pH issues...kind of weird

drock59 · 03/31/2006, 01:16 AM

Ok, I have been reading up on pH issues and ways to remedy them.

Let me begin by saying my alk is 10.2 dkh and has been constant for some time. My calcium is on the high side at 450-460. My pH got down to 7.79 today and I dont like it.

From what I have read this can be due to a build up of CO2 in the house. I opened up ALL the windows in the house for the whole day and my pH bumped up to 7.89. I am still not comfortable with this number. I would like to see something upwards of 8.2 as a little higher pH increases consumption/deposit of calcium=more growth, no?

I also dose limewater in my top off but it doesnt seem to help at all.

I am considering adding some macro algea but I wonder if this will help.

Any input on how to get my pH up would be greatly appreciated.

reg828 · 03/31/2006, 01:22 AM

how often you do water changes? i use kent marine superbuffer dkh. try using that to get your ph up and continue dosing kalk.

drock59 · 03/31/2006, 01:24 AM

i do weekly water changes and a large monthly.

Why would i dose buffer? That is only going to increase pH temporarily and raise my alk...which i dont want.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/31/2006, 06:40 AM

How are you measuring pH? have you recently calibrated the meter? What brand fluid?

I'd suggest trying the aeration tests in this article:

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

drock59 · 03/31/2006, 10:07 AM

randy I just calibrated both of my ph meters with pinpoing fluid. Also used the borax solution.

I did the aeration test and the ph whent from 7.79 to 7.88 just the same as the when I opened all the windows in the house.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/31/2006, 01:31 PM

Was that test with outside air or inside air?

drock59 · 03/31/2006, 01:34 PM

I put some water in a container and ran outside air through it with an air pump.

I also let some water sit outside for 12 hours, and pH rose about the same amount.

Now, Im pumping in outside air with the shop vac.

So, after this there should be little CO2 built up in the house. If pH does not rise what other options do I have.

Also, isnt it weird to be dosing limewater and not have the pH rise at all?

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/31/2006, 02:21 PM

Also, isnt it weird to be dosing limewater and not have the pH rise at all?

Well, yes, but you'd need to have two side by side tanks to see what ph you'd have without it.

So did you try the aeration test inside at all?

drock59 · 03/31/2006, 02:44 PM

No because the windows have been open in the house for a day and a half. Seems kind of silly.

I also forgot to mention that I have a Calc reactor, but my CO2 rate is very slow with one bubble every 6-7 seconds. Im sure this is part of the problem but I still would like to see my pH higher.

Will adding some macro help the pH situation?

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/31/2006, 04:32 PM

It might, but limewater and aeration are the primary ways that folks have success. Complete aeration with normal air will drive the pH above 8.2, assuming the alkalinity and pH calibration are correct.

drock59 · 03/31/2006, 09:06 PM

Ill continue to aerate the house and check the alk and calc. pH is currently 8.03 so it seems to be rising.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/01/2006, 06:56 AM

OK, sounds good.

drock59 · 04/02/2006, 05:51 PM

Alk is 10.8 dkh and calc is 440...pH is currently 7.89

This is becoming increasingly troubling to me. I have placed a fan in my sump area to help increase aeration. Anything else that I can do?

How about magnesium...does that have an impact on pH? I just tested and it was on the high side at 1440.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/03/2006, 05:20 AM

Air movement is not usually going to help much for water aeration. It is water movement that is needed. Magnesium won't impact pH .

03/31/2006, 01:16 AM	#1
drock59 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 3,802	pH issues...kind of weird Ok, I have been reading up on pH issues and ways to remedy them. Let me begin by saying my alk is 10.2 dkh and has been constant for some time. My calcium is on the high side at 450-460. My pH got down to 7.79 today and I dont like it. From what I have read this can be due to a build up of CO2 in the house. I opened up ALL the windows in the house for the whole day and my pH bumped up to 7.89. I am still not comfortable with this number. I would like to see something upwards of 8.2 as a little higher pH increases consumption/deposit of calcium=more growth, no? I also dose limewater in my top off but it doesnt seem to help at all. I am considering adding some macro algea but I wonder if this will help. Any input on how to get my pH up would be greatly appreciated. __________________ Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 93g Marineland cube. SPS dominated. Vortech mp40. 2 x AI sol super blues. SRO 2000 int skimmer. Mag 18 return. Korallin 1500 calcium reactor.

