pH Level Question

Mike_jorg · 01/07/2018, 05:57 PM

I have had my tank for about a year now, and for the last couple months have noticed a drop in pH. Everything else seems alright (phosphate were slightly high, but I added some phosfiltrum about a week ago to adjust that).

The LFS person (albeit she is not the owner and seems pretty young- she knows a heck of a lot more than I do) told me to leave the pH because consistency is more important than the perfect pH, but today when I did my water change, I compared my tank to that of the LFS which I use for water changes.

Is this an issue?

hegeh · 01/07/2018, 06:02 PM

Trust her.. ph fluctuate day and night. And there are many factor contribute to it. Ph may be the last thing to worry. Like said, consistency is more important than chasing numbers..

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Vinny Kreyling · 01/07/2018, 06:04 PM

Winter in itself can bring lower PH values because the house is buttoned up allowing CO 2 to be higher than if the windows were open.
Many tanks run around 7.8 with no problems.
Stability is more important & most will tell you not to chase numbers.
Ph will also rise during daylight time in the tank.

outssider · 01/07/2018, 06:22 PM

if your sample on the api test is yellow, that's not too good. do you have a lot of people living in a closed up house? ph is a function of co2, the higher the co2 in the room air the lower your ph will be. you could run a air line from your skimmer air intake to outside.

Daddi0 · 01/07/2018, 07:03 PM

You could also dose Kalk. It will take care of your Alk. and Calcium needs and raise your PH
Cheers! Mark

bertoni · 01/07/2018, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny Kreyling

Winter in itself can bring lower PH values because the house is buttoned up allowing CO 2 to be higher than if the windows were open.
Many tanks run around 7.8 with no problems.

I agree. pH can range from 7.8 to 8.5 or so in some tanks, especially during the winter. During the day, photosynthesis can drive the pH up appreciably, but at night, a closed-up house often means a significant drop. What level are you seeing?

01/07/2018, 06:04 PM	#3
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Winter in itself can bring lower PH values because the house is buttoned up allowing CO 2 to be higher than if the windows were open. Many tanks run around 7.8 with no problems. Stability is more important & most will tell you not to chase numbers. Ph will also rise during daylight time in the tank. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

01/07/2018, 07:03 PM	#5
Daddi0 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redwood City Posts: 1,354	You could also dose Kalk. It will take care of your Alk. and Calcium needs and raise your PH Cheers! Mark __________________ 2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater

01/07/2018, 06:02 PM	#2
hegeh Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 223	Trust her.. ph fluctuate day and night. And there are many factor contribute to it. Ph may be the last thing to worry. Like said, consistency is more important than chasing numbers.. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

01/07/2018, 06:22 PM	#4
outssider Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Reseda, Ca. Posts: 1,717	if your sample on the api test is yellow, that's not too good. do you have a lot of people living in a closed up house? ph is a function of co2, the higher the co2 in the room air the lower your ph will be. you could run a air line from your skimmer air intake to outside.