pH Swing.. is this normal

Waddleboy · 11/28/2011, 08:03 AM

My tank has been running for 3 weeks now and every day the pH ranges from 8.14 (day) to 7.76(night). I know i want the pH to be stable but I do not know if this is an swing is to large. My dkh is 10 and my Ca is 460. Anyone with any insight? Should i try to raise it a little? I have some sodium bicarb laying around i could try to raise it a little? Good or bad idea?

I also have a Ca reactor that is currently offline and now i am afraid when i do use it, that it will make my pH even lower? Any advice on how to use this? Thanks again

bnumair · 11/28/2011, 08:08 AM

7.76-8.14 is a very acceptable range and is not that much of a swing mine swings in same ranges or sometimes even lower to 7.6 depending on Co2 usage in cal reactor. i wouldnt worry about that swing. sodium bicarb will increase dkh.

Waddleboy · 11/28/2011, 08:17 AM

thanks for the quick response. so that works for reef and fish as that is what the tank will eventually be. And just leave it alone and do try to add kalk or anything to raise the pH correct?

Bens_Reef · 11/28/2011, 08:23 AM

i think as long as everything is happy and your dKH is good your PH level shouldnt be a problem. i dont even test mine unless my Ca or dKH is out of whack

Sugar Magnolia · 11/28/2011, 08:35 AM

It's normal for pH to swing. It will be lowest in the morning and will reach it's highest in the evening. Some people have used the option of running the refugium light on an opposite light schedule to the display to keep the pH swing to a minimum.

Waddleboy · 11/28/2011, 09:25 AM

I figured a swing is normal. I am getting chaeto on wed to hopefully help reduce the swing and running refugium on opposite light cycles. The only thing i guess i was worried about was i have no live stock in so i dont know if anything is happy i was more concerned that stuff will be happy

Sk8r · 11/28/2011, 10:05 AM

Track alkalinity instead of ph: it's more reliable as a water quality marker.

Waddleboy · 11/28/2011, 10:25 AM

my alkalinity has been stable at 10 so i am still okay to say that the pH is normal and stable

Bens_Reef · 11/28/2011, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waddleboy

The only thing i guess i was worried about was i have no live stock in so i dont know if anything is happy i was more concerned that stuff will be happy

you are certainly on the right path trying to figure everything out before putting anything in there

11/28/2011, 08:03 AM	#1
Waddleboy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 766	pH Swing.. is this normal My tank has been running for 3 weeks now and every day the pH ranges from 8.14 (day) to 7.76(night). I know i want the pH to be stable but I do not know if this is an swing is to large. My dkh is 10 and my Ca is 460. Anyone with any insight? Should i try to raise it a little? I have some sodium bicarb laying around i could try to raise it a little? Good or bad idea? I also have a Ca reactor that is currently offline and now i am afraid when i do use it, that it will make my pH even lower? Any advice on how to use this? Thanks again

11/28/2011, 08:08 AM	#2
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	7.76-8.14 is a very acceptable range and is not that much of a swing mine swings in same ranges or sometimes even lower to 7.6 depending on Co2 usage in cal reactor. i wouldnt worry about that swing. sodium bicarb will increase dkh. __________________ 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

11/28/2011, 08:23 AM	#4
Bens_Reef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 324	i think as long as everything is happy and your dKH is good your PH level shouldnt be a problem. i dont even test mine unless my Ca or dKH is out of whack __________________ Briareum sp., Zoanthus sp., Caulastrea furcata, Protopalythoa sp., Capnella sp., Galaxea spp., Anthelia sp., Euphyllia paranchora 6-Line Wrasse Current Tank Info: 40g Reef/20g Sump/Fuge, 80# LR and 120 Watt LED 460nm 14k PH-8.3, NO3-10-15, PO4-0, dKH-7, Ca-500, Mg-1440, SG-1.026, 77.2-78.2 F

11/28/2011, 08:35 AM	#5
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	It's normal for pH to swing. It will be lowest in the morning and will reach it's highest in the evening. Some people have used the option of running the refugium light on an opposite light schedule to the display to keep the pH swing to a minimum. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

11/28/2011, 10:05 AM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Track alkalinity instead of ph: it's more reliable as a water quality marker. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

11/28/2011, 08:17 AM	#3
Waddleboy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 766	thanks for the quick response. so that works for reef and fish as that is what the tank will eventually be. And just leave it alone and do try to add kalk or anything to raise the pH correct?

11/28/2011, 09:25 AM	#6
Waddleboy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 766	I figured a swing is normal. I am getting chaeto on wed to hopefully help reduce the swing and running refugium on opposite light cycles. The only thing i guess i was worried about was i have no live stock in so i dont know if anything is happy i was more concerned that stuff will be happy

11/28/2011, 10:25 AM	#8
Waddleboy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 766	my alkalinity has been stable at 10 so i am still okay to say that the pH is normal and stable

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