LOW PH and ALKALINITY!!!!

b0bby1 · 06/21/2007, 11:23 AM

ok, so i went to the LFS to get my weekly water check up. everything has been fine up to now. the owner tells me that my pH is running low, i think he said 5.0. he said its supposed to be 5.3. well he told me to get some pH buffer but i didn't have enough money. he also said my alkalinity is a little low, but nothing to worry about. i told him that i have alkalinity buffer, and he said that would raise both the pH and alkalinity!!! my question is, is that true?

b0bby1 · 06/21/2007, 11:27 AM

not sure on the pH values but all i no is that it was off by .3. also i heard that baking soda rises pH, is that true?

bertoni · 06/21/2007, 05:42 PM

Buffers for reef tanks generally don't help much with pH problems. I assume the pH was 8.0? If so, that's okay. A measurement in the morning, before the lights go on, would be useful, since that's usually the lowest pH the tank reaches.

Baking soda will lower pH a tiny bit when dosed, if alkalinity is near the normal range. The pH will rise back up as CO2 outgasses. If the baking soda is baked, then dosed, it'll raise pH temporarily. Commercial pH buffers act much like a mix of baked and unbaked baking soda.

Generally, low pH problems in established tanks come down to measurement errors (sadly common) and high CO2 problems:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm

b0bby1 · 06/21/2007, 07:22 PM

thanks a bunch, that link you have there is very helpful!!

bertoni · 06/21/2007, 07:41 PM

You're welcome!

I should have safe that commercial buffers made for reef tanks act much like a mix. SeaChem Marine Buffer (for fish-only tanks) is a bit different.

Good luck!

06/21/2007, 11:23 AM	#1
b0bby1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Berlin, CT Posts: 847	LOW PH and ALKALINITY!!!! ok, so i went to the LFS to get my weekly water check up. everything has been fine up to now. the owner tells me that my pH is running low, i think he said 5.0. he said its supposed to be 5.3. well he told me to get some pH buffer but i didn't have enough money. he also said my alkalinity is a little low, but nothing to worry about. i told him that i have alkalinity buffer, and he said that would raise both the pH and alkalinity!!! my question is, is that true?

06/21/2007, 05:42 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Buffers for reef tanks generally don't help much with pH problems. I assume the pH was 8.0? If so, that's okay. A measurement in the morning, before the lights go on, would be useful, since that's usually the lowest pH the tank reaches. Baking soda will lower pH a tiny bit when dosed, if alkalinity is near the normal range. The pH will rise back up as CO2 outgasses. If the baking soda is baked, then dosed, it'll raise pH temporarily. Commercial pH buffers act much like a mix of baked and unbaked baking soda. Generally, low pH problems in established tanks come down to measurement errors (sadly common) and high CO2 problems: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/21/2007, 07:41 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You're welcome! I should have safe that commercial buffers made for reef tanks act much like a mix. SeaChem Marine Buffer (for fish-only tanks) is a bit different. Good luck! __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/21/2007, 11:27 AM	#2
b0bby1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Berlin, CT Posts: 847	not sure on the pH values but all i no is that it was off by .3. also i heard that baking soda rises pH, is that true?

06/21/2007, 07:22 PM	#4
b0bby1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Berlin, CT Posts: 847	thanks a bunch, that link you have there is very helpful!!