pH Issues

droppindeuce · 02/11/2006, 10:27 AM

OK guys I just got a pinpoint pH monitor. I have a little issue. During daylight my pH is 7.9, a little low. Night time readings are 7.7. I have never tried to raise pH before. Do any of you have any suggestions? Please advise.

Oceanblue · 02/11/2006, 10:34 AM

I may be corrected on here but i had the same problem and i used i believe seachems PH buffer and my PH has been at 8.3 since i have been using it. I only started using this last week. I had this problem for a months b4 correcting it.

blue

WorldNation · 02/11/2006, 10:37 AM

i believe its natural for the ph to drop during night time

Oceanblue · 02/11/2006, 10:49 AM

Is this a reef tank or a fish only tank? How long has your tank been set up for? Finaly What kinds of corals are in this tank if you have them?

droppindeuce · 02/11/2006, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oceanblue
Is this a reef tank or a fish only tank? How long has your tank been set up for? Finaly What kinds of corals are in this tank if you have them?

This is a reef tank and has been up and running for two years. I have a mixture of LPS, SPS and softies.

1SickReefer · 02/11/2006, 11:50 AM

Buffers are really a bad way to correct low PH issues. You need to find out what is driving it down, indoor air? try more areation with outside air. this helped for me I went from 7.8 to 8.0 with just a small air pump in basement to deliver air to my durso intake (same one that feeds my skimmer) . It would rise even further if I could put that same pump outside to draw in fresh air. but i live in a townhouse and I too worried of someone spraying something nearby.

Next best thing besides more airation is a kalk drip to match evap.

I got all this info from Randys forum, if your having problems like this is bes to read his low PH article found here

Low pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm

What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm

Best of luck

ufans · 02/11/2006, 01:01 PM

Most Importantly... Test your Alk before you do anything to correct low pH.

The typical causes of low pH are low Alk and/or high Co2. Here is a link that talks about high Co2.
Indoor CO2 Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...r2002/short.htm

Be sure to read all of Randy's articles
Solutions to pH Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...ne2002/chem.htm

A Comparison of pH Calibration Buffers
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-02/rhf/index.htm

corals b 4 bills · 02/11/2006, 01:56 PM

Surface aggitation will help with gas exchange, and yes, kick up the oxygen levels.

droppindeuce · 02/11/2006, 02:42 PM

Thanks guys. I have a lot of surface aggitation already. Last I checked my Alk levels were fine. I am not one for buffers either. Maybe I'll try the two part solution from Randy?

ufans · 02/11/2006, 04:14 PM

If you Alk is <3meq/L then add baking soda to increase it. Here is a calculator to determine the concentration
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

If your Alk is >3meq/L then you probably have a CO2 problem. To test this take a cup of your water outside and aerate for an hour. If the pH rises then that is the problem. The best lasting way IMO to compensate for a CO2 problem is to dose Kalkwasser.

I use to have pH between 7.7 and 7.9 but after a few months of dosing Kalk my pH stays between 8.2 and 8.3.

droppindeuce · 02/11/2006, 09:31 PM

I actually tested my Alk and it was very low. I will have to fix that issue first and go from there. Thanks for the help everyone.

02/11/2006, 10:27 AM	#1
droppindeuce Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Cleveland, TN Posts: 198	pH Issues OK guys I just got a pinpoint pH monitor. I have a little issue. During daylight my pH is 7.9, a little low. Night time readings are 7.7. I have never tried to raise pH before. Do any of you have any suggestions? Please advise.

02/11/2006, 10:34 AM	#2
Oceanblue Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 91	same problem I may be corrected on here but i had the same problem and i used i believe seachems PH buffer and my PH has been at 8.3 since i have been using it. I only started using this last week. I had this problem for a months b4 correcting it. blue

02/11/2006, 10:49 AM	#4
Oceanblue Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 91	Reef tank? Is this a reef tank or a fish only tank? How long has your tank been set up for? Finaly What kinds of corals are in this tank if you have them?

02/11/2006, 01:56 PM	#8
corals b 4 bills Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Belmont). Posts: 2,381	Surface aggitation will help with gas exchange, and yes, kick up the oxygen levels. __________________ Reefkeeper - (ref-ke-per) n: Individual obsessed with placing disturbing amounts of electricity and seawater in close proximity for the purpose of maintaining live coral reef organisms. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon Bio Cube, HQI 150 watt Nanotuner~Vortech MP10W ES~Arctica Chiller~AC II~Tunze Osmolator ATO~ Tunze 9002 skimmer W/In Tank Cup~ Korallin Reactor W/PH Monitor~ Korallin Denitrator~APC Back-up~Phosban/Carbon Reactor.

02/11/2006, 10:37 AM	#3
WorldNation Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 463	i believe its natural for the ph to drop during night time

02/11/2006, 11:50 AM	#6
1SickReefer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Perryville, MD Posts: 1,048	Buffers are really a bad way to correct low PH issues. You need to find out what is driving it down, indoor air? try more areation with outside air. this helped for me I went from 7.8 to 8.0 with just a small air pump in basement to deliver air to my durso intake (same one that feeds my skimmer) . It would rise even further if I could put that same pump outside to draw in fresh air. but i live in a townhouse and I too worried of someone spraying something nearby. Next best thing besides more airation is a kalk drip to match evap. I got all this info from Randys forum, if your having problems like this is bes to read his low PH article found here Low pH: Causes and Cures http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm Best of luck

02/11/2006, 01:01 PM	#7
ufans Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Fairfax Station, VA Posts: 681	Most Importantly... Test your Alk before you do anything to correct low pH. The typical causes of low pH are low Alk and/or high Co2. Here is a link that talks about high Co2. Indoor CO2 Problems http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...r2002/short.htm Be sure to read all of Randy's articles Solutions to pH Problems http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...ne2002/chem.htm A Comparison of pH Calibration Buffers http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-02/rhf/index.htm

02/11/2006, 02:42 PM	#9
droppindeuce Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Cleveland, TN Posts: 198	Thanks guys. I have a lot of surface aggitation already. Last I checked my Alk levels were fine. I am not one for buffers either. Maybe I'll try the two part solution from Randy?

02/11/2006, 04:14 PM	#10
ufans Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Fairfax Station, VA Posts: 681	If you Alk is <3meq/L then add baking soda to increase it. Here is a calculator to determine the concentration http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html If your Alk is >3meq/L then you probably have a CO2 problem. To test this take a cup of your water outside and aerate for an hour. If the pH rises then that is the problem. The best lasting way IMO to compensate for a CO2 problem is to dose Kalkwasser. I use to have pH between 7.7 and 7.9 but after a few months of dosing Kalk my pH stays between 8.2 and 8.3.

02/11/2006, 09:31 PM	#11
droppindeuce Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Cleveland, TN Posts: 198	I actually tested my Alk and it was very low. I will have to fix that issue first and go from there. Thanks for the help everyone.