Please help/need quick advice

[mooner]

I did something dumb (I think)...please help. I checked my water in my new tank today and all was great but the Ph was between 8.0 and 8.1. I added some proper Ph 8.2 by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. I added less than a half dose (I added .33 scoop per 10 gallons as opposed to the recommended 1 scoop per 10). I mixed the stuff with 1/2 gallon of my aquarium water and poured it slowly back into my sump tank. This soon brought my Ph up to just under 8.2 but my mushroom coral shriveled up and two blew out their inards. You can see the sad guys on my reef cam in my signature. I have a 2 week old setup (44 gal w/10 gallon sump) with little else than these coral and a few tiny fish and crabs.

I am at a loss for what to do. I have watched them sit for 4 hours now and they seem to be getting some color back and have retracted thier guts but I am very worried.

Is this proper Ph stuff poison or what? Help is much appreciated.

 

[Anonymous]

stop doing that kind of thing.

your ph was fine to begin with.
how are you adding calcium and maintaining alkalinity?

i think your 'shrooms will be fine even though i can't see them right now.

 

[Droggy]

Your tank is so new ,there is no reason to be tampering with the water paramaters.If you do have to make changes, do it over a great length of time.make the adjustments over a 24 hour period to minimise stress on the inhabitants.Another way is to do a large water change,that usually brings things back into line. 8)

 

[LFS42]

the shock of the new pH levels just stunned the corals
They should come back

If you plan on doing this in the future, slowly add the pH stuff
and make sure it's WELL mixed

 

[Anonymous]

Welcome to RDO.

Like was said before, I wouldn't add anything to a new set up. The temptation is there, but things are really hard to control when the tank is new. Leave it alone for a couple of months (if you can!) and let it level itself out. The most important thing to remember is if the inhabitants look fine, you can leave the tank be.

You prolly head it before, but read, read, read. Do a search here for 'raising ph' and you will find many ways to do it.

Oh, and always come here and research any additive before you add it.

 

[Anonymous]

Rmember don't fix what is not broken.

 

[mooner]

Thank you all very much. My corals look much better today (see cam). I have taken to heart all the advice. Wait longer for EVERYTHING, change nothing that dosen't need it, be patient and rely on this BB for advice! No new critters in this reef for at least 6 weeks.

I think I just got through a learning speed bump...I won't forget any time soon!

BTW, I need to learn more about Alkalinity and Calcium. I will read up on it right now but does anyone recommend a method for a new tank like mine (a good test kit, should I add any buffers this soon, more waiting, etc)

Thanks all.

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't worry about Alk and Ca for a while. Figure out what kinds of critters you are going to have and then worry about it. As long as they are withiin normal parameters, no worries. Don't worry too much about trying to reach magic numbers - it will make you bonkers.

 

[liquid]

Mooner,

Keep in mind that pH normally can swing from 7.8 during lights out to 8.3-8.4 when the lights are on. This is due to dissolved CO2 in your tank and photosyntesis. At night, CO2 builds up and your tank's pH is depressed. When the lights are on, CO2 is used by various algaes in your tank and the pH rises.

For more chemistry related info, head over to http://www.advancedaquarist.com/index/ and read up on Randy Holmes-Farley's chemistry column "Chemistry in the Aquarium." That should keep you reading for a while.

Shane