pH @ 7.8, too low?

jimrawr · 01/30/2007, 01:15 PM

Is 7.8 acceptable or is it a bit too low? Can I just use baking soda to raise it, and if so how much should be used in a 30g cube??

Right now I have one T.P Clown, a bunch of SPS coral, and one LPS (plate). Also have a mix of about 19 snails

thanks

cristhiam · 01/30/2007, 01:26 PM

it's low but what time of the day did you take the reading? my goes from 7.9 in the morning to 8.4 at the end of the day before lights goes out. You can use baked baking soda, just baking soda will bring it down. I top off 24/7 with limewater that helps with my ph.

jimrawr · 01/30/2007, 01:28 PM

Reading was taken right when I posted so about 2pm EST, lights were on for 4 hours.

How much baked baking soda would be needed, and is it safe for the fish?

papagimp · 01/30/2007, 01:30 PM

If you have high levels of CO2 in the house, and subsequently in the tank, will keep PH low like that, and from what I've read, baking soda and other similar products will not help with this. My pH stays about 7.8 all the time, no matter what I do. So I leave it alone and my tank still thrives. Good growth on corals and my fish seem happier than ever.

You can use Arm and Hammer baking soda, it's safe, when you go to the store and buy up the ALK supplements, what do you think they are using

. Just try to dissolve it in a cup of tankwater before adding. Don't want to spread powder around the tank or anything.

Waterbury Guy · 01/30/2007, 01:50 PM

I've never been able to get mine much above 7.8 either. Occasionally it will get up to 8.0. Everything is doing well.

cristhiam · 01/30/2007, 01:50 PM

Check the chemistry forum for the calculator of how much to add and go slow. Just be carefull if you overdose it your calc will drop and it's not good for some corals. It will also raise alk. Bebore you do anything read Randy's articles to understand better between PH, Alk, Calc and MG

drummereef · 01/30/2007, 02:06 PM

Here's the calculator and an article about causes of low pH.

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm

Warnberg · 01/30/2007, 02:55 PM

I would suggest something a little differant here. If you do use baking soda be sure to BAKE it first, 325 for 1 hour should sufice, this will drive off the excess CO2 and help raise pH.
What I would suggest you do is first test to see if you have high CO2 levels, take a little tank water and aireate it for 1 hour, then test it's pH. If it has risen substantially then you know it's a CO2 level issue in the house. Open a few windows (if possible) for a little while to drive out the CO2.
If that is not possible I like to use limewater (aka Kalkwrasser) to topoff my tank, this also helps maintain pH. So you could get yourself some of the marine kalkwrasser powder and use a little of it in about a gallon of RO/DI water (be sure it settles before dripping in tank) or some stores carry Mrs. Wages Pickling lime, it's the same stuff, just a little bit in a gallon of RO/DI water, mix well, wait for water to clear then drip in sump.

FYI, it is typical for pH to drop in tank during the winter months, we have a tendacy to keep our homes more closed up which in turn drives up the CO2 levels.

Good Luck

akrimmel · 01/30/2007, 03:21 PM

as well check the chemistry forum but PH levels always dip at night so dont test then.

papagimp · 01/30/2007, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Warnberg
first test to see if you have high CO2 levels, take a little tank water and aireate it for 1 hour, then test it's pH.

This is good advice, but aerate it outside, not inside, or you'll just be pumping the co2 rich air right back into it.

01/30/2007, 01:15 PM	#1
jimrawr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Palm Beach County, FL Posts: 1,887	pH @ 7.8, too low? Is 7.8 acceptable or is it a bit too low? Can I just use baking soda to raise it, and if so how much should be used in a 30g cube?? Right now I have one T.P Clown, a bunch of SPS coral, and one LPS (plate). Also have a mix of about 19 snails thanks

01/30/2007, 01:26 PM	#2
cristhiam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Groveland, FL Posts: 3,099	it's low but what time of the day did you take the reading? my goes from 7.9 in the morning to 8.4 at the end of the day before lights goes out. You can use baked baking soda, just baking soda will bring it down. I top off 24/7 with limewater that helps with my ph. __________________ 2 yellows tail damsels, yellow watchman goby, tail spot blennie, purple pseudocromis, starry blennie, 2 clowns, 1 black clown, mandarine & Yellow tang Current Tank Info: 125 AGA, 3 40W 6500K, 3 110W URI Actinics, running on 2 IceCaps 660, CSS125

01/30/2007, 01:28 PM	#3
jimrawr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Palm Beach County, FL Posts: 1,887	Reading was taken right when I posted so about 2pm EST, lights were on for 4 hours. How much baked baking soda would be needed, and is it safe for the fish? __________________ Tank Info: 75g, 40g Sump, AquaMaxx Skimmer, Two Tunze 6095, ATI 8x52", Bubble Magus Dosing Pump, Apex Controller, Tunze ATO.

01/30/2007, 01:30 PM	#4
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	If you have high levels of CO2 in the house, and subsequently in the tank, will keep PH low like that, and from what I've read, baking soda and other similar products will not help with this. My pH stays about 7.8 all the time, no matter what I do. So I leave it alone and my tank still thrives. Good growth on corals and my fish seem happier than ever. You can use Arm and Hammer baking soda, it's safe, when you go to the store and buy up the ALK supplements, what do you think they are using . Just try to dissolve it in a cup of tankwater before adding. Don't want to spread powder around the tank or anything. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

01/30/2007, 01:50 PM	#6
cristhiam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Groveland, FL Posts: 3,099	Check the chemistry forum for the calculator of how much to add and go slow. Just be carefull if you overdose it your calc will drop and it's not good for some corals. It will also raise alk. Bebore you do anything read Randy's articles to understand better between PH, Alk, Calc and MG __________________ 2 yellows tail damsels, yellow watchman goby, tail spot blennie, purple pseudocromis, starry blennie, 2 clowns, 1 black clown, mandarine & Yellow tang Current Tank Info: 125 AGA, 3 40W 6500K, 3 110W URI Actinics, running on 2 IceCaps 660, CSS125

01/30/2007, 01:50 PM	#5
Waterbury Guy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vermont Posts: 582	I've never been able to get mine much above 7.8 either. Occasionally it will get up to 8.0. Everything is doing well.

01/30/2007, 02:06 PM	#7
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Here's the calculator and an article about causes of low pH. http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

01/30/2007, 02:55 PM	#8
Warnberg Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 1,366	I would suggest something a little differant here. If you do use baking soda be sure to BAKE it first, 325 for 1 hour should sufice, this will drive off the excess CO2 and help raise pH. What I would suggest you do is first test to see if you have high CO2 levels, take a little tank water and aireate it for 1 hour, then test it's pH. If it has risen substantially then you know it's a CO2 level issue in the house. Open a few windows (if possible) for a little while to drive out the CO2. If that is not possible I like to use limewater (aka Kalkwrasser) to topoff my tank, this also helps maintain pH. So you could get yourself some of the marine kalkwrasser powder and use a little of it in about a gallon of RO/DI water (be sure it settles before dripping in tank) or some stores carry Mrs. Wages Pickling lime, it's the same stuff, just a little bit in a gallon of RO/DI water, mix well, wait for water to clear then drip in sump. FYI, it is typical for pH to drop in tank during the winter months, we have a tendacy to keep our homes more closed up which in turn drives up the CO2 levels. Good Luck

01/30/2007, 03:21 PM	#9
akrimmel Moved On Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: HAZELWOOD, MO Posts: 2,260	as well check the chemistry forum but PH levels always dip at night so dont test then.