|
|
|
06/06/2006, 07:14 AM
|
#1 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Chicago. Illinois
Posts: 439
|
PH is plummeting
Spent the past 6 months upgrading equipment. Increased lighting, got tunzes, a Korallin Ca reactor, a Deltec skimmer, and phosban reactor. The results are: crystal clear water, high Ca, good alk, and chronically low pH. I just checked pH probe calibration, and it is fine. I have read Randy's articles, and have dripped kalk for the past few days. This helps while the kalk is dripping, but as soon as it stops, my pH drops again. Tank is in the basement, so opening a window is not really possible. Any advice would be helpful. I just ordered a kalk stirrer for my topoff. I hope this helps.
Parameters: 150g RR Oceanic with 40g sump 1050W metal halides new bulbs Temp: 80-82 SG: 1.026 Alk: 7.5 Ca: 440 pH: 7.75-8.15 (night to day) Mag: 1330 PO4: 0.04 per Hanna All others tests are good per Salifert
__________________
I ain't no hula-hoop-eyed, chicken-necked lookin' jive turkey. Current Tank Info: 150g RR Oceanic, 750W 20K MH with 300W 14K MH, Deltec Turbo 1060 skimmer, Tunzes with controller, all types of corals-but mostly SPS and Acans |
|
|
|
06/06/2006, 07:17 AM
|
#2 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Slovenia
Posts: 969
|
I suggest higher aeration.
What skimmer do you have ? Did you test CO2 concentration in the basement ? |
|
|
|
|
06/06/2006, 07:20 AM
|
#3 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Chicago. Illinois
Posts: 439
|
I have a Deltec 1060 skimmer which pulls a lot of air. I have not checked CO2 basement levels. Any idea of how that is done?
__________________
I ain't no hula-hoop-eyed, chicken-necked lookin' jive turkey. Current Tank Info: 150g RR Oceanic, 750W 20K MH with 300W 14K MH, Deltec Turbo 1060 skimmer, Tunzes with controller, all types of corals-but mostly SPS and Acans |
|
|
|
|
06/06/2006, 07:28 AM
|
#4 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Slovenia
Posts: 969
|
I checked CO2 in the air based on Randy idea.
Put water form aquarium in the glass. Wait few hours or aerate glass and that you do not need to wait. Glass have to in the same room as aquarium is (in your case in the basement). After few hours you can read pH. Based on KH and pH, you can estimate CO2, because during this few hour CO2 in the air and in the water will be in the equilibrium. |
|
|
|
|
06/06/2006, 08:44 AM
|
#5 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Deltaville , Va
Posts: 10,977
|
Your new stirrer will help . Deltec makes a nice one
__________________
Richmond Reef Club Current Tank Info: Doing without for a while :) |
|
|
|
|
06/06/2006, 09:42 AM
|
#6 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Toledo, Ohio USA
Posts: 2,051
|
If the pH is still low after aerating the glass of water in your basement, then the likely cause is the high CO2 in your house/basement---
Repeat the aeration test outside-- if the pH rises-- then this confirms high CO2 levels If you really want to fix the root of the problem you will need to ventilate your house/basement with outside air--- this is just a result of houses being very "tight" nowadays...
__________________
"I only have time to neglect one tank"-- Me "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work, I want to achieve immortality by not dying"-- Woody Allen Current Tank Info: 125G mixed reef with 135G Sump |
|
|
|
|
06/07/2006, 11:40 PM
|
#7 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 279
|
hey jmcmahon66 thats a very nice reef. ph will go up and down
thats normal. welcome to the chem. fun. it will take awhile to get it down but soon your alka. cal. and ph will be right on. just a learning curve. your reef looks great. equip. list top notch. your good dbr |
|
|
|
|
06/08/2006, 09:33 AM
|
#8 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Deltaville , Va
Posts: 10,977
|
Are you runing co2 on your cal r/x for 8-10 hours a day?
__________________
Richmond Reef Club Current Tank Info: Doing without for a while :) |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
