Dosed to much ph buffer

Esylve · 07/10/2018, 09:32 AM

Hi everyone I'm new to the forum so bear with me. Iirc have a 40 gallon breeder and I found out today I been putting to much ph buffer stupid me in my tank for a while now like months. I haven't gotten any corals yet because my alk was to high. It took 20 drops with the api test kit to change water color. I still have my two clowns,a dotty back and a fire fish they are the only fish I ever had and not showing signs of stress . Does this mean I have to start over or can I do water changes to help fix the problem

sixty_reefer · 07/10/2018, 09:43 AM

I would do 20% water changes daily to bring it down in the next few days, dnt do it all at once mate as they will have another chock

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mcgyvr · 07/10/2018, 10:00 AM

You likely don't need to do anything.. except throw the PH buffer in the trash..
Its sold to those that don't know any better

In general as long as your PH is in the 7.8-8.5 range you are fine..
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

And if its not in that range it typically indicates a problem that a buffer isn't the solution to either.. Co2 content in the house,etc... poor circulation,etc...

Esylve · 07/10/2018, 10:14 AM

Thanks I thought for sure I lost the tank

bertoni · 07/10/2018, 09:59 PM

I agree that you probably don't need to do anything. The pH buffers all increase alkalinity enormously, and often don't help the pH measurably. The problem is carbon dioxide, as has been stated. The pH buffers work by consuming carbon dioxide from the water column, but aeration will bring the pH back down over time, often very quickly.

Esylve · 07/11/2018, 03:34 AM

What should I do to bring up my ph then

mcgyvr · 07/11/2018, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esylve

What should I do to bring up my ph then

What is your non-buffered pH level?
Or stated another way what is the pH the tank maintains without any buffer?

When dealing with parameters its very important to post actual numbers..

I will likely suggest you stop testing pH and just let it be and likely don't need to do anything about the pH..
I haven't bothered with pH in 15 years..

I have a coral tank so I just maintain proper salinity, alk, cal, mag, temperature, nitrates and phosphates...

Esylve · 07/11/2018, 06:38 AM

My ph hovers around 7.8 8.0 so I assume at night it drops below that. I've seen alot of people keep theresa between 8.0 and 8.4

Uncle99 · 07/11/2018, 06:49 AM

I have a ph between 7.8-8.0 for 25 years.
Just forget PH.

But if you want, you can open a window, make sure you have surface water agitation, I run my skimmers air hose to the outside....all of this you may get .1 increase if your lucky.

8.4 is mostly unrealistic unless you want to spend tons of money. Some believe corals grow faster st 8.3......I don't know....maybe....maybe not.

Back to forget the PH. Yours numbers seem quite normal to most reef keepers.

mcgyvr · 07/11/2018, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esylve

My ph hovers around 7.8 8.0 so I assume at night it drops below that. I've seen alot of people keep theresa between 8.0 and 8.4

7.8-8.0 is totally fine..
Ignore/forget and move forward.. More important stuff to spend time on

bertoni · 07/11/2018, 11:14 PM

Lots of Tanks of the Month have run at 7.8. I'd just ignore the pH, personally. If you want to raise it, you could consider Kalkwasser, a carbon dioxide scrubber, or an air exchanger. Kalk is fairly inexpensive to try, and is a good calcium-alkalinity supplement. It helps some tanks, but definitely not all.

mcgyvr · 07/12/2018, 04:43 AM

But you don't need to use kalk at all as you have no corals and do not need a cal/alk supplement at this time..
At this point the only thing you should be doing is water changes of what equates to like 20% every 2 weeks if that..Thats just commonly recommended normal maintenance..
No additives are needed at all and any store that tells you to buy bottle X is simply trying to take your money..

Steve175 · 07/15/2018, 02:03 AM

I track pH only to ensure that neither my kalk stirrer nor my Ca reactor are on the fritz. "pH buffers" should not exist/worthless. As above: do nothing [except maybe have a beer and continue routine weekly water changes and keep reading].

07/10/2018, 09:32 AM	#1
Esylve Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 4	Dosed to much ph buffer Hi everyone I'm new to the forum so bear with me. Iirc have a 40 gallon breeder and I found out today I been putting to much ph buffer stupid me in my tank for a while now like months. I haven't gotten any corals yet because my alk was to high. It took 20 drops with the api test kit to change water color. I still have my two clowns,a dotty back and a fire fish they are the only fish I ever had and not showing signs of stress . Does this mean I have to start over or can I do water changes to help fix the problem

07/10/2018, 10:00 AM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	You likely don't need to do anything.. except throw the PH buffer in the trash.. Its sold to those that don't know any better In general as long as your PH is in the 7.8-8.5 range you are fine.. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php And if its not in that range it typically indicates a problem that a buffer isn't the solution to either.. Co2 content in the house,etc... poor circulation,etc... __________________ Who me?

07/10/2018, 09:59 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I agree that you probably don't need to do anything. The pH buffers all increase alkalinity enormously, and often don't help the pH measurably. The problem is carbon dioxide, as has been stated. The pH buffers work by consuming carbon dioxide from the water column, but aeration will bring the pH back down over time, often very quickly. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/11/2018, 06:49 AM	#9
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	I have a ph between 7.8-8.0 for 25 years. Just forget PH. But if you want, you can open a window, make sure you have surface water agitation, I run my skimmers air hose to the outside....all of this you may get .1 increase if your lucky. 8.4 is mostly unrealistic unless you want to spend tons of money. Some believe corals grow faster st 8.3......I don't know....maybe....maybe not. Back to forget the PH. Yours numbers seem quite normal to most reef keepers. Last edited by Uncle99; 07/11/2018 at 06:55 AM.

07/11/2018, 11:14 PM	#11
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Lots of Tanks of the Month have run at 7.8. I'd just ignore the pH, personally. If you want to raise it, you could consider Kalkwasser, a carbon dioxide scrubber, or an air exchanger. Kalk is fairly inexpensive to try, and is a good calcium-alkalinity supplement. It helps some tanks, but definitely not all. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/10/2018, 09:43 AM	#2
sixty_reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 47	I would do 20% water changes daily to bring it down in the next few days, dnt do it all at once mate as they will have another chock Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07/10/2018, 10:14 AM	#4
Esylve Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 4	Thanks I thought for sure I lost the tank

07/11/2018, 03:34 AM	#6
Esylve Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 4	What should I do to bring up my ph then

07/11/2018, 06:38 AM	#8
Esylve Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 4	My ph hovers around 7.8 8.0 so I assume at night it drops below that. I've seen alot of people keep theresa between 8.0 and 8.4

07/12/2018, 04:43 AM	#12
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	But you don't need to use kalk at all as you have no corals and do not need a cal/alk supplement at this time.. At this point the only thing you should be doing is water changes of what equates to like 20% every 2 weeks if that..Thats just commonly recommended normal maintenance.. No additives are needed at all and any store that tells you to buy bottle X is simply trying to take your money.. __________________ Who me?

07/15/2018, 02:03 AM	#13
Steve175 Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 1,186	I track pH only to ensure that neither my kalk stirrer nor my Ca reactor are on the fritz. "pH buffers" should not exist/worthless. As above: do nothing [except maybe have a beer and continue routine weekly water changes and keep reading]. __________________ Steve ---------------------------------- Current Tank Info: 2 separate 250G bowfront rimless ELOS tanks plumbed to 260G sump, 220G refugium, 220G frag, BK DeLuxe 300, 400W MH x4, closed loops, 3/4hp chiller x2, Phos reactor, Kalk reactor, Charcoal reactor, Ca reactor, 60G surge tanks, & a huge elec bill