03/31/2006, 01:24 AM	#3
drock59 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 3,802	i do weekly water changes and a large monthly. Why would i dose buffer? That is only going to increase pH temporarily and raise my alk...which i dont want. __________________ Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 93g Marineland cube. SPS dominated. Vortech mp40. 2 x AI sol super blues. SRO 2000 int skimmer. Mag 18 return. Korallin 1500 calcium reactor.

03/31/2006, 06:40 AM	#4
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	How are you measuring pH? have you recently calibrated the meter? What brand fluid? I'd suggest trying the aeration tests in this article: Low pH: Causes and Cures http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/31/2006, 10:07 AM	#5
drock59 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 3,802	randy I just calibrated both of my ph meters with pinpoing fluid. Also used the borax solution. I did the aeration test and the ph whent from 7.79 to 7.88 just the same as the when I opened all the windows in the house. __________________ Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 93g Marineland cube. SPS dominated. Vortech mp40. 2 x AI sol super blues. SRO 2000 int skimmer. Mag 18 return. Korallin 1500 calcium reactor.

03/31/2006, 01:31 PM	#6
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Was that test with outside air or inside air? __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/31/2006, 01:22 AM	#2
reg828 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 320	how often you do water changes? i use kent marine superbuffer dkh. try using that to get your ph up and continue dosing kalk.

03/31/2006, 01:34 PM	#7
drock59 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 3,802	I put some water in a container and ran outside air through it with an air pump. I also let some water sit outside for 12 hours, and pH rose about the same amount. Now, Im pumping in outside air with the shop vac. So, after this there should be little CO2 built up in the house. If pH does not rise what other options do I have. Also, isnt it weird to be dosing limewater and not have the pH rise at all? __________________ Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 93g Marineland cube. SPS dominated. Vortech mp40. 2 x AI sol super blues. SRO 2000 int skimmer. Mag 18 return. Korallin 1500 calcium reactor.

03/31/2006, 02:21 PM	#8
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Also, isnt it weird to be dosing limewater and not have the pH rise at all? Well, yes, but you'd need to have two side by side tanks to see what ph you'd have without it. So did you try the aeration test inside at all? __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/31/2006, 02:44 PM	#9
drock59 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 3,802	No because the windows have been open in the house for a day and a half. Seems kind of silly. I also forgot to mention that I have a Calc reactor, but my CO2 rate is very slow with one bubble every 6-7 seconds. Im sure this is part of the problem but I still would like to see my pH higher. Will adding some macro help the pH situation? __________________ Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 93g Marineland cube. SPS dominated. Vortech mp40. 2 x AI sol super blues. SRO 2000 int skimmer. Mag 18 return. Korallin 1500 calcium reactor.

03/31/2006, 04:32 PM	#10
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	It might, but limewater and aeration are the primary ways that folks have success. Complete aeration with normal air will drive the pH above 8.2, assuming the alkalinity and pH calibration are correct. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/31/2006, 09:06 PM	#11
drock59 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 3,802	Ill continue to aerate the house and check the alk and calc. pH is currently 8.03 so it seems to be rising. __________________ Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 93g Marineland cube. SPS dominated. Vortech mp40. 2 x AI sol super blues. SRO 2000 int skimmer. Mag 18 return. Korallin 1500 calcium reactor.

04/01/2006, 06:56 AM	#12
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	OK, sounds good. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

04/02/2006, 05:51 PM	#13
drock59 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 3,802	Alk is 10.8 dkh and calc is 440...pH is currently 7.89 This is becoming increasingly troubling to me. I have placed a fan in my sump area to help increase aeration. Anything else that I can do? How about magnesium...does that have an impact on pH? I just tested and it was on the high side at 1440. __________________ Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 93g Marineland cube. SPS dominated. Vortech mp40. 2 x AI sol super blues. SRO 2000 int skimmer. Mag 18 return. Korallin 1500 calcium reactor.

04/03/2006, 05:20 AM	#14
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Air movement is not usually going to help much for water aeration. It is water movement that is needed. Magnesium won't impact pH . __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef