Low pH query

kungfuteacher · 01/31/2014, 05:51 PM

Hello Reef Central

I have a 100g soon to become reef tank! It has been running for at least 5 years in various forms and currently hosts the following:

4 saddleback clowns and their host carpet anemone
1 regal tang
5 green chromis
1 skunk cleaner
2 peppermint shrimp
a variety of snails and a couple of hermits
a few polyps
a lot of mushrooms!
1 toadstool (large!)

My parameters are as following using JBL Testlab:

Temp: 26C
KH: 8 dKH
pH: 7.6 (taken after lights out - have cheato in sump with reverse light cycle)
NH4: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 20-50
Ca: 500 mg/l (salifert)
Mg: 1470 mg/l (salifert)

My tap water is very soft, but I use an RO filter. My salt is red sea coral pro.
I use a phosphate reactor and have skimmer running.

Is the pH a concern? If so, how do I go about correcting it?

Thanks for your advice

downbeach · 01/31/2014, 06:34 PM

I wouldn't worry about it. Any time of year the house is closed up due to the weather conditions, there will be elevated levels of CO2 in the household atmosphere, which having reached equilibrium with your system will cause lower levels of pH. As long as your other param's are within acceptable ranges it'll be fine. You could however use a CO2 scrubber on the air intake of your skimmer, or run an air line to an outside source of air, if practicable.

bundybear1981 · 01/31/2014, 07:53 PM

I won't concern with the pH too much. I rarely test pH levels, always test KH, calcium, mag, nitrates, salinity.

Also I would be worried about having 4 clowns in a tank. Once they mature/pair you'll end up with 2.

kungfuteacher · 02/01/2014, 05:14 AM

"Also I would be worried having 4 clowns in a tank. Once they mature/pair you'll end up with 2"

Thanks for your replies.

As far as the clowns are concerned, I am not in the least bit worried! I had a brief go at breeding my two mature clowns, and managed to get 7 babies. At the time I had no alternative (cant remember why) but to put 5 of them into a breeding chamber in the main tank (a bit like you would use for guppies). I come down the next morning, and 4 out of 5 had escaped the breeding chamber and set up camp with mum and dad as a nicely organised group hosted by nem. Anyway, they have their pecking order! I've sold 3 (well swapped them!) and have the mated pair and two juniors remaining.

I wouldn't advise having more than two clowns purposely, but they are quite settled.

01/31/2014, 05:51 PM	#1
kungfuteacher Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 4	Low pH query Hello Reef Central I have a 100g soon to become reef tank! It has been running for at least 5 years in various forms and currently hosts the following: 4 saddleback clowns and their host carpet anemone 1 regal tang 5 green chromis 1 skunk cleaner 2 peppermint shrimp a variety of snails and a couple of hermits a few polyps a lot of mushrooms! 1 toadstool (large!) My parameters are as following using JBL Testlab: Temp: 26C KH: 8 dKH pH: 7.6 (taken after lights out - have cheato in sump with reverse light cycle) NH4: 0 NO2: 0 NO3: 20-50 Ca: 500 mg/l (salifert) Mg: 1470 mg/l (salifert) My tap water is very soft, but I use an RO filter. My salt is red sea coral pro. I use a phosphate reactor and have skimmer running. Is the pH a concern? If so, how do I go about correcting it? Thanks for your advice

01/31/2014, 07:53 PM	#3
bundybear1981 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia Posts: 685 Blog Entries: 1	I won't concern with the pH too much. I rarely test pH levels, always test KH, calcium, mag, nitrates, salinity. Also I would be worried about having 4 clowns in a tank. Once they mature/pair you'll end up with 2. __________________ Tank inhabitants : 2x Clownfish, 1x Blue Koran, 1x Foxface Lo, 1xCoral Beauty, 1x Blue Tang, 1x Sailfin Tang Current Tank Info: New Build : 250g (6x3x2) with 2x RW15 pumps, 2x 2200lph return pumps, Tunze ATO, Jebao Dosing Pump, AquaOne G220 Skimmer

01/31/2014, 06:34 PM	#2
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	I wouldn't worry about it. Any time of year the house is closed up due to the weather conditions, there will be elevated levels of CO2 in the household atmosphere, which having reached equilibrium with your system will cause lower levels of pH. As long as your other param's are within acceptable ranges it'll be fine. You could however use a CO2 scrubber on the air intake of your skimmer, or run an air line to an outside source of air, if practicable.

02/01/2014, 05:14 AM	#4
kungfuteacher Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 4	"Also I would be worried having 4 clowns in a tank. Once they mature/pair you'll end up with 2" Thanks for your replies. As far as the clowns are concerned, I am not in the least bit worried! I had a brief go at breeding my two mature clowns, and managed to get 7 babies. At the time I had no alternative (cant remember why) but to put 5 of them into a breeding chamber in the main tank (a bit like you would use for guppies). I come down the next morning, and 4 out of 5 had escaped the breeding chamber and set up camp with mum and dad as a nicely organised group hosted by nem. Anyway, they have their pecking order! I've sold 3 (well swapped them!) and have the mated pair and two juniors remaining. I wouldn't advise having more than two clowns purposely, but they are quite settled.