Ph going down fast

traderdan · 10/27/2016, 07:39 PM

I just put the live rock and live sand in my tank today to start the cycle. My ph has gone from 8.3 to 7.91 in about an hour. Do I need to be doing something here?
Thanks.

Skyjacker07 · 10/27/2016, 08:20 PM

Eh; I always let it ride, you just started don't worry too much about ph, as long as you acclimate everything slowly they'll adapt, my ph fluctuates through out the day from 7.81 to 8.04 all of my coral and fish seem fine.

schnebbles · 10/27/2016, 09:16 PM

Is pH something that needs monitored immediately? I just started mine as well and I was only going to check the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate til it's cycled.

Walla2GSP · 10/27/2016, 09:41 PM

pH changes throughout the day, and is not super critical unless you have a large swing or it stays at one extreme or the other for long periods. If it stays below 7.8 for more than a week, you may need to add some more dry rock or aragonite substrate with a little higher pH to help buffer. When I first started I tried to dose pH, but it just caused large pH swings and never stayed where I wanted for more than a couple days.

mcgyvr · 10/28/2016, 05:12 AM

ph is just something that you usually don't need to worry about..
It will take care of itself.. Its fine..

rocsec1 · 10/28/2016, 06:17 AM

How are you monitoring it. I had a high swing yesterday and got worried. When got home I found the probe had been pushed out the water by a pipe I was dry fitting. I thought it was put of the way, but it wasn't.

traderdan · 10/28/2016, 06:35 PM

I'm using a pinpoint. I just checked to make sure it was in water. It's been holding at 7.9. So we will see. Thank you everyone for your help.

Bugboy2020 · 10/28/2016, 08:44 PM

Just a little explanation -
All of the dying stuff inside the bag is being broken down by the bacteria, which lowers the Ph. You then put the live sand into your tank, which lowers your tank water. With filtration(And a larger area, not to mention full of stuff NOT dying) it will rise over time.
But basically, you have a low Ph from the cycle kicking off

Sonyardo · 10/28/2016, 10:11 PM

In my experience, Ph is a number worth monitoring, but not worth chasing. If it's consistently lower then 7.8 or so, then you may want to take a closer look at the issue. Other then that I wouldn't give it a second thought. Chasing Ph can Train-wreck your tank.

10/27/2016, 07:39 PM	#1
traderdan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Portage, IN Posts: 306	Ph going down fast I just put the live rock and live sand in my tank today to start the cycle. My ph has gone from 8.3 to 7.91 in about an hour. Do I need to be doing something here? Thanks.

10/28/2016, 05:12 AM	#5
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	ph is just something that you usually don't need to worry about.. It will take care of itself.. Its fine.. __________________ Who me?

10/27/2016, 08:20 PM	#2
Skyjacker07 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 26	Eh; I always let it ride, you just started don't worry too much about ph, as long as you acclimate everything slowly they'll adapt, my ph fluctuates through out the day from 7.81 to 8.04 all of my coral and fish seem fine.

10/27/2016, 09:16 PM	#3
schnebbles Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 475	Is pH something that needs monitored immediately? I just started mine as well and I was only going to check the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate til it's cycled.

10/27/2016, 09:41 PM	#4
Walla2GSP Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Out here Posts: 201	pH changes throughout the day, and is not super critical unless you have a large swing or it stays at one extreme or the other for long periods. If it stays below 7.8 for more than a week, you may need to add some more dry rock or aragonite substrate with a little higher pH to help buffer. When I first started I tried to dose pH, but it just caused large pH swings and never stayed where I wanted for more than a couple days.

10/28/2016, 06:17 AM	#6
rocsec1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Medina oh Posts: 1,782	How are you monitoring it. I had a high swing yesterday and got worried. When got home I found the probe had been pushed out the water by a pipe I was dry fitting. I thought it was put of the way, but it wasn't.

10/28/2016, 06:35 PM	#7
traderdan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Portage, IN Posts: 306	I'm using a pinpoint. I just checked to make sure it was in water. It's been holding at 7.9. So we will see. Thank you everyone for your help.

10/28/2016, 08:44 PM	#8
Bugboy2020 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 127	Just a little explanation - All of the dying stuff inside the bag is being broken down by the bacteria, which lowers the Ph. You then put the live sand into your tank, which lowers your tank water. With filtration(And a larger area, not to mention full of stuff NOT dying) it will rise over time. But basically, you have a low Ph from the cycle kicking off

10/28/2016, 10:11 PM	#9
Sonyardo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: OC California Posts: 522	In my experience, Ph is a number worth monitoring, but not worth chasing. If it's consistently lower then 7.8 or so, then you may want to take a closer look at the issue. Other then that I wouldn't give it a second thought. Chasing Ph can Train-wreck your tank.