biopellets dropping alkalinity and PH?

rgauvin · 11/05/2012, 07:38 AM

So I started to use biopellets (half dose) to drop my phosphates and nitrates (nitrates where high at around 25PPM and I was starting to get algae). Its now been a couple months. Between the biopellets and water changes, my nitrates have dropped slowly to 4 PPM (woot). According to my hannah checker, Phosphates are 0-0.01 PPM (woot).

BUT my PH has slowly been dropping. It used to be ~8, but it has dropped to 7.6

I decided to get an alkalinity test (hannah checker) and it is coming it an just under 6dKH

despite weekly water changes I am kinda shocked my PH has dropped that much, and my alkalinity is so low, all I can think is that the biopellets have somehow reduced my alkalinity and PH. Has anyone else seen this or am I crazy?

downbeach · 11/05/2012, 08:37 AM

You can use some soda ash to get your alk and pH up. I would make sure your skimmer is working at an optimal level, as this will have an effect on CO2 levels in your tank, which can effect pH. If your house is closed up, you may have elevated levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, opening some windows will help with this.

rgauvin · 11/05/2012, 08:45 AM

yeah, I was considering doing that, I'm just trying to confirm the cause of the sudden lower alk and PH. The timing seems suspicious, if it is coincidental.

disc1 · 11/05/2012, 09:09 AM

Biopellets foster microbial growth. Those microbes produce CO2. That CO2 will lower the pH. Especially with your low alkalinity.

My advise would be to correct the alkalinity first and then see what you need to do about the pH.

Wingman6 · 03/14/2013, 10:05 AM

I experienced pretty much the same but i can't say for sure regarding the alk. I know for a fact the pH was dropping. I took my biopellets down a few weeks ago and switched to ROWAphos but the nitrates crept up to about 25 ppm pretty quick. I will say that i was sitting 7.8 at night (maybe a little less) and getting up to near 8 during the day. Within a few days of taking the pellets down the pH would get up to 8.15 or so and 8 at night.

Given the issues with the pH, i turned the pellets back on a sure enough the pH started to head down hill as the bacteria cultured the pellets. The phosphates and nitrates are 0 again but now i have low pH again. I'm trying adding kalkwasser using my controller anytime the pH gets below 7.95 but to a 240 gallon water volume this is rather difficult as it requires quite the volume. Considered adding to ATO but i don't really want to have to deal with any cleaning of that reservoir not to mention i had my calcium reactor dialed in perfectly.

Trying to think of other ways to get my pH up or i might considering running a sulfur reactor and ROWAphos to get rid of both.

o, alk is around 11.5 right now, calcium 440, nitrates and phosphates basically 0.

11/05/2012, 07:38 AM	#1
rgauvin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 196	biopellets dropping alkalinity and PH? So I started to use biopellets (half dose) to drop my phosphates and nitrates (nitrates where high at around 25PPM and I was starting to get algae). Its now been a couple months. Between the biopellets and water changes, my nitrates have dropped slowly to 4 PPM (woot). According to my hannah checker, Phosphates are 0-0.01 PPM (woot). BUT my PH has slowly been dropping. It used to be ~8, but it has dropped to 7.6 I decided to get an alkalinity test (hannah checker) and it is coming it an just under 6dKH despite weekly water changes I am kinda shocked my PH has dropped that much, and my alkalinity is so low, all I can think is that the biopellets have somehow reduced my alkalinity and PH. Has anyone else seen this or am I crazy?

11/05/2012, 09:09 AM	#4
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	Biopellets foster microbial growth. Those microbes produce CO2. That CO2 will lower the pH. Especially with your low alkalinity. My advise would be to correct the alkalinity first and then see what you need to do about the pH. __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...

11/05/2012, 08:37 AM	#2
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	You can use some soda ash to get your alk and pH up. I would make sure your skimmer is working at an optimal level, as this will have an effect on CO2 levels in your tank, which can effect pH. If your house is closed up, you may have elevated levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, opening some windows will help with this.

11/05/2012, 08:45 AM	#3
rgauvin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 196	yeah, I was considering doing that, I'm just trying to confirm the cause of the sudden lower alk and PH. The timing seems suspicious, if it is coincidental.

03/14/2013, 10:05 AM	#5
Wingman6 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 120	I experienced pretty much the same but i can't say for sure regarding the alk. I know for a fact the pH was dropping. I took my biopellets down a few weeks ago and switched to ROWAphos but the nitrates crept up to about 25 ppm pretty quick. I will say that i was sitting 7.8 at night (maybe a little less) and getting up to near 8 during the day. Within a few days of taking the pellets down the pH would get up to 8.15 or so and 8 at night. Given the issues with the pH, i turned the pellets back on a sure enough the pH started to head down hill as the bacteria cultured the pellets. The phosphates and nitrates are 0 again but now i have low pH again. I'm trying adding kalkwasser using my controller anytime the pH gets below 7.95 but to a 240 gallon water volume this is rather difficult as it requires quite the volume. Considered adding to ATO but i don't really want to have to deal with any cleaning of that reservoir not to mention i had my calcium reactor dialed in perfectly. Trying to think of other ways to get my pH up or i might considering running a sulfur reactor and ROWAphos to get rid of both. o, alk is around 11.5 right now, calcium 440, nitrates and phosphates basically 0.