Ph drop in cycle

brianr24 · 04/07/2015, 09:47 AM

I'm in week four nitrite sky high.big surprise. But now my PH dropped to lowest chart color.I'm run air in tank with hose out window but I guess that doesn't work either wondering if I should put in buffer.

gone fishin · 04/07/2015, 09:51 AM

Personally I would not sweat the pH. let the tank cycle and once it is done the pH should be fine.

If you do add some buffer it will only temporarily raise the pH.

Kyle461 · 04/07/2015, 09:54 AM

Also a good water change at the end of the cycle will help stabilize the pH.

brianr24 · 04/07/2015, 09:59 AM

What about I thought bacteria wouldn't work efficiencently with PH crash?

gone fishin · 04/07/2015, 09:59 AM

I honestly do not know what the pH is in my tank. After we moved here and I set it back up 5 years ago I have never checked it.

brianr24 · 04/07/2015, 10:00 AM

So don't worry about it? I won't even test anymore.

brianr24 · 04/07/2015, 10:03 AM

Thx guys.

Sk8r · 04/07/2015, 10:16 AM

Ph is fairly meaningless in marine tanks. It's up and it's down. What you need is an alkalinity test kit, and you should use it weekly for the rest of the tank's life. Alk should ride around 8.3. What is measures has to do with the ph, but it is a far more accurate indicator of the tank's water situation. It relates to the water's ability to dissolve calcium, and magnesium. As long as there is sufficient magnesium in the water (about 1300), the alkalinity will stay locked at 8.3 and the calcium will lock nicely at 420. If that balance is good, the fish and corals are happy and your water is in balance.

There's a little piece called Dirt Simple Chemistry up above in the stickies (may be inside the SETTING UP file) that will explain that should it be just TMI right now.

brianr24 · 04/07/2015, 10:32 AM

Ya I have test and additives I was waiting for cycle to finish then large water change and take a little bit to get everything in line and tank to stabilize. But I wasn't worrying about it during. Cycle. But I was watching PH. Thx for info.

04/07/2015, 09:47 AM	#1
brianr24 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: P.A. Posts: 256	Ph drop in cycle I'm in week four nitrite sky high.big surprise. But now my PH dropped to lowest chart color.I'm run air in tank with hose out window but I guess that doesn't work either wondering if I should put in buffer.

04/07/2015, 09:51 AM	#2
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	Personally I would not sweat the pH. let the tank cycle and once it is done the pH should be fine. If you do add some buffer it will only temporarily raise the pH. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

04/07/2015, 09:54 AM	#3
Kyle461 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 438	Also a good water change at the end of the cycle will help stabilize the pH. __________________ Nadie me paga en chicles!! Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2485917 Current Tank Info: 40 gallon breeder (2/17/15); 20L 3-chamber sump; Tunze Nano ATO; Hydor 320gph return and Circulation 850 gph; Coralife Super Skimmer 125 G; Marineland 24"-36" Reef LED

04/07/2015, 09:59 AM	#5
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	I honestly do not know what the pH is in my tank. After we moved here and I set it back up 5 years ago I have never checked it. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

04/07/2015, 10:16 AM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Ph is fairly meaningless in marine tanks. It's up and it's down. What you need is an alkalinity test kit, and you should use it weekly for the rest of the tank's life. Alk should ride around 8.3. What is measures has to do with the ph, but it is a far more accurate indicator of the tank's water situation. It relates to the water's ability to dissolve calcium, and magnesium. As long as there is sufficient magnesium in the water (about 1300), the alkalinity will stay locked at 8.3 and the calcium will lock nicely at 420. If that balance is good, the fish and corals are happy and your water is in balance. There's a little piece called Dirt Simple Chemistry up above in the stickies (may be inside the SETTING UP file) that will explain that should it be just TMI right now. __________________ 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%.

04/07/2015, 10:00 AM	#6
brianr24 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: P.A. Posts: 256	So don't worry about it? I won't even test anymore.

04/07/2015, 10:03 AM	#7
brianr24 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: P.A. Posts: 256	Thx guys.

04/07/2015, 10:32 AM	#9
brianr24 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: P.A. Posts: 256	Ya I have test and additives I was waiting for cycle to finish then large water change and take a little bit to get everything in line and tank to stabilize. But I wasn't worrying about it during. Cycle. But I was watching PH. Thx for info.