ph help?

lazycouch

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hey guys just wondering how some of you guys manage to keep a stable ph? my tank is 1 month old (30 gallons) after cycling and i struggle to keep my ph steady. i’ve tried ph buffers but i was adviced not to by BRS because those supplements usually raise alkalinity more than they do ph. i’ve been using an airstone on and off to maintain a ph of 8.2 but it seems to decline through the days and every time i do my weekly water changes. the airstone does help but i’m tired of salt creep. thanks for your 2 cents.
 
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andrewey

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Could you tell us a bit