Low PH problem in NYC Apt

[strendo]

My ph keeps dipping into the 7's. I was told it was due to my heating because of the co2 in the air. Anyone else experiencing this? I've got a gas blower in my loft for heat and can't leave the window open all day. I dose limewater but it quickly jumps back down.
Tank is a 12 gal aquapod, everything else is in spec.
Thanks

 

[digitalreefer]

Add a small powerhead pointed near the surface to get more O2 in the tank... that should help.

 

[strendo]

There's already a lot of water movement in the tank and I dont' have a top on it. I dont' want any wires in it if I can avoid it. How about filling up one of the filter compartments with crushed coral?

 

[digitalreefer]

I would try to avoid the crushed coral... can you angle any of the current motion further towards the surface, or maybe towards some rock so that it bounces up.

 

[strendo]

ok, I'll try that, how about using an air stone in one of the filter compartments?

 

[digitalreefer]

ok, I'll try that, how about using an air stone in one of the filter compartments?

You could do that, but I'd monitor the ph very carefully with an airstone... you don't want it to get too high too fast.

 

[fritz]

An airstone most likely won't work unless you put the air pump outside. An airpump is just making, more readily available, the same air exchanged at the surface. Which if you're place is high in CO2 could worsen the problem or at best do nothing to fix it.

I have the exact same issue in my place. I however have hot water circulated through radiators for heat. If I open up my windows my PH will rise about .2, however after a cold spell when the windows haven't been opened in a while it gets real low. Currently I'm battling it hardcore to get it to stay above 8. My tank has about a 60 X turnover rate and I use a sump with a reverse photo period. (PLENTY of air exchange) I've thought about running a line outside to feed outside air into my skimmer but that's not going to happen.

My guess is that my (our) mag levels are off. My alk is around 9 Dkh and my PH is 7.8 My calcium is also in target ranges so I think that I just need a large water change. The same is quite likely true for you as well.

Challah!

 

[cali_reef]

Fritz, a kalk reactor on a constant drip via a doser will help your PH problem. I have one on each of my three systems since all of them are exposed to the higher CO2 air in the boiler room.

For a aqua pod with 12 gallon of water and maybe .2 gallons of evaporation rate daily this is not going to work. Best bet is to draw your skimmer air or air pump air from the outside.

 

[strendo]

I just went out and bought a 10g tank to make a refugeum/skimmer comp out of. Hopefully with the extra water volume it'll be a little better. I can't really run a line outside for the pump. I'll try the airstone for now and let you know if it helps.
Thanks everyone
Adrian

 

[Deanos]

Low pH: Causes and Cures

 

[DonCisco]

Adrian, I have the same issue, aquapod, no top, sometimes low ph. I got the hydor FLO for added water circulation. You put it where the water comes out , and it circulates the water, and as it rotates it stirs the water surface, increasing the oxygen exchange. Once I did that, my PH is pretty stable. The flo is only like 17 bucks, so it will be a very inexpensive fix. Also I changed the water pump to one with about 220gph flow. Hope it works

 

[strendo]

thanks for the link Deanos that explains a lot.

DonCisco I'll check out the hydor Flom which pump do you have on it?

Thanks

 

[matthewdmueller]

Yeah, its deffinetly from a CO2 problem. I had the same problem once, ny pH kept dropping to the low 7's. For the longest time I wasn't convinced that it was a CO2 problem, I lived in a drafty old apartment. I tell you what though, I opened the window next to my tank, opened up the hood, and poof, like majic my pH went back to normal overnight. Try running your skimmer air from a window, I heard that that can help as well.

 

[Henrye]

Are you running the AP with a hood, or are you topless? If you're using the stock hood, you really need to ventilate the display tank. The hood fan is only really useful for heat exhaust, not ventilation. One possibility is to keep the feeding door open, or, mount a fan on the side of the hood though a cutout blowing in. That may help with your gas exchange, and can even help cut your temps back if you're running high. You will increase your evaporation, but it may help.

Another quick fix would be to lower the water level in the rear compartments so the water coming over the overflow will splash down. It's simple, and the "waterfall" effect will help in degassing as well. If you're topless, adding a sump will increase your water volume, but probably won't improve gas exchange as you will still have a roughly the same ratio of volume to surface area. Setting it up as a refugium, though, can help to a degree.

A skimmer will help, even if it's a small skimmer like the sapphire skimmer in a rear chamber with the top down. Like Matthew, though, I've found opening the window a bit worked wonders, and I now run a pH of 7.8-8.0 or 8.1 with an alkalinity of 2.8.

Kalk would be a good solution, but unless you're topless, there's just not enough evaporation.

 

[fritz]

Cali, I always understood that kalk drip without a calcium reactor was not a good choice for alk/calcium maintenance. Doug at Deltec talked me out of a kalk reactor and told me to use 2-Part instead. He said that on an SPS tank (without a calcium reactor) it would cause honeycomb and brittle corals.

In any event I solved me low PH problem with a two pronged aproach:

1. 20 Gallon (25%) water change
2. Lit my fuge (reverse photoperiod) and added some Cheato (Thanks to Awibrandy and GQ22)

Lowest my PH went last night was 7.98 (+-.02)
I also suspect that my RO/DI ATO is reaking havoc on the buffers in my salt. I'm going to try to slightly raise the alk of my top off water to see if that helps.

Bigup!

Stendo, I think your solution is a larger tank Perhaps a 120 gallon with a 90 gallon fuge!

 

[32Bit_Fish]

Have you guys tried Lime water? It is highly recommended in one of the article I read. What lime water are we talking about here? Where can I get one?

Thanks

 

[cali_reef]

Lime water = kalkwasser

 

[Deanos]

Have you guys tried Lime water? It is highly recommended in one of the article I read. What lime water are we talking about here? Where can I get one?

Thanks

The article link I posted mentions the use of limewater (kalkwasser) to combat low pH. There are tons of references to either moniker accessed via the site's SEARCH function.

 

[32Bit_Fish]

Lime water = kalkwasser

Do you guys use two part solutions? What brand do you guys recommend?

 

[alrha]

Cali, I always understood that kalk drip without a calcium reactor was not a good choice for alk/calcium maintenance. Doug at Deltec talked me out of a kalk reactor and told me to use 2-Part instead. He said that on an SPS tank (without a calcium reactor) it would cause honeycomb and brittle corals.