ph

CrOsSwIrE · 04/26/2006, 10:32 PM

I have a slight issure with the ph in my aquarium. the ph went from 8.0 to 7.8 in a matter of a few days. Now a couple of things have happened. I added 2 small fish (royal gramma, and a false clown), and I've noticed the development of diatomes on some of the lr. (the diatom problem came from leaving my aquarium light on for about an 18hr period). The other levels are ok. nitrates 20, nitrites 0, and ammonia 0. The salinity is 1.025 (which I think may be a little high).

Does anyone have any suggestions on whether I should be worried, and if so what is the best way to go about bringing it back up.

Thanks for any comments or advice,

~Mike

angelsj247 · 04/26/2006, 10:35 PM

i think adding baking soda or powder raises it.. someone else will chime in and let ya know for sure

bertoni · 04/26/2006, 11:39 PM

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php

That article discusses low pH issues. That salinity is fine; it's actually lower than my target of 1.026-1.027. Do you have an alkalinity test kit? We really need an alkalinity test result to say much.

Randall_James · 04/26/2006, 11:41 PM

Mike you will note that the PH goes up and down with the lighting cycle. As lights are on, oxygen production is in full swing and the ph will rise. At night, with no O2 production to speak of, C02 rises and lowers PH. A swing of 8.2 or so at the end of the day and 7.8 or there abouts in the morning is common.

Is it worth fixing? your call, i have heard stories both ways but I like to keep it above 8.1 with kalk dosing (reef tanks). The nitrates however are bad news if you are going to have corals. They should remain undetectable or close to it. I like the 1.025 myself.
If this is fish only, I would not be to concerned about any of this

CrOsSwIrE · 04/27/2006, 07:10 AM

No corals fish only, and I havent done a water change since I started cycling my tank. (which was about a week and a half ago)

kau_cinta_ku · 04/27/2006, 07:25 AM

i wouldn't be worried to much then if this is only a FO tank. as was stated your PH will vary due to light cycles. some like them constant and some it don't bother them. if you have a fuge though just run your lights on opposite times as your main lights and it keeps it pretty steady

timmyus · 04/27/2006, 11:53 PM

I tested my PH and it shows from my test kit ( red sea) 8.6 however the ALK says normal as per the same test kit. Is this too high and will it be dangerous for my inhabitants when I get them?? I only add calcium buffers at them moment but only when they deplete below 400ppm all other water parameters are fine.

bertoni · 04/27/2006, 11:56 PM

timmyus, you should probably start your own thread. Answering two different questions in the same thread gets confusing. I don't trust Red Sea test kits, having had to return my set, so my first suggestion would be to doublecheck them against another kit, and also obtain an alkalinity kit that gives a real number.

timmyus · 04/28/2006, 12:33 AM

sorry guys i though select new thread after reading this one and saw that i was actually hoggin in on this thread

mg426 · 04/28/2006, 01:31 AM

Red Sea test kits are the bottom of the barrel. I would get another kit ASAP. The alk kit does not even give you a level just Low/Normal/High.

04/26/2006, 10:32 PM	#1
CrOsSwIrE Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: dwight, IL Posts: 223	ph I have a slight issure with the ph in my aquarium. the ph went from 8.0 to 7.8 in a matter of a few days. Now a couple of things have happened. I added 2 small fish (royal gramma, and a false clown), and I've noticed the development of diatomes on some of the lr. (the diatom problem came from leaving my aquarium light on for about an 18hr period). The other levels are ok. nitrates 20, nitrites 0, and ammonia 0. The salinity is 1.025 (which I think may be a little high). Does anyone have any suggestions on whether I should be worried, and if so what is the best way to go about bringing it back up. Thanks for any comments or advice, ~Mike

04/26/2006, 10:35 PM	#2
angelsj247 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 866	i think adding baking soda or powder raises it.. someone else will chime in and let ya know for sure __________________ 2 perc clownfish, 2 peppermint shrimp, astrea, turbo, & nassarius snails, 20 lbs Live Rock Current Tank Info: 20gal FOWLR

04/26/2006, 11:39 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php That article discusses low pH issues. That salinity is fine; it's actually lower than my target of 1.026-1.027. Do you have an alkalinity test kit? We really need an alkalinity test result to say much. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/26/2006, 11:41 PM	#4
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	Mike you will note that the PH goes up and down with the lighting cycle. As lights are on, oxygen production is in full swing and the ph will rise. At night, with no O2 production to speak of, C02 rises and lowers PH. A swing of 8.2 or so at the end of the day and 7.8 or there abouts in the morning is common. Is it worth fixing? your call, i have heard stories both ways but I like to keep it above 8.1 with kalk dosing (reef tanks). The nitrates however are bad news if you are going to have corals. They should remain undetectable or close to it. I like the 1.025 myself. If this is fish only, I would not be to concerned about any of this __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

04/27/2006, 11:53 PM	#7
timmyus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cape Town South Africa Posts: 109	PH @ 8.6 I tested my PH and it shows from my test kit ( red sea) 8.6 however the ALK says normal as per the same test kit. Is this too high and will it be dangerous for my inhabitants when I get them?? I only add calcium buffers at them moment but only when they deplete below 400ppm all other water parameters are fine.

04/27/2006, 07:10 AM	#5
CrOsSwIrE Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: dwight, IL Posts: 223	No corals fish only, and I havent done a water change since I started cycling my tank. (which was about a week and a half ago)

04/27/2006, 07:25 AM	#6
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	i wouldn't be worried to much then if this is only a FO tank. as was stated your PH will vary due to light cycles. some like them constant and some it don't bother them. if you have a fuge though just run your lights on opposite times as your main lights and it keeps it pretty steady

04/27/2006, 11:56 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	timmyus, you should probably start your own thread. Answering two different questions in the same thread gets confusing. I don't trust Red Sea test kits, having had to return my set, so my first suggestion would be to doublecheck them against another kit, and also obtain an alkalinity kit that gives a real number. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/28/2006, 12:33 AM	#9
timmyus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cape Town South Africa Posts: 109	sorry guys i though select new thread after reading this one and saw that i was actually hoggin in on this thread

04/28/2006, 01:31 AM	#10
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	Red Sea test kits are the bottom of the barrel. I would get another kit ASAP. The alk kit does not even give you a level just Low/Normal/High. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt