should I worry pH when hypo?

viodea · 03/18/2008, 03:49 PM

Should I keep checking pH when hypo QT new fish?

brians4671 · 03/18/2008, 07:42 PM

depends what your ph is.

bertoni · 03/18/2008, 08:14 PM

I would watch it. Fish will tolerate low pH fairly well, though. A low pH might be a sign of poor aeration leading to the buildup of carbon dioxide and the depletion of oxygen.

viodea · 03/19/2008, 07:13 AM

I didn't know. I'm lowering my SG slowly now. I guess I'll check my pH next time.
I'm just curious why people only mention SG but not pH when talk about hypo. On the other hand, most see pH as a very important parameter in water quality and acclimation.

reefergeorge · 03/19/2008, 02:36 PM

I have heard that ph drops when in hypo, because the water looses its buffering ability.
In my experience I have not seen this, but my tap is always over 8.0.

slider162 · 03/19/2008, 02:38 PM

Yes, you need to pay much closer attention to PH in hypo.

brians4671 · 03/19/2008, 03:25 PM

huh i thought ph was your buffering capability

kevin2000 · 03/19/2008, 03:29 PM

Hypo salinity uses 2/3'rd less salt water then normal tanks ... that means you have 2/3'rd less buffer than a std tank and they are prone to PH instability. When running a hypo tank you need to increase the alkalinity to std. to support PH stability.

viodea · 03/19/2008, 03:57 PM

Does it mean I need to add supplement to my QT? I want to do as little as possible to my QT to avoid any stupid mistake.

kevin2000 · 03/19/2008, 05:17 PM

A bit of baking soda will raise your alkalinity ... purchase an alk test kit and raise your hypo Qt to std reef norms (2.5-4.0 meg/l)

viodea · 03/19/2008, 09:57 PM

thanks guys!!!!

03/18/2008, 03:49 PM	#1
viodea Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 520	should I worry pH when hypo? Should I keep checking pH when hypo QT new fish?

03/18/2008, 08:14 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I would watch it. Fish will tolerate low pH fairly well, though. A low pH might be a sign of poor aeration leading to the buildup of carbon dioxide and the depletion of oxygen. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/19/2008, 02:36 PM	#5
reefergeorge Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 4,222	I have heard that ph drops when in hypo, because the water looses its buffering ability. In my experience I have not seen this, but my tap is always over 8.0. __________________ $35-50 for a <1" frag of some stupid named thing that came from a colony you bought for $40-60 wholesale and chopped into 20-40 pieces? No thanks. "JasonH" Current Tank Info: 125 aggressive reef, DIY led lighting, swc cone skimmer, 33 gallon sump, posiden Ps3 return.

03/18/2008, 07:42 PM	#2
brians4671 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: miami fl Posts: 2,088	depends what your ph is.

03/19/2008, 07:13 AM	#4
viodea Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 520	I didn't know. I'm lowering my SG slowly now. I guess I'll check my pH next time. I'm just curious why people only mention SG but not pH when talk about hypo. On the other hand, most see pH as a very important parameter in water quality and acclimation.

03/19/2008, 02:38 PM	#6
slider162 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Orange City, FL Posts: 346	Yes, you need to pay much closer attention to PH in hypo.

03/19/2008, 03:25 PM	#7
brians4671 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: miami fl Posts: 2,088	huh i thought ph was your buffering capability

03/19/2008, 03:29 PM	#8
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	Hypo salinity uses 2/3'rd less salt water then normal tanks ... that means you have 2/3'rd less buffer than a std tank and they are prone to PH instability. When running a hypo tank you need to increase the alkalinity to std. to support PH stability.

03/19/2008, 03:57 PM	#9
viodea Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 520	Does it mean I need to add supplement to my QT? I want to do as little as possible to my QT to avoid any stupid mistake.

03/19/2008, 05:17 PM	#10
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	A bit of baking soda will raise your alkalinity ... purchase an alk test kit and raise your hypo Qt to std reef norms (2.5-4.0 meg/l)

03/19/2008, 09:57 PM	#11
viodea Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 520	thanks guys!!!!