PLEASE HELP: New Tank Set-Up, pH and Ammonia Questions

New2reeftank · 06/21/2011, 10:29 AM

Hello All,

My name is Imran. I am new here as well as to saltwater tanks... I recently purchased a solana 34gal tank and wanted to start an SPS coral tank. Everything I know is stuff I have read out here and am thankful to everyone who have put in the time to post about their experiences with 'reefing' on here.

I had a few questions as I started to set-up my tank. I obtained some 'dead' live rock from a friend of mine and wanted to cook it before I placed it in my tank. I am using DI/RO H2O (pH = 7.00) with reef crystal salt to build up the salinity. I used a refractometer to dissolve the salt which read 1.025 @ 71 deg F. After adding the salt, I noticed the pH went to 7.30. I know I need to raise my pH to ~8.4 and I was thinking Ca(OH)2 was the way to go. But I was wondering if I could add NH4OH to the water, as this will increase the pH and get me started with the N2 Cycle. The reagent is analytical gradeNH4OH containing 10% NH3. I would appreciate your help. Thank you!

disc1 · 06/21/2011, 11:21 AM

How are you measuring the pH? 7.3 seems awfully low for mixed salt water.

Lots of people add ammoinia to a tank to start a cycle. You have to calculate the amount to give you the right ammo level. You will hear mixed reviews on the efficacy of that approach, but it has been an accepted method for years. I don't think however, that it makes a good solution to a pH issue.

mjwz06 · 06/21/2011, 11:37 AM

The pH could be low because it wasn't mixed properly. You shouldn't need to add anything else to raise it. Just let the saltwater mix for 24 hours (at least overnight), with a powerhead. Point it towards the surface, to promote better gas exchange, and check the pH again tomorrow.

New2reeftank · 06/21/2011, 04:04 PM

Thank you for replying. I confirmed my pH using pH paper and a pH meter that was calibrated and used in my lab. After reading your comments I took the pure water I had to my local fish store...it turned out something was up with the bacth of reef crystal salt I purchased....I got another batch and it seems to be increasing the pH after addition.

WaterKeeper · 06/21/2011, 05:34 PM

Hi Imran-

To Reef Central

As was said, a good salt mix will self establish a pH of 7.9-8.4 S.U. If is is far below that I'd have the LFS also check the pH. You do want to wait a few hours before checking pH as freshly mixed ASW takes time to come to a constant pH.

You can add NH₄OH to the tank but do so in moderation. You really don't want drastic pH changes using ammonia.

06/21/2011, 10:29 AM	#1
New2reeftank Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 8	PLEASE HELP: New Tank Set-Up, pH and Ammonia Questions Hello All, My name is Imran. I am new here as well as to saltwater tanks... I recently purchased a solana 34gal tank and wanted to start an SPS coral tank. Everything I know is stuff I have read out here and am thankful to everyone who have put in the time to post about their experiences with 'reefing' on here. I had a few questions as I started to set-up my tank. I obtained some 'dead' live rock from a friend of mine and wanted to cook it before I placed it in my tank. I am using DI/RO H2O (pH = 7.00) with reef crystal salt to build up the salinity. I used a refractometer to dissolve the salt which read 1.025 @ 71 deg F. After adding the salt, I noticed the pH went to 7.30. I know I need to raise my pH to ~8.4 and I was thinking Ca(OH)2 was the way to go. But I was wondering if I could add NH4OH to the water, as this will increase the pH and get me started with the N2 Cycle. The reagent is analytical gradeNH4OH containing 10% NH3. I would appreciate your help. Thank you!

06/21/2011, 11:21 AM	#2
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	How are you measuring the pH? 7.3 seems awfully low for mixed salt water. Lots of people add ammoinia to a tank to start a cycle. You have to calculate the amount to give you the right ammo level. You will hear mixed reviews on the efficacy of that approach, but it has been an accepted method for years. I don't think however, that it makes a good solution to a pH issue. __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...

06/21/2011, 11:37 AM	#3
mjwz06 Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ledgewood, NJ Posts: 96	The pH could be low because it wasn't mixed properly. You shouldn't need to add anything else to raise it. Just let the saltwater mix for 24 hours (at least overnight), with a powerhead. Point it towards the surface, to promote better gas exchange, and check the pH again tomorrow. __________________ 72g Bowfront, 15g Sump, 2 AI Sol Blues, MP40W, SRO 1000 INT, JBJ ATO system Desjardins Tang, Yellow Tang, Percula Clown, Blue Damsel S. Haddoni, Frogspawn, Red Acan, GSP

06/21/2011, 05:34 PM	#5
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Hi Imran- *To Reef Central* As was said, a good salt mix will self establish a pH of 7.9-8.4 S.U. If is is far below that I'd have the LFS also check the pH. You do want to wait a few hours before checking pH as freshly mixed ASW takes time to come to a constant pH. You can add NH₄OH to the tank but do so in moderation. You really don't want drastic pH changes using ammonia. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29 Last edited by WaterKeeper; 06/21/2011 at 05:40 PM.

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06/21/2011, 04:04 PM	#4
New2reeftank Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 8	Thank you for replying. I confirmed my pH using pH paper and a pH meter that was calibrated and used in my lab. After reading your comments I took the pure water I had to my local fish store...it turned out something was up with the bacth of reef crystal salt I purchased....I got another batch and it seems to be increasing the pH after addition.