH.

 

[Dana Jackson]

Well, after the initial freak out "OMG why is my ph so low?" moment, I've decided that having a low, but stable ph is more important than trying to mess with it and end up crashing your tank... Lol. The things I have read about how people have tried to increase their ph unnecessarily is just silly...lol. Gotta love the internet...