Low PH... A possible solution...Your thoughts

plyle02 · 04/01/2009, 09:02 AM

My tank sits in front of a window, and in my 1st sump, my skimmer sits about 3' from that window. I have been battling low ph, especially as the weather in FL is heating up, so opening the windows or sliding glass door to the room where my tank is does not happen as frequently.
So, I had a thought today, why don't I cut a small hole in the screen, feed some ridged air line tubing through it, close the window, less than the gap required for the tubing, and allow my skimmer to pull fresh air in...

Do you think it will work and elevate the ph level? I am currently running at 7.8 during non-lit hours, and 8.0 during lit hours. I would like to be more like 8.0 non-lit vs 8.2 lit hours...

I was thinking of using a kalkwasser drip, but really am happy using 2 part for CA/ALK supplementation. Well, I guess I can answer my own questions through testing, but just wanted to see if anyone else out there has tried this, and provide some feedback.
Thanks!

plyle02 · 04/01/2009, 09:04 AM

LOL,
Christmas tree stand, April Fools... That was supposed to be sump, don't you just love RC funny tricks...lol...

plyle02 · 04/01/2009, 09:05 AM

OK,
twice now.... Alright, I meant S.U.M.P.
LMAO.......

LobsterOfJustice · 04/01/2009, 10:15 AM

Yes you can definitely do that, I have heard of feeding the skimmer from outside as a common way to raise pH. My tank is right in front of a window too, but I'm on the first floor of an apartment complex and my alarm wouldn't set if the window wasn't all the way closed. I started thinking about drilling through the window but had to stop myself.

plyle02 · 04/01/2009, 11:43 AM

Thanks Lobster!
Drilling the window, lol.... we will do anything to get our tanks right. I will report back any changes both visually and through testing.
Thanks

drummereef · 04/01/2009, 12:24 PM

Honestly 7.8-8.0 is an acceptable pH. I wouldn't be too worried about it. If you are keeping your Alk/Ca in balance everything will be fine. Getting fresh air to the skimmer would definitely help. Additives to raise pH are only a temporary solution in most cases.

plyle02 · 04/01/2009, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by drummereef
Honestly 7.8-8.0 is an acceptable pH. I wouldn't be too worried about it. If you are keeping your Alk/Ca in balance everything will be fine. Getting fresh air to the skimmer would definitely help. Additives to raise pH are only a temporary solution in most cases.

I hear ya, wasn't that worried, it could be coincidence, but seems my sps always had better PE and overall health, like I said could just be a coincidence.
I just tested ph and the value has jumped from 7.8 to 8.2. This test conducted several hours later after adding fresh air tube, 30 minutes after lights on, and with a new test kit I just picked up. So, all things considered, maybe it will get me to that desired sweet spot. I will continue to update with tested params... I will run another test later today and tomorrow before lights go on.
Thanks Again!

tatkinson · 04/01/2009, 01:45 PM

One thought on pulling air from outside- since you're in FL I'm sure they spray for mosquitos like they do here you may want to consider making a little in-line carbon canister so that when they fly over and spray for mosquitos they're not also bombing your tank.

plyle02 · 04/01/2009, 01:51 PM

Good point tatkinson....
Should be pretty easy to apply carbon... Thanks for the heads up!

04/01/2009, 09:02 AM	#1
plyle02 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lake Helen, FL Posts: 5,526	Low PH... A possible solution...Your thoughts My tank sits in front of a window, and in my 1st sump, my skimmer sits about 3' from that window. I have been battling low ph, especially as the weather in FL is heating up, so opening the windows or sliding glass door to the room where my tank is does not happen as frequently. So, I had a thought today, why don't I cut a small hole in the screen, feed some ridged air line tubing through it, close the window, less than the gap required for the tubing, and allow my skimmer to pull fresh air in... Do you think it will work and elevate the ph level? I am currently running at 7.8 during non-lit hours, and 8.0 during lit hours. I would like to be more like 8.0 non-lit vs 8.2 lit hours... I was thinking of using a kalkwasser drip, but really am happy using 2 part for CA/ALK supplementation. Well, I guess I can answer my own questions through testing, but just wanted to see if anyone else out there has tried this, and provide some feedback. Thanks! __________________ Perry "Anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die" ~Buddha~ Current Tank Info: 50 Gallon AIO Cube, Aquamaxx WS-1 Skimmer, LED/ Hybrid 4x24 watt t5

04/01/2009, 09:04 AM	#2
plyle02 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lake Helen, FL Posts: 5,526	LOL, Christmas tree stand, April Fools... That was supposed to be sump, don't you just love RC funny tricks...lol... __________________ Perry "Anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die" ~Buddha~ Current Tank Info: 50 Gallon AIO Cube, Aquamaxx WS-1 Skimmer, LED/ Hybrid 4x24 watt t5

04/01/2009, 09:05 AM	#3
plyle02 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lake Helen, FL Posts: 5,526	OK, twice now.... Alright, I meant S.U.M.P. LMAO....... __________________ Perry "Anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die" ~Buddha~ Current Tank Info: 50 Gallon AIO Cube, Aquamaxx WS-1 Skimmer, LED/ Hybrid 4x24 watt t5

04/01/2009, 10:15 AM	#4
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Yes you can definitely do that, I have heard of feeding the skimmer from outside as a common way to raise pH. My tank is right in front of a window too, but I'm on the first floor of an apartment complex and my alarm wouldn't set if the window wasn't all the way closed. I started thinking about drilling through the window but had to stop myself. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

04/01/2009, 11:43 AM	#5
plyle02 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lake Helen, FL Posts: 5,526	Thanks Lobster! Drilling the window, lol.... we will do anything to get our tanks right. I will report back any changes both visually and through testing. Thanks __________________ Perry "Anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die" ~Buddha~ Current Tank Info: 50 Gallon AIO Cube, Aquamaxx WS-1 Skimmer, LED/ Hybrid 4x24 watt t5

04/01/2009, 12:24 PM	#6
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Honestly 7.8-8.0 is an acceptable pH. I wouldn't be too worried about it. If you are keeping your Alk/Ca in balance everything will be fine. Getting fresh air to the skimmer would definitely help. Additives to raise pH are only a temporary solution in most cases. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system Last edited by drummereef; 04/01/2009 at 12:33 PM.

04/01/2009, 01:45 PM	#8
tatkinson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chas, SC Posts: 139	One thought on pulling air from outside- since you're in FL I'm sure they spray for mosquitos like they do here you may want to consider making a little in-line carbon canister so that when they fly over and spray for mosquitos they're not also bombing your tank.

04/01/2009, 01:51 PM	#9
plyle02 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lake Helen, FL Posts: 5,526	Good point tatkinson.... Should be pretty easy to apply carbon... Thanks for the heads up! __________________ Perry "Anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die" ~Buddha~ Current Tank Info: 50 Gallon AIO Cube, Aquamaxx WS-1 Skimmer, LED/ Hybrid 4x24 watt t5