Low pH and excess amphipods

t1a1c1h · 01/20/2016, 05:52 AM

Hi. Two unrelated issues are cropping up in our tank, its been running for about 4 months now. Firstly we don't seem to ever get a pH above 7.8, I cant work out why and we don't want to be adding buffers oranything if we can help it so does it really matter? The fish and soft corals are doing fine...... Second wehave hundreds of amphipods, literally everywhere you look you will see them crawling on the rock/sand/coral should we be doing something about it or just leave them be? Will they out compete the copepods we were hoping to encourage? Thanks.

homer1475 · 01/20/2016, 05:57 AM

Your PH is fine. Forget measuring it, instead measure alkalinity. If your ALK is in line, the PH will follow. Most reefers never measure PH and you'll see that sentiment through out this forum.

RedStangGA · 01/20/2016, 06:13 AM

+1. I mean, I measure it since I have an Apex lol!

As for the amphipods, depending on the size and current stock, you can always add a yellow wrasse. Peaceful addition who will feast on the pods. Need a non-coarse sand for it to sleep in though. Plenty of other pod predators out there too.

kmbyrnes · 01/21/2016, 07:03 AM

The pod population tends to be self limiting. Your tank is fairly new. If they bother you, get a wrasse as mentioned above. I would just let them be.

thegrun · 01/21/2016, 09:20 AM

I agree with the above posts, but out of curiosity how are you measuring your pH?

t1a1c1h · 01/22/2016, 05:50 AM

Thanks guys. pH measuring is with a salifert kit, I know the colours are a bit open to interpretation! Alk is 8.6 so pretty reasonable I think?

01/20/2016, 05:52 AM	#1
t1a1c1h Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Birmingham Posts: 31	Low pH and excess amphipods Hi. Two unrelated issues are cropping up in our tank, its been running for about 4 months now. Firstly we don't seem to ever get a pH above 7.8, I cant work out why and we don't want to be adding buffers oranything if we can help it so does it really matter? The fish and soft corals are doing fine...... Second wehave hundreds of amphipods, literally everywhere you look you will see them crawling on the rock/sand/coral should we be doing something about it or just leave them be? Will they out compete the copepods we were hoping to encourage? Thanks.

01/20/2016, 05:57 AM	#2
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Your PH is fine. Forget measuring it, instead measure alkalinity. If your ALK is in line, the PH will follow. Most reefers never measure PH and you'll see that sentiment through out this forum. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

01/20/2016, 06:13 AM	#3
RedStangGA Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Winter Garden, FL Posts: 1,052	+1. I mean, I measure it since I have an Apex lol! As for the amphipods, depending on the size and current stock, you can always add a yellow wrasse. Peaceful addition who will feast on the pods. Need a non-coarse sand for it to sleep in though. Plenty of other pod predators out there too. __________________ Marineland 220, Marineland 60 Cube

01/21/2016, 07:03 AM	#4
kmbyrnes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 2,055	The pod population tends to be self limiting. Your tank is fairly new. If they bother you, get a wrasse as mentioned above. I would just let them be. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef 5/26/2015; 350 Butterfly Dominated FOWLR 11/26/2015 - 11/17/20217 & 07/31/18 to ??? ; 100g Mixed Reef 11/16/2013 to 06/16/2017 Current Tank Info: Too small

01/21/2016, 09:20 AM	#5
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I agree with the above posts, but out of curiosity how are you measuring your pH?

01/22/2016, 05:50 AM	#6
t1a1c1h Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Birmingham Posts: 31	Thanks guys. pH measuring is with a salifert kit, I know the colours are a bit open to interpretation! Alk is 8.6 so pretty reasonable I think?