Need help with raising PH

[kaijor]

Hello,

I have 32 G Biocube. I'm having a strange situation go on. My tank has extremely low PH of 7.1. I'm currently using Apera Instruments' PH meter to measure the PH level (I tested my tap water and it's even higher than my tank's water). My dKH is around 17 which makes me confused about the PH level. I also have the hood off because I can't fit the protein skimmer otherwise. Anybody have any suggestions?

 

[Impala67]

Hello,

I have 32 G Biocube. I'm having a strange situation go on. My tank has extremely low PH of 7.1. I'm currently using Apera Instruments' PH meter to measure the PH level (I tested my tap water and it's even higher than my tank's water). My dKH is around 17 which makes me confused about the PH level. I also have the hood off because I can't fit the protein skimmer otherwise. Anybody have any suggestions?

Just add some seachem reef buffer it will raise your ph to 8.3 which is perfect!!

 

[kaijor]

Just add some seachem reef buffer it will raise your ph to 8.3 which is perfect!!

Ok, I'll try it. Thank you!

 

[Gareth elliott]

7.1 seems like a really low reading for properly mixed saltwater.

I would get a second reading, even chemically from an API test kit.

Especially with a dkh of 17 which is Very high.

Perhaps your local aquarium shop can test your water

 

[Coolcasino]

Just add some seachem reef buffer it will raise your ph to 8.3 which is perfect!!

That will just be a temporary bump to the pH and will just add alk which is already super high.

When was the last time you calibrated that probe? What are you testing ALK with?

 

[kaijor]

That will just be a temporary bump to the pH and will just add alk which is already super high.

When was the last time you calibrated that probe? What are you testing ALK with?

I calibrated the probe like last week. It's a pretty new PH meter. I'm using API's KH/GH test. It's weird but when I test my tap water it's higher in PH than my tank. Do you think I should recalibrate it? The indicator says that it is calibrated fully.

 

[Coolcasino]

Place the probe in calibration solutions and check if they read the solution. I don't know about that API test. They are good for ballpark figures.

 

[Coolcasino]

Im not familiar with that probe. Im reading on amazon about it. Do you happen to have another way to check PH? Its so strange that your PH is so low. Thats almost tropical fish territory. What salt did you use? Whats the salinity at? Are you using RODI water?

 

[kaijor]

Im not familiar with that probe. Im reading on amazon about it. Do you happen to have another way to check PH? Its so strange that your PH is so low. Thats almost tropical fish territory. What salt did you use? Whats the salinity at? Are you using RODI water?

I rechecked the PH today actually. The PH is now 8.0 which seems to be good. Right? I'm actually getting the professional kit from Hanna which comes with PH meter. I think that one should be more reliable.

I have also tested the PH with the API liquid test and getting the same thing.

Is it worth trying to get the PH to go a bit higher? If so, does anyone know how I would do this?

 

[Miami Reef]

I rechecked the PH today actually. The PH is now 8.0 which seems to be good. Right? I'm actually getting the professional kit from Hanna which comes with PH meter. I think that one should be more reliable.

I have also tested the PH with the API liquid test and getting the same thing.

Is it worth trying to get the PH to go a bit higher? If so, does anyone know how I would do this?

No. Don’t worry about chasing PH.

Your parameters need to be in proper ranges first.

 

[Aquanic]

I rechecked the PH today actually. The PH is now 8.0 which seems to be good. Right? I'm actually getting the professional kit from Hanna which comes with PH meter. I think that one should be more reliable.

I have also tested the PH with the API liquid test and getting the same thing.

Is it worth trying to get the PH to go a bit higher? If so, does anyone know how I would

The pH in your tank can be boosted by trying to get more fresh air in the house/room the tank is in. The CO2 in the air goes into the water and makes it more acidic (lower pH). If you have a bunch of people or animals in the house and don’t have good air exchange then you will have a build up of CO2 and thus more will dissolve in the tank making your pH go down. Opening a door or window occasionally could help.

 

[kaijor]

The pH in your tank can be boosted by trying to get more fresh air in the house/room the tank is in. The CO2 in the air goes into the water and makes it more acidic (lower pH). If you have a bunch of people or animals in the house and don’t have good air exchange then you will have a build up of CO2 and thus more will dissolve in the tank making your pH go down. Opening a door or window occasionally could help.

Oh ok, I'll do that. It's getting warmer here anyways so I was going to let in some air in anyways. I'll see if that makes a difference.

 

[Coolcasino]

Let's first just double-check that alk reading. Make sure that it's way up there and try to figure a way to lower it to better range. Then we can worry about pH.

 

[Aquanic]

Let's first just double-check that alk reading. Make sure that it's way up there and try to figure a way to lower it to better range. Then we can worry about pH.

Be careful lowering your alk quickly. If you lower it too much too quickly it’ll kill all your coral. If it is that high try bringing it down over a month or more to a better range.
here’s a thread that kinda talks ab people with that high alk that could be useful to you: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/alkalinity-too-high-way-too-fast.862266/

With these two things being off so much, I’d recommend water changes to help lower it and don’t dose any kalk or alk supplements

 

[kaijor]

Let's first just double-check that alk reading. Make sure that it's way up there and try to figure a way to lower it to better range. Then we can worry about pH.

So the new alk is now 14 so it is lowering.

Be careful lowering your alk quickly. If you lower it too much too quickly it’ll kill all your coral. If it is that high try bringing it down over a month or more to a better range.
here’s a thread that kinda talks ab people with that high alk that could be useful to you: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/alkalinity-too-high-way-too-fast.862266/

With these two things being off so much, I’d recommend water changes to help lower it and don’t dose any kalk or alk supplements

Yup! I actually did a water change yesterday and it seemed to lower my Alk to about 14. And thanks for the link! I'll take a look at it.

 

[kaijor]

I'm also getting a digital alk test soon which should make my reading much more accurate.

 

[Aquanic]

I'm also getting a digital alk test soon which should make my reading much more accurate.

I just got a hydros and it’s been really cool to watch the pH raise and lower based on the time of day. And My Hannah checker definitely made things a lot easier to get more consistent readings

 

[kaijor]

I just got a hydros and it’s been really cool to watch the pH raise and lower based on the time of day. And My Hannah checker definitely made things a lot easier to get more consistent readings

Oh wow that's a nice gadget. I might save up for that. It would be nice to know those reading throughout day.

 

[Atrumblood]

I see people struggling to keep pH above 7.9.

Me: looking at my daily pH measurements constantly above 8.4.

 

[Aquanic]

Oh wow that's a nice gadget. I might save up for that. It would be nice to know those reading throughout day.

I’ve loved it so far. I got the X4 with the 4 plug outlets. So it lets me monitor pH, and temp constantly and you can set things on the strip plug to turn on and off based on those values. I was also able to get a ATO system and auto feeder for ab the same price as just an apex, however, the apex would have come with 4 more plugs. So far it’s been pretty reliable and wasn’t too hard to set up and program.