Whats your Method for Boosting PH?

[ryecoon]

How do most of you maintain your PH levels? Can you list some reasons why PH would drop? What steps should be done and what products do you suggest?

 

[Marshall O]

Fresh air! Not sure where you are, but in colder climates, having the windows shut all winter can increase the CO2 level in the house. Excess CO2 will result in excess carbonic acid in your water, which lowers pH. Another thing that can help is to have a light over a refugium that runs opposite your DT lighting. This way you always have algae using CO2 which increases the oxygen in the tank, and lowers carbonic acid (and so pH). But you need to make sure you have enough fresh air (O2) available in the first place.

 

[nitro'sreef]

me and a buddy was just talking about this. Lime Rock was mentioned.

 

[Marshall O]

me and a buddy was just talking about this. Lime Rock was mentioned.

I should have mentioned this as well. What is your alkalinity (and your magnesium and calcium)? Alkalinity is the ability of water to resist changes in pH. So you need your alk to be in the correct range (7-11 dKH or so). Aragonite sand and limestone rock can aid in maintaining alkalinity without dosing.

 

[ryecoon]

do u suggest this brand? Do i put this in a filter sock? or reactor?

 

[ryecoon]

Whats your input on a co2 reactor?

 

[ryecoon]

I would prefer an airline tube that leads to fresh air but my tank is not close to window.

 

[beaslbob]

How do most of you maintain your PH levels? Can you list some reasons why PH would drop? What steps should be done and what products do you suggest?

Carbon dioxide lowers pH.

the best and all that is needed is to add plant life like macro and other algaes so the carbon dioxide is consumed by the algae. Ph will rise.

I also I only measure pH just before lights out. If the pH is high there then the tank is probably a net consumer of co2 and producer of oxygen each day.

And that is what is important.

my .02

 

[ryecoon]

@beaslbob I have a hob cpr refugium with some Chaeto, a couple of mangroves, some dragons breath. Should i add more plants? I have a 50 Gal. ph is in the 7.8 with lights on.

 

[ryecoon]

Should i do a combo of more plants, Co2 reactor and Limestones? Or is that unnecessary?

 

[Ellery]

I've been running a dedicate airline from outside to my skimmer, and using Kalkwasser in my ATO.

 

[ryecoon]

I've been running a dedicate airline from outside to my skimmer, and using Kalkwasser in my ATO.

For your Auto Top off. Do you use a small return pump? and do you under-dose with kalk? I have a 20 gal reservoir and i use a strong pump with 1 1/2" tube to push the water back in my tank, since the distance from the reservoir to the tank is pretty steep. Will that matter? or is it the same?

 

[ryecoon]

Has anyone ever used a co2 reactor? any testimonials on that product?

 

[charliet21]

I point powerheads towards surface. Ph stays above 8.0 since ive done this

 

[ryecoon]

I point powerheads towards surface. Ph stays above 8.0 since ive done this

Gotta try that.

 

[charliet21]

Questions: whqt sizes is tank? Howvmany power heads? Whats the gph on them? And do u have any amenones? How old is tank?

 

[xthunderx]

I run the air intake of the skimmer outside so that it pulls fresh air, this is specially helpful it the winter. I also add kalk powder to my ATO. Ph hovers around 8.15 to 8.3.

 

[cryptics]

I set up a CO2 scrubber on my intake to my skimmer and my Ph jumped .2. I copied the design almost exactly out of the post in the stickies of the DIY forum on this site.

 

[LowezAkar24]

Fresh air! Not sure where you are, but in colder climates, having the windows shut all winter can increase the CO2 level in the house. Excess CO2 will result in excess carbonic acid in your water, which lowers pH. Another thing that can help is to have a light over a refugium that runs opposite your DT lighting. This way you always have algae using CO2 which increases the oxygen in the tank, and lowers carbonic acid (and so pH). But you need to make sure you have enough fresh air (O2) available in the first place.

+1

Do you dose to maintain your alk? If yes, when do you dose?

 

[ritter6788]

I don't test pH or do anything to increase or maintain it.