PH fluctuation - advise needed

[jmanz]

I am a new reef keeper so forgive me if this is in the wrong bulletin board. I am just in need of some expert knowledge and thought this was the best place to post.

I am having trouble keeping my PH at 8.3. The thing I cannot figure out is my Alkalinity is steady at 5.0 which should act as a buffer once I reach 8.3 right? I am using Seachem reef buffer to help reach the safe PH range but within a day it is back down to 8.1-8.2. I know it isn't the worst thing in the world but it is getting fustrating. is there something I am missing? I have searched through the web site for info and haven't found an answer yet.

here are my tank specifics:
30 G reef tank
30 lbs of fiji rock
4 in live sand bed
cpr bak pak skimmer
magnum HOT filter with carbon and phosphate removal media

I was thinking about adding kalk but haven't found an economical way to do this without having a IV straped to a jug hanging above my tank on the wall.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[big o]

ph is normally lower in the am. and slowly increases.your dkh is a little low shoot for 12.

 

[jmanz]

thanks for the help. I will raise the dkh and check the ph throughout the day to get a better read.

would adding kalk help in this small of a tank or is that overkill?

 

[MarkO1]

Overnight, oxygen levels decrease and CO2 levels increase, this will generally bring your pH down by 0.2 - 0.4. This is pretty normal and shouldn't have much of an effect on most species.
Also, over time, bacterial action will increase the acidity in your tank. Most of the people here either use a calcium reactor (generally tanks over 100 gal) or add a two part supplement (I use B-ionic) of alkalinity and calcium to offset the reduction in pH.
_________________
Powerlet

 

[Reefguide]

dripping Kalk in a 30g tank seems like too luch of a pain in the a$$ to me. Why not just go with B-Ionic? Has worked fine for me for about 2 years.

 

[jmanz]

Thanks for all the insight into PH flucuations.

I have been using a calcium supplement but I a new to B-Ionic. Can anyone give me some insight on what it is and how it is used?

all the information has been greatly appreciated

 

[Anonymous]

Dripping kalk on a 30 wouldn't be hard at all. You'll just need to figure out your tank's drip rate.

 

[Tony Quinn]

I agree, I use a Kent drip feeder for a 55g and provided it's cleaned weekly to avoid solids build up I can set the feed to deliver the right amount without too much hassle. By morning my ph is around 8 and before lights out 8.3, with an alk level of between 10 and 12. I had problems on my 300g show tank with a lowering ph but that was due to overstocking, a thing I will never repeat! What livestock do you have in the 30g?

 

[jmanz]

I have a couple of small clowns, a cleanup crew of sm blue legs and about 2 dozen assorted snails. Also just added a san sifting star and a tiger tail.

not much at all.

you mentioned that you have a 8.0 ph morning and 8.3 at night. Is that where you want it to be? I was targeting 8.4.

 

[plankton123]

jamgq,

Relax.

pH swing of 8.1 to 8.3 is quite normal in a 24 hour period.

When you say alk of 5 what are your units? If meq/l then OK but a little high, if dkh then a little low. As someone else mentioned an alk of 3 meq/l or 8 dkh is more like natural salt water (NSW).

Consider getting rid of the canister filter with all that media. You just don't need it and it could cause you trouble later. If you want to add something consider a hang-on refugium or larger, more efficient skimmer.

PS always use the purest makeup water you can find: ro/di, distilled, etc.

Good luck.

Scott