Yet another PH question

[spaulr]

I was at a LFS today searching for the holy grail of corals and ended up in a discussion about coralline algae growth and PH levels. The LFS (the only one I'll go to anyhow) here in Santa Barbara carries really nice corals. He keeps his PH at 8.6-8.7. That seems crazy high, but he said it promotes very good coralline growth. One other item to note is that he thinks Ca reactors are and expensive waste of money. He doses all of his tanks with some sort of drip system. 1 for buffer, 1 for strontium, etc...

OR are there just 10,000 ways to skin the same old proverbial cat in this hobby?

 

[trido]

OR are there just 10,000 ways to skin the same old proverbial cat in this hobby?

Yep, what works for some would cause a rapid tank crash for others. All tanks are different. :? Somehow.......

 

[ZooKeeper1]

I'd have to wonder how he does this. Limewater slurry would work, so would washing soda, or sodium hydroxide, but all will send the alkalinity through the roof.

 

[spaulr]

I have no idea. He was rattling things off so fast I couldn't keep up. Although I know he's telling the truth about the PH level, because he tested the water and showed me the sample and color chart.

 

[ZooKeeper1]

No monitor. I wouldn't trust a test kit. It's more likley that he's running a normal pH, and the kit reads wrong. Most folks have too much coralline and corals growing out of their tanks at a pH around 8.

Have you tried to keep the ph of a tank that high ? Honestly it takes constant additions of a high ph addative like the ones I mentioned along with some good fresh air movement.