Low PH Need advice...

[timistim]

Hi everyone I need a little help with my water ph. it likes to stay right at 7.8. I would like to see the ph increase some if I could. Any advice on how to do so? I know that the PH can be effected by the DKH and calcium leves, and then even by the Magnesium levels. I do not dose anything right now, just regular water changes. I have read that the salt that I was using Seachem can have low DKH values, and thus low calcium values. I have started the switch to Red Sea Pro. I know that a lot of values are almost always in balance weather you like it not. Like Calcium and DKH will pretty much remain in balance. I have given some detailed specs on my tank below. I know I may need some more test kits, and maybe some additives. I don't want to go throwing money at test kits and such without a little knowledge. I am more than happy to read so if you want to point me to an article that has helped, or just share your experiences. Any advice is much appreciated. The information about things in this hobby can sometimes be too much and in many case conflicting.

30 gallon tank
10 gallon sump
protein skimmer
DIY Algae Turf Scrubber - Still breaking in.
2x65wattt pc
~40lbs of live rock
1 clarkii clown
1 sawtooth gobby
1 6 line wrasse
various corals
cuc of various snails
1 skunk shrimp

water paramaters.

ph 7.8
DKH - ~7-8 My test kit for this kind of sucks. :(
NH3/NH4 - 0
NO2 - 0
NO3 - ~ 20ppm
Calcium - Unknown
Magnesium - Unknown

Salt - Was Seachem, slowly switching to Red Sea Pro
Water is RO/DI

[timistim]

20 views and not a single suggestion. :(

[dzhuo]

You will need to find out the cause of low pH but for most people, it's usually because excess CO2 in the room. There are few things you can do (assuming your low pH problem is in fact caused by excess CO2):

1. Open the door or windows more if possible.
2. Run your skimmer's air intake out side if possible.
3. Drip kalk or use a kalk reactor.
4. Run a CO2 scrubber.
5. Run a reverse photo period fuge but I notice you already working on an algae scrubber.

I personally do #3 and #4 which maintain my pH at 8.2 (mine was at 7.7 before).

Avoid using pH buffer as they either don't work well, works temporarily and / or mess up your other parameters. Btw, 7.8 isn't really that bad.

[badazztealcobra]

I agree, 7.8 really isn't that bad as long as you're not getting huge swings....

All the things suggested will definitely help you get you PH up higher though, so figure out which one makes the most sense for you. :beer:

[timistim]

If 7.8 is not bad then I won't mess with it. The ph does not seem to swing at all. Even when I open windows and turn lights off.

[Reverend Reefer]

i wouldn't worry about it too much at a stable 7.8 at that dkh

[efird1]

I'm having problems getting my PH up also. It seems to always stay at 7.9. I have AquaVitro 8.4 and have been adding it for a week now, but with no change I'm also adding AquaVitro Balance to make sure my dkh is inline. Does anyone here have a successful reef with a PH that low, or do I need to take more drastic measures?

[MBryant]

in the winter, co2 builds up in the house which cause ph to drop not saying that this is whats happening but it does happen try opening up the window for awhile and getting some fresh air in there " i know people freak out about low ph but ive seen tanks run fine with a ph of 7.8 dont worry im sure it will bounce back also a high alk and mag will cause the ph to stay low."

[hanley0019]

I started dosing 2 part and that raised my ph a bit.

[dzhuo]

I'm having problems getting my PH up also. It seems to always stay at 7.9. I have AquaVitro 8.4 and have been adding it for a week now, but with no change I'm also adding AquaVitro Balance to make sure my dkh is inline. Does anyone here have a successful reef with a PH that low, or do I need to take more drastic measures?

You don't need to worry about pH at 7.9. Lots of people with nice tanks with pH at 7.8. Your focus should be making sure the pH is stable at 7.9. I have not used AquaVitro nor I know what it's make up of but if it's like most other pH buffer, it's likely not going to help long term or won't be cost effective to keep using it.

Do not make any drastic changes with pH at 7.9; your tank will be fine.