Low PH issues

[gnatp2]

I recently recalibrated my ph probes (i have 2 neptune lab grabe PH probes in my tank). They range from 7.7 -> 8.0 throughout the day. Since my ph has been low, I'm trying to fix it.

I have read through "Low PH, causes and cures" http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php and I'm still having problems.

Here are my current parameters as of this morning.
PH 7.7
Alk (salifert) 9.9
Alk (lamotte) 7.9
Calcium 470
Mag 1410

I performed the airation test using the room air and the ph moved from 7.7 to 7.83 in 1 hr. Using outside air, it moved from 7.7 to 7.88.

I dose kalkwasser as my primary source of calcium and alk. I also use a calcium reactor, but I have it set very low. I unplugged it for a night completely and the ph did not rise.

Fully airrated, my PH should be up at 8.3 using a conservative alk estimate. Given that my ph only went up to 7.88 after airrating it with outdoor air, why is my PH so low?

Nate

 

[gnatp2]

After leaving the water for an additional 4 hours using outside airrated air, the ph only climbed up to 7.91.

I just made a batch of freshly mixed saltwater. Came up with 8.15 PH and 8.2 alk (salifert).

Looking at the article, it seems like my only issue really could be too much co2 in the water, but even after excessive airration, it isn't climbing up that much.

Confused,
Nate

 

[gnatp2]

Still searching for an answer.

Yesterday I made another batch of freshly mixed saltwater (20g) and took the PH reading right after the salt was fully mixed in. I came up with 8.25 for the PH. I left the pump in it overnight and this morning it had dropped down to 8.0. So it does seem to me that co2 in the room has gotta be my problem.

So how to solve this? Since it is so frickin cold, leaving a window open isn't an option. Is there a way of injecting oxygen into the tank? Is it economical? Is this a bad idea?

Nate

 

[Deanos]

You have to overcome high indoor CO2 levels and the use of the calcium reactor. Bump up the limewater addition.

 

[gnatp2]

You have to overcome high indoor CO2 levels and the use of the calcium reactor. Bump up the limewater addition.

Agreed... the question is how.....

 

[Deanos]

the question is how.....

However you are dosing now, add more :fishhit:

 

[gnatp2]

However you are dosing now, add more :fishhit:

I mean, "how to lower the ambient co2 in my room without leaving a window open".

I can easily increase my evaporation rate with more fans and therefore dose more kalkwasser, but my calcium is already up to 470, so i'm at the top of the range there. I don't want to increase the PH but overdo anything else.

 

[Wes]

I mean, "how to lower the ambient co2 in my room without leaving a window open".

house plants may help

 

[Deanos]

house plants may help

:scratch:

:lol2:

 

[kimoyo]

why is my PH so low?

No idea. I would check the monitor or have someone else check your pH and look at your alk supplementation / draw. Assuming you have an excessive amount of CO2 in your home, for your pH to range over 7.7-8 daily your alkalinity would have to bouncing off the walls.

Do you believe the salifert or the lamotte reading? The lamotte is a more reasonable figure. Did you test the new sw with the lamotte test kit?

If your alk draw is really large and its not constant dosing then that could explain the swing and if your CO2 is large in the home that could explain the reading (not all tanks follow Randy's chart exactly).

 

[cali_reef]

house plants may help

Here is the original design purpose for Luminarc reflectors:

Open some windows if you don't pay for heat. I raise the PH in the winter by being more aggressive on the Kalk addition.

 

[paul]

I have the same problem with my tank. I do not use a calcium reactor because it lowers ph. I dose Randy`s two part, and kalk only at night. The refiuge is lit at night. Had to move the sump to my basement, display tank is on the first floor, the skimmer pulls in "fresh" basement air. All this helped a bit. Last winter my ph at night would drop to ~7.5, this year with a basement sump and a bigger macro algae refuge, it bottoms out at 7.8 goes up to ~8.0 during the day. I can live with that.
My house is just too air tight.

You should dose kalk about 4 hr after the MH turn off, and use as large of a refiuge as you can filled with lots of macro. Light it at night for ~12 hours.

Paul.

 

[gnatp2]

house plants may help

Thought about that, but wondered if my living room would have to look like Dean's picture in order to have a material effect.

 

[Brian65901]

Trick that may help

I had a similar problem. I purchased an air pump, put in the garage which is on the other side of the wall from my tank. I ran the tubbing through the wall to an air stone in my sump. So I'm adding "fresh garage air" to my tank. I don't keep my car in there so the air is like outside air. My PH went from 7.92 to 8.22. I use 2 part no calcium reactor

 

[gnatp2]

No idea. I would check the monitor or have someone else check your pH and look at your alk supplementation / draw. Assuming you have an excessive amount of CO2 in your home, for your pH to range over 7.7-8 daily your alkalinity would have to bouncing off the walls.

I hear that a .3 swing is quite normal and happens with tons of aquariums. I think the swing doesn't come from alk swings, it comes from co2 swings. I need to test this further, but I've tested my alk both at night and in the morning and I have gotten consistent results

Do you believe the salifert or the lamotte reading? The lamotte is a more reasonable figure. Did you test the new sw with the lamotte test kit?

I believe the lamotte. Seems more reasonable to me as well given my PH level (which I've calibrated over and over with 7 and 10 ph pinpoint solutions and keep getting the same results). I tested the new freshly mixed saltwater and came up with ~6.5 dKH. I added some b-ionic alk before adding it to the tank to get the alk up to 8.0 on the lamotte.

 

[gnatp2]

You should dose kalk about 4 hr after the MH turn off, and use as large of a refiuge as you can filled with lots of macro. Light it at night for ~12 hours.

Paul.

I currently light my fuge 24/7.
Any reason to only light it at night?

 

[paul]

I currently light my fuge 24/7.
Any reason to only light it at night?

Well, I light it for 12 hours because of the darn ConEd bill :letitallo. Guess 24/7 will help you more in keeping the ph higher.

Paul.

 

[reefman]

lighting the refug opposite your display may keep your ph steady to prevent high swing on the ph. this may not be needed if your alk is good. regardless of how much swing your ph is, your ph should not hit that low. i dont think keeping lights on 24/7 will raise your ph by that much more.
i agree that the quickiest way of bumping up ph is slowly increase dosing kalk. if not possible then changing more water more often to maintain that ph level.

btw: try stopping the ca reactor for a week n see if any diff.

 

[Davidl919]

This info may or may not help but in my recent research through web pages to see what was the most balanced salt mix available of which I found my current selection has the highest lead count (Oceanic). I have found Kent and red sea salt and some other salt mixes contain buffers that can lower Ph.
Ps .. My new choice in salt will be Reef crystals, which is made by instant Ocean but with added benificial trace elements.

 

[kimoyo]

I hear that a .3 swing is quite normal and happens with tons of aquariums. I think the swing doesn't come from alk swings, it comes from co2 swings.

R u dosing continuously? If your using limewater continuously and having your fuge lit 24/7 then you should see less pH swings. And when you aerated the water you still got a ph of 7.88, not 8. To be using limewater and a lit fuge and still have such a high CO2 (pH and alk readings far off from each other) and such a large swing because of the CO2 puzzles me. I would still recheck the measuring equipment just in case.

What salt you using?

David - What buffers were you reading about? I just switched to red sea.