pH question

[Dummyforclownfi]

Hello all. I am still fairly new to the hobby (SW specifically) and have a question regarding my pH. But first, a little background.
I have a 29g tank. Only reason I went so small is because the tank was given to me but I already am searching for a 75g-125g tank. I have a 3in sandbed with about 25-30lbs of live rock. I have 1 black ocelarris. His partner died this morning. Sadly, he lost a battle to ich even despite his transfer to a quarantine tank. I think he died due to the salinity being off a tad bit and the temp in the quarantine was 2 degrees lower. My noobness did not acclimate him :sad2:. Lessoned learned. I have 3 candy cane coral frags which have all started growing new heads. I, just yesterday, added a kenya tree frag. And of course my cleaner crew. This setup has been running for 2 months now.
My question is, can my aquarium be affected by a low pH? It is currently at 7.8ish. I am using RO/DI water bought from the store. RO/DI system coming later next week. Do I need to raise my pH? Is so, how? I don't know why it's low. From what I have read, it seems water is usually higher than that. What should I do? Corals look not only very healthy, but also happy. Candy canes glow a bright neon green so I know for sure they are doing good. And my black ocellaris is very active. Doesn't seem like anything is bugging him.
Thanks in advance.
By the way, I am so falling in love with all these different LPS corals I see pictures of. I think my heart is set. :rollface:

[oscarinw]

PH is a function of other agents working in your tank. The most useful and straight forward way to achieve appropriate and consistent PH in a reef tank is to get Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium at their correct levels. With those 3 in order, PH raises and stabilizes itself. It does require appropriate oxygen levels but that's not difficult to achieve via ventilation and flow.
That would be my recommendation for you.

[MDO]

In such a small tank, water changes should correct your pH. What salt mix are you using? Your salt mix may have a low pH which can occur in any batch. So don't try and dose to correct the other parameters to achieve a high pH, just get a good saltmix and do a water change. Also, 7.8 isn't a bad pH. My tank used to range from 7.8-8.1 at times depending on time of year and day and everything survived and grew.

[Dummyforclownfi]

I am using reef crystals and doing water changes every 10 days.

[hollister]

To much info , add tank specs under profile so you don't have to add that. PH and ALK. are one in the same , check all water readings in the morning for most accurate reading and these readings may take a little while to level out as the tank matures , so I would not do anything .

[MDO]

Just stick to your water changes for now. It will even out eventually.

[downbeach]

Here are four good articles worth reading, the third one deals specifically with pH:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/rhf/index.php

[Dummyforclownfi]

Good articles
Thank you.

[oscarinw]

Just stick to your water changes for now. It will even out eventually.

The third article above seems to disagree

"For example, water changes almost never solve low pH problems, even 100% water changes."