Raising PH without dosing Kalk

jsteel · 04/20/2006, 08:07 PM

i'm new to this forum and i would greatly appreciate any insight.

ive been experiancing trouble with sps and coraline growth rates. everything tests normal enough wiht salifert kits:
nitrate:0
phos:0
alk:8.5dkh
cal:>500
redox:380
250w 10k xm halides and 4 55w blue PC's 75g tank, 72g sump/fuge; ER skimmer

only abnormality is ph. it never reaches beyond 8.1 and you can see, cal so high as it is, i don't want to dose Kalk unless i have to.
does anyone know of an effective way to raise ph in another way?

by the way all sps look very healthy and i do have coralline, they just don't grow at rate i would consider normal or at least acceptable; won't even grow on glass, only on plastic. Oh, and zoo's and mushrooms also look healthy but don't grow and my lps's don't open as much as i know they can.
i don't know, is something else i'm overlooking?

anything would be appreciated as i feel like everything i've done is right yet nothing happens.

i'm really frustrated! please help!!!

Paintbug · 04/20/2006, 08:13 PM

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...hf/index.php#a that should help alittle.

jsteel · 04/20/2006, 08:48 PM

thanks Paintbug, I will experiment with aeration in my basement.
ya know, my fish room does share space with a heater!

Paintbug · 04/21/2006, 09:01 AM

basements are bad about having high CO2 levels, that could be your problem.

impur · 04/21/2006, 10:29 AM

My tank also has low pH. Mine goes from about 7.8 at night to a high of 7.95 or so during the day. I dose kalk 24/7. From experience using outside air for your skimmer really does help.

In my case, i just moved into a brand new house. The location of my tank does not allow for me to run tubing all the way outside. Whats odd is, my house is 500sq feet larger than my apt was, and has central air that flushes out all the air in the house and replaces it with fresh outside air 3 times a day. But i still have low pH. I haven't seen any negative effects from it so i'm not going to worry for the time being.

04/20/2006, 08:07 PM	#1
jsteel Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: south jersey Posts: 29	Raising PH without dosing Kalk i'm new to this forum and i would greatly appreciate any insight. ive been experiancing trouble with sps and coraline growth rates. everything tests normal enough wiht salifert kits: nitrate:0 phos:0 alk:8.5dkh cal:>500 redox:380 250w 10k xm halides and 4 55w blue PC's 75g tank, 72g sump/fuge; ER skimmer only abnormality is ph. it never reaches beyond 8.1 and you can see, cal so high as it is, i don't want to dose Kalk unless i have to. does anyone know of an effective way to raise ph in another way? by the way all sps look very healthy and i do have coralline, they just don't grow at rate i would consider normal or at least acceptable; won't even grow on glass, only on plastic. Oh, and zoo's and mushrooms also look healthy but don't grow and my lps's don't open as much as i know they can. i don't know, is something else i'm overlooking? anything would be appreciated as i feel like everything i've done is right yet nothing happens. i'm really frustrated! please help!!!

04/20/2006, 08:13 PM	#2
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...hf/index.php#a that should help alittle. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

04/21/2006, 09:01 AM	#4
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	basements are bad about having high CO2 levels, that could be your problem. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

04/21/2006, 10:29 AM	#5
impur Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 4,262	My tank also has low pH. Mine goes from about 7.8 at night to a high of 7.95 or so during the day. I dose kalk 24/7. From experience using outside air for your skimmer really does help. In my case, i just moved into a brand new house. The location of my tank does not allow for me to run tubing all the way outside. Whats odd is, my house is 500sq feet larger than my apt was, and has central air that flushes out all the air in the house and replaces it with fresh outside air 3 times a day. But i still have low pH. I haven't seen any negative effects from it so i'm not going to worry for the time being. __________________ Great spirits often encounter violent opposition from mediocre minds. Current Tank Info: 75gal, 20gal sump, 6-54w T5 TEK

04/20/2006, 08:48 PM	#3
jsteel Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: south jersey Posts: 29	thanks Paintbug, I will experiment with aeration in my basement. ya know, my fish room does share space with a heater!