Winter and Low PH

[Kimberlee]

I can't stand the winter, it gets cold and I am forced to close up the house.....which drops my PH lowere than I would like. I have a plan of attack this year, but wouldn't mind hearing form others how they deal w/ low PH this time of year?

 

[asmashling]

I would say put more flow to the surface and keeping track of Alk and Ca via Balling Light from Fauna Marin. We have it really cold here in switzerland but that helped me in the last two seasons.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Sump/Fuge

 

[RichieT]

I can't stand the winter, it gets cold and I am forced to close up the house.....which drops my PH lowere than I would like. I have a plan of attack this year, but wouldn't mind hearing form others how they deal w/ low PH this time of year?

Get a couple of airstones in your sump. If no sump then somewhere where bubbles won't bother anything. Does two things. Drives co2 out of the water and introduces more oxygen into the water column. Fish and corals will be happier

 

[matty0206]

I use one of these Universal Air Filter - Bulk Reef Supply filled with this stuff BRS Color Changing Medical Grade CO2 Absorbent - Bulk Reef Supply in the winter time and it seems to work well. I wasn't sure if it was at first but when I got my Apex, I could see the difference.

 

[Kimberlee]

I use one of these Universal Air Filter - Bulk Reef Supply filled with this stuff BRS Color Changing Medical Grade CO2 Absorbent - Bulk Reef Supply in the winter time and it seems to work well. I wasn't sure if it was at first but when I got my Apex, I could see the difference.

Cool I just have to order the co2 absorbent.

Yes huge sump, no fuge really. I am thinking of running the skimmer line to the outside for the winter.

 

[robbrouse]

Tagging along.

 

[TrishW]

tagging along

 

[Reefing Madness]

Macro Algae and PH Balance

 

[Kimberlee]

Oh I understand completly how they work and why, I just don't feel they are as effective unless you are keeping a big fuge. For PH yeah opisite light works wonders, but I am not having a big swing over the night. his is completly due to me closing my house for the winter. I am thinking of trying seachems 8.3 in my top off. I have a friend who is doing it this way and it is working reallly well.

 

[Murfman]

Even thought it gets cold here in Colorado, I keep the window fan on, exhausting my fish room to the outside. My tank is in the basement so CO2 sinks. The one year I kept the window closed, the pH would drop to 7.7. I will close it up, when it gets uber cold but most of the time I keep it open and exhausting.

 

[Rockhead]

I have the same problem , but like some said already I run a piece 3/8 plastic hose outside and ran it to the air pick on the skimmer and boom I was back to normal.
Tip: put a piece of foam on the hose outside not to suck anything in.

 

[Kimberlee]

I have the same problem , but like some said already I run a piece 3/8 plastic hose outside and ran it to the air pick on the skimmer and boom I was back to normal.
Tip: put a piece of foam on the hose outside not to suck anything in.

Good tip, and I'm glad to hear it worked.

 

[Kimberlee]

Even thought it gets cold here in Colorado, I keep the window fan on, exhausting my fish room to the outside. My tank is in the basement so CO2 sinks. The one year I kept the window closed, the pH would drop to 7.7. I will close it up, when it gets uber cold but most of the time I keep it open and exhausting.

I've lived there, it gets really cold. I am trying to keep the house open, but am being side lined by the other 3 here....who don't give the same thought to my tank that I do. They don't think freezing is okay for the tanks sake (I think it is) and I have been out voted. I think the tank is more than a good reason to freeze, and think they should put on coats. Yeah it's not getting me far.

 

[neuwave]

I've had the same problem with a closed house and low ph. It's opposite here in Florida. It gets too hot and we have to close up the house to stay cool. After dealing with multiple buffers and water agitation, it made no dent in the low ph. I built a DIY CO2 scrubber and hooked it up to the skimmer. Now I'm at 8.2-8.3 all day long. About 2 years in use and I'm still satisfied with the results.

 

[Kimberlee]

I've had the same problem with a closed house and low ph. It's opposite here in Florida. It gets too hot and we have to close up the house to stay cool. After dealing with multiple buffers and water agitation, it made no dent in the low ph. I built a DIY CO2 scrubber and hooked it up to the skimmer. Now I'm at 8.2-8.3 all day long. About 2 years in use and I'm still satisfied with the results.

Nice, any chance you'd share you design?

 

[neuwave]

Sure. I have a build thread on anther forum. I'll try cut and paste it for ya.

 

[candcreef]

High co2 in a home will cause ph to drop....soda lime is the co2 absorbent everyone is referring to...you can buy a five gallon bucket of the stuff for 75.00 online....you can make your own co2 scrubber out of a juice bottle for pennies...I did it duing our hot summer mohs and It worked great...if ya need help building one, let me know and I van walk ya through it...

Conan

 

[Kimberlee]

You guys are awesome, as a new member this is one of the more active usefull forums. Thx, and I'll google it, but will take your ideas too, can't have enough good ideas, they only solve problems (hopefully).

 

[navila06]

I run my skimmer airline hose year round to the outside for fresh air.