pH Levels..need to increase

[Djbetterly]

So I'm trying to figure out why I can't get my pH to get much above 8.02. I have good surface agitation and my window AC has the fresh air vent open. I do dose alk as needed to keep my alk between 7.5 and 8. When I do this, my pH does go up, but it doesn't stay up. I don't want to keep dosing alk just to raise my pH.

Any suggestions?

Current Parameters

Alk 8
Mag 1550-1600
Calc 490
SG 1.024
Temp 80.3
pH 7.95

 

[Dre]

Do you have a substrate? What kind of lighting? What is the pH before the lights go off? Adding a refuge with 24/7 lighting can help keep it from falling too low...focus more on alk..

 

[Djbetterly]

Have a 3-4 sand bed, AI Sol lighting, pH drops to about 7.8 at night. I run the fuge light from 10pm-8am. Should I put fuge light on full time?

Graph of pH over last couple of days.

 

[Dre]

Try and see. How the inhabitants look?

 

[Imbarrie]

Anyone try this?
I add to my top off water and it maintains my pH perfectly.
Mine always trended low until I did.


http://www.aquavitro.com/products/eightfour.html

 

[Djbetterly]

Everything looks good! Very active, eating fine. I'm just not sure what else to do. I don't want to make any stupid decisions.

 

[Dre]

Don't, leave it alone. Use another testing device first and see if they're the same. Check nitrates as well. You would be surprised how nitrates can affect water chem.
Water changes usually sort it out.

 

[Djbetterly]

I did check it with my Elos kit and it seems to be right around 8. I'm not sure I would be able to tell a difference between 7.95 and 8 to be honest.

 

[Jakef150]

Its prefect fine 7.8-8.4 range and try not to chasing it

 

[Djbetterly]

I'm not chasing it, to me its more about figuring out what is causing it. I did some research on liveaquaria.com and it seems most of the inhabitants in my tank are fine in that pH range. As long as it doesn't drop lower than 7.8 I'm OK with it. I would however like it to be a bit higher during the day. But I'm not going to make any drastic changes. I am however going to do a small (5G) water change with some good, freshly aerated water.

 

[ecvernon]

A low point of 7.8 is acceptable. My coral and fish were doing very well for the longest times under those conditions. I did however get better and higher numbers once I started using dosing pumps for alkalinity and calcium. I started by using my Apex to dose my alkalinity only at night when the ph usually drops. And I dose my calcium in the daytime. My ph levels have been great since then. Very rarely under 8.0 in a not so well ventilated part of my home

 

[ecvernon]

Noticed you have an apex. Has your probes been calibrated properly?

 

[Jakef150]

Yeah i set my alk doser at 2 am to keep ph less swing.


Try sodalime Scrubbler , hook it up with skimmer

it works for me!!

Jake

 

[j10369]

i put an air stone in my sump ph stays about 8.4 cheato and mangroves and other macro doing better than ever

 

[Josh]

Your range is not that unusual, so I wouldn't get crazy about fixing it.

However, if you want to try something new, consider Two Little Fishies CDX dry media. It will absolutely raise your pH. Connect the reactor to your skimmer air intake and you can watch your pH go up.

 

[Djbetterly]

I just calibrated my probe about a month ago, maybe a bit more. How often do you need to calibrate them?

I do understand that the pH is in a safe range. I guess having a low(er) pH just stays on mind as being too low. I'm not going to chase it. I turned my fuge light on 24/7 and did a water change. I'll give it a few days and see what happens.

Personally I don't like adding too much hardware into the mix, but we'll see what happens. Maybe I'll give an airstone a try, those are relatively natural and seem like a good way of introducing fresh air into the water table.

 

[Dre]

Maybe I'll give an airstone a try, those are relatively natural and seem like a good way of introducing fresh air into the water table.

Where is your skimmer? A skimmer does the samething as an air stone.

 

[Djbetterly]

You know I thought it seemed as though a skimmer did the same thing. However, I did go ahead and put an airstone in the back "Sump" area and today my pH has already hit 8.05. Now, I did take a few steps in addition to this one, more fresh air in the apartment, along with leaving fuge light on 24/7. I wanted to start with natural approaches first. Seems things are working in my favor. I'll keep an eye on it and see what happens.

Thank you all for your insights.

 

[Hefe-Weizen]

I keep my Alk at 9-10 using Alk additives in my makeup water. I also add a half cup of Kalkwasser at night and in the morning. My pH is an 8.1-8.2 in the morning and 8.3-8.4 late day and at light shut off..