DIY Base rock question

scubasteve3403 · 01/29/2010, 07:49 AM

I've also been working on some DIY base rock that I constructed form a combination of CaribSea pacific black reef sand, CaribSea aragonite, Morton crushed pool salt and white Portland cement. They have been soaking in RO water for about 2 months now changing out the water every week and I haven’t noticed a change in my PH readings as they remain on the extremely high side. Other than being patient is their anything else I can do to slowly bring down these ph levels? If I adding a powerhead to the soaking containers would this help speed up the process? I also read somewhere you can add white vinegar to bring PH levels down – has anyone tried this?

zachfishman · 01/29/2010, 08:46 AM

Vinegar will drop your pH, but if the root cause your DIY rock then increases in the pH will likely continue until your rock exhausts its excess. A good test would be to bring the pH down with vinegar, and then see if it creeps back up again.

What levels are you experiencing?

scubasteve3403 · 01/29/2010, 09:23 AM

I don’t know the exact PH level as its well out side of the range of my test kit, which has max of 8.6

I’m thinking I might have to invest in a pinpoint ph monitor or a reefkeeper controller to get a clear picture of what I’m dealing with.

01/29/2010, 07:49 AM	#1
scubasteve3403 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 21	DIY Base rock question I've also been working on some DIY base rock that I constructed form a combination of CaribSea pacific black reef sand, CaribSea aragonite, Morton crushed pool salt and white Portland cement. They have been soaking in RO water for about 2 months now changing out the water every week and I haven’t noticed a change in my PH readings as they remain on the extremely high side. Other than being patient is their anything else I can do to slowly bring down these ph levels? If I adding a powerhead to the soaking containers would this help speed up the process? I also read somewhere you can add white vinegar to bring PH levels down – has anyone tried this?

01/29/2010, 08:46 AM	#2
zachfishman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St Petersburg, FL Posts: 3,577	Vinegar will drop your pH, but if the root cause your DIY rock then increases in the pH will likely continue until your rock exhausts its excess. A good test would be to bring the pH down with vinegar, and then see if it creeps back up again. What levels are you experiencing? __________________ Patience is a reefer's best tool. Secret Xenia lover. M.S. Marine Biology Staff - Marine Discovery Center, St. Petersburg FL Tampa Bay Reef Club BOD 2018 Current Tank Info: 34g modded Solana

01/29/2010, 09:23 AM	#3
scubasteve3403 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 21	I don’t know the exact PH level as its well out side of the range of my test kit, which has max of 8.6 I’m thinking I might have to invest in a pinpoint ph monitor or a reefkeeper controller to get a clear picture of what I’m dealing with.