Will lower pH effect acros?

EricTheRed · Nov 11, 2014

I have a 90G sps only tank and the pH consistently runs 7.9

The house is well oxygenated and I've left all the windows open for days and it doesn't budge.I keep the tank at 78 degrees I've never been one to chase pH but i'm curious if anyone has noticed any long-term effects on their acros running below 8?

Badspstank · Nov 11, 2014

My PH was normaly runs 8.4 added cal reactor it drop to 7.9 no real problems seen.
3 Months ago my PH drop to 6.9 maybe lower all bad.

DFW · Nov 11, 2014

My acro tank averages about 7.9. I think that it might actually have some up side to it, but I am no reef chemist.

EricTheRed · Nov 12, 2014

Thanks guys. This tank used to run at a solid 8.2 but I re-did everything after a crash and now it likes 7.9. Can't put my finger on it but I'm not too worried, thanks.

Keithcorals · Nov 12, 2014

I've noticed bad effects starting with loss of color around 7.6-7.7 below that things can go from happy to looking really bad overnight. My montis seem to be more affected to a point. I'm happy as long as mine stays above 7.8

Paintguru · Nov 12, 2014

Mine is always in the 7.85-7.95 range, as my tank is in the basement and even with running a fresh air line to the skimmer, I still can't get much above 8.0. Everything has been fine thus far. From what I've read, chasing pH numbers is a bad idea.

Reef_Lounge_USA · Nov 12, 2014

When are you testing your pH? Have you tested just before the lights come on? That would be the lowest point for your pH. As long as it isn't below 7.8 at that time you should be fine. My personal tank suffers from low pH and I use Kalkwasser to keep it from dropping too low and all my acros have done very well.

Try a google search for Randy Holmes Farley Low pH. He wrote a very interesting and helpful article on low pH issues and fixes.

JBNY · Nov 12, 2014

I've run mine long term at 7.8 or so with no problems in growth or coloration, Noticed no real difference when I finally got the pH up to 8.2 or higher.

EricTheRed · Nov 13, 2014

Cool, just needed some reassurance, thanks, all!

Zachary.gingell · Nov 20, 2014

7.9 isn't horrible you should be fine but if you want to have it go up attach a reactor to the air intake of your protein skimmer and fill it with cdx media from two little fishies which needs to stay dry so you can use any reactor doesn't have to be water tight you'll notice the change within 15 min works great

reefndude · Nov 20, 2014

Paintguru said:
Mine is always in the 7.85-7.95 range, as my tank is in the basement and even with running a fresh air line to the skimmer, I still can't get much above 8.0. Everything has been fine thus far. From what I've read, chasing pH numbers is a bad idea.

Same here, my ph stayed around 7.8-7.9
Now that I use kalk its consistently around 8-8.2. No difference how corals look

Greg79 · Nov 20, 2014

As far it's pretty stable and you're not trying chasing it should be fine in my opinion

shlap · Nov 21, 2014

My tank always used to stay at 7.8/9 and once I got it to 8.2 using using a co2 scrubber my growth took off and I get better polyp extension.

EricTheRed · Nov 21, 2014

Zachary.gingell said:
7.9 isn't horrible you should be fine but if you want to have it go up attach a reactor to the air intake of your protein skimmer and fill it with cdx media from two little fishies which needs to stay dry so you can use any reactor doesn't have to be water tight you'll notice the change within 15 min works great

Interesting, thanks.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 21, 2014

reefndude said:
Same here, my ph stayed around 7.8-7.9
Now that I use kalk its consistently around 8-8.2. No difference how corals look

Any apparent difference in how fast they grow? Is the alkalinity the same?

reefndude · Nov 21, 2014

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Any apparent difference in how fast they grow? Is the alkalinity the same?

At the time alkalinity was the same. I have since lowered alkalinity because nutrients in tank is very low. Growth really has improved since I've done that

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 25, 2014

Great, thanks. Did you notice any growth difference when the pH was the only thing that changed?

reefndude · Nov 25, 2014

Went through my notes, and I dropped alkalinity only 6 weeks after I started using kalk.
So I can't honestly say if it was because ph or alk.

Eckolancer · Nov 25, 2014

If ph is real low it will start to dissolve the acros. But would take a lot to drop it to that level.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 25, 2014

reefndude said:
Went through my notes, and I dropped alkalinity only 6 weeks after I started using kalk.
So I can't honestly say if it was because ph or alk.

OK, thanks.