How do i raise my ph but not the alkilinity???

[Nanoreefaprentice]

i have a 6 gallon jbj nano with lots of live corals ( flower pot, kenya trees, torch, palays, duncan, chili peper coral, candycane coral, pulsing xenia a few mushrooms and polyps) 2 clowns a green chromis, coral bandid shrimp and an emerald crab. I use the seachem purified sea water and do weekly water changes of about 10 %. My pH is steady around 8.0 and i need it up to 8.3 for the corals. i tired using seachems marine buffer and it raised the PH but it also raised the alkalinity and the corals started to look like they were dying. with the marine buffer it says it will maintain a steady 8.3 but seachem also makes a reef buffer that will raise the ph also but it is easy to overdose. is there any other options?

 

[Dre]

You added too much buffer, that's a small tank man. I would pay more attention on alk levels. Ph at 8.0 is not bad and your corals showed that. Raise your salinty slightly can help. What is your alk levels anyway?

 

[reefer4eva]

Dude its a 6 gallon tank!98% of the corals are soft coral there's no need to add kalk?weekly water changes is more than enough

 

[Nanoreefaprentice]

Would the monti still grow? There is a buildup of the red slime that keeps commin back by the next day after a water change.. what can I do about that?

 

[d5332]

7.8 to 8.0 is what most ppl end up with.

Dont add PH buffers, I copied an idea from EDD as a way to increase the PH. If your tank is near a window you can draw air into your skimmer from the outside of your house using plastic tubing.

However, 8.0 is fine. Monti caps will grow fine, just do your 1 gallon water per week or when ever it is that you change water.

 

[d5332]

Still, 8.0 is fine

 

[Nanoreefaprentice]

If I use the tube do I need a pump to push the air from out side? Does it go into the water or let it flow.across the top?

 

[BAD FISH]

+1 with everyone don't worry about ph concentrate on alk/cal and mag just keep them steady that's what's important

 

[Nanoreefaprentice]

What about the red green algae thats at the bottom and on the glass? Anything I can do about that?

 

[lnevo]

Feed less. More water change. Run GFO.

 

[Nanoreefaprentice]

I only feed once every 3 days...was GFO?

 

[albano]

I only feed once every 3 days...

Every 3 days!... Does that seem right?

 

[lnevo]

That red slime you are seeing is cyanobacteria. You should siphon out as much as possible and see if you cam increase the flow where its forming. A 6g tank is hard to manage nutrients and levels but this was why i suggested feeding less. But if you are feeding every 3 days thats already low, but perhaps you are feeding too much in one shot. I would try reducing the amount in half and move to every other day and see what happens.

 

[Nanoreefaprentice]

ok i will try that.. Thanks guys.. if anyone has anything else to add please feel free to do so

 

[edd]

I only feed once every 3 days...was GFO?

you should research the needs of your fish, some fish need to eat small portions a few times a day.
read the article on mr home page, five factors leading to dietary deficiencies.