ph balance

rognermp · 02/16/2013, 08:18 AM

what are some ways to keep the ph in my tank at 8.0, I have 20g non reef tank that's about 8months old or older now. I have about 20 lbs of live rock (5 lbs are new and just added) I have a buffer powder that does help to keep the ph at 8 but is there a way to have the tank do this on its own?? current fish are 2 damsel

bnumair · 02/16/2013, 08:30 AM

Ph buffers are usually alkalinity increasing buffers. Please check ur alk it might be too high depending on how much buffer u used. Anyways best thing u can do to keep ph stable is air out the room open windows etc. Ph goes down due to co2 build up. Make ur power heads or returns face towards the top of water so there is more air water exchange.

disc1 · 02/16/2013, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnumair

Ph buffers are ALWAYS alkalinity increasing buffers. Please check ur alk it might be too high depending on how much buffer u used. Anyways best thing u can do to keep ph stable is air out the room open windows etc. Ph goes down due to co2 build up. Make ur power heads or returns face towards the top of water so there is more air water exchange.

FTFY bnumair.

The pH on reef tanks if fairly forgiving. As long as you are falling in the high 7's to mid 8's you're doing great. Asking to keep it rock stable to the tenths place is just asking a little too much. It doesn't do that in nature, so there's no reason to think it has to in your tank. Trying to fore it to often ends up causing actual problems.

bnumair · 02/16/2013, 10:49 AM

Thank you David.

stingythingy45 · 02/16/2013, 06:39 PM

If you keep chasing PH and don't check alk,you'll have a very dead tank.
ALK is the important parameter,PH will follow.I can almost bet your alk is way too high now.

rognermp · 02/16/2013, 09:36 PM

what's the best way to check my alk?? I only use strips currently to check ph/nitrate/nitrite/ammonia I know they are not as good but I don't know what kind of kit to get and the prices range so much (mostly on the high side).

I have had a problem with hair algae that I recently resolved (aparently if u just turn over the rock it dies with out the extra light ^_^ ) and I have a small powerhead but its pushing water more center/downwards instead of towards the surface so ill move that too

and most importantly
THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR ALL THE HELP!!!!
this site rocks

Shallow Planet · 02/16/2013, 09:43 PM

I would use one of the dropper kits. You can find some reasonable ones at your local pet store that are not on the high priced side. They are not as good as the expensive ones, but they will work better then the test strips.

rognermp · 02/16/2013, 09:52 PM

thanks, going to store tomorrow to get supplies to setup a (10g) QT (this is my second time around so I'm trying to do it all the 'proper' way this time, balanced tank, proper fish mixtures, QT and all lol) ill pick up the new kit too! if my alk is to high how do I drop it?

stingythingy45 · 02/17/2013, 06:49 AM

Even an API alk test kit is better than strips.
I use one as a back up for my Elos test kit.Always good to have redundency with important paramater test.
Most alk kits are very easy to use.Simply fill the test tube with 5 ml of tank water.Add the chemical drop by drop and count them.When the color changes from blue to yellow,The # of drops equals the dkh.
7-11 dkh is acceptable.

02/16/2013, 08:18 AM	#1
rognermp Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: new jersey Posts: 23	ph balance what are some ways to keep the ph in my tank at 8.0, I have 20g non reef tank that's about 8months old or older now. I have about 20 lbs of live rock (5 lbs are new and just added) I have a buffer powder that does help to keep the ph at 8 but is there a way to have the tank do this on its own?? current fish are 2 damsel

02/16/2013, 08:30 AM	#2
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	Ph buffers are usually alkalinity increasing buffers. Please check ur alk it might be too high depending on how much buffer u used. Anyways best thing u can do to keep ph stable is air out the room open windows etc. Ph goes down due to co2 build up. Make ur power heads or returns face towards the top of water so there is more air water exchange. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

02/16/2013, 10:49 AM	#4
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	Thank you David. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

02/16/2013, 06:39 PM	#5
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	If you keep chasing PH and don't check alk,you'll have a very dead tank. ALK is the important parameter,PH will follow.I can almost bet your alk is way too high now. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

02/17/2013, 06:49 AM	#9
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	Even an API alk test kit is better than strips. I use one as a back up for my Elos test kit.Always good to have redundency with important paramater test. Most alk kits are very easy to use.Simply fill the test tube with 5 ml of tank water.Add the chemical drop by drop and count them.When the color changes from blue to yellow,The # of drops equals the dkh. 7-11 dkh is acceptable. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

02/16/2013, 09:36 PM	#6
rognermp Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: new jersey Posts: 23	what's the best way to check my alk?? I only use strips currently to check ph/nitrate/nitrite/ammonia I know they are not as good but I don't know what kind of kit to get and the prices range so much (mostly on the high side). I have had a problem with hair algae that I recently resolved (aparently if u just turn over the rock it dies with out the extra light ^_^ ) and I have a small powerhead but its pushing water more center/downwards instead of towards the surface so ill move that too and most importantly THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR ALL THE HELP!!!! this site rocks

02/16/2013, 09:43 PM	#7
Shallow Planet Moved On Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 49	I would use one of the dropper kits. You can find some reasonable ones at your local pet store that are not on the high priced side. They are not as good as the expensive ones, but they will work better then the test strips.

02/16/2013, 09:52 PM	#8
rognermp Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: new jersey Posts: 23	thanks, going to store tomorrow to get supplies to setup a (10g) QT (this is my second time around so I'm trying to do it all the 'proper' way this time, balanced tank, proper fish mixtures, QT and all lol) ill pick up the new kit too! if my alk is to high how do I drop it?