pH vs Temperature Fluctuations?

roberttoronto · 10/09/2016, 09:45 AM

Hi everybody! I was having pH fluctuations like many of you b/w day and night. Recently, I was experimenting to overcome it by manipulating temperature codes on Apex controller. I decided to lower temperature 0.5 F every night which lead pH increase by using virtual outlets. Since, at nights pH is normally decreasing, these increase and decrease resulted stable pH. However, obviously, now I have 0.5 F temperature fluctuation. I am wondering which one is more desirable compared to other. having more stable pH with temperature fluctuations or having more stable temperature with pH fluctuations? I know some of you will say both of them are not desirable. So, please consider it as you have only two option. It would be really great if some of you can give real life examples, like ocean conditions. Thanks!

mcgyvr · 10/09/2016, 12:23 PM

most would recommend not chasing or worrying about PH at all..
Worry about keeping a stable salinity/cal/alk/mag and everything else just falls into place..
A .5 deg temp fluctuation is also nothing to worry about either..
Mine probably swings 3-4 deg F or more a day (heat from lights,etc..)

Timfish · 10/09/2016, 12:29 PM

+1 Temps on reefs can vary by several degrees daily. Some of the research looking at what corals will tolerate show calcification is highest at a pH of 7.84 and corals can have more zooxanthellae, chlorophyll and protein at a pH of 7.5 than at 8.1.

AboutAcans · 10/09/2016, 12:53 PM

It's gonna drop at night. That's pH. RedOx can nudge it a bit in my experience, and even help with night time absorption of elements. That's like a UV sterilizer and what not.

10/09/2016, 09:45 AM	#1
roberttoronto Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 6	pH vs Temperature Fluctuations? Hi everybody! I was having pH fluctuations like many of you b/w day and night. Recently, I was experimenting to overcome it by manipulating temperature codes on Apex controller. I decided to lower temperature 0.5 F every night which lead pH increase by using virtual outlets. Since, at nights pH is normally decreasing, these increase and decrease resulted stable pH. However, obviously, now I have 0.5 F temperature fluctuation. I am wondering which one is more desirable compared to other. having more stable pH with temperature fluctuations or having more stable temperature with pH fluctuations? I know some of you will say both of them are not desirable. So, please consider it as you have only two option. It would be really great if some of you can give real life examples, like ocean conditions. Thanks!

10/09/2016, 12:23 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	most would recommend not chasing or worrying about PH at all.. Worry about keeping a stable salinity/cal/alk/mag and everything else just falls into place.. A .5 deg temp fluctuation is also nothing to worry about either.. Mine probably swings 3-4 deg F or more a day (heat from lights,etc..) __________________ Who me?

10/09/2016, 12:29 PM	#3
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	+1 Temps on reefs can vary by several degrees daily. Some of the research looking at what corals will tolerate show calcification is highest at a pH of 7.84 and corals can have more zooxanthellae, chlorophyll and protein at a pH of 7.5 than at 8.1. __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

10/09/2016, 12:53 PM	#4
AboutAcans Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Castle Rock, CO Posts: 142	It's gonna drop at night. That's pH. RedOx can nudge it a bit in my experience, and even help with night time absorption of elements. That's like a UV sterilizer and what not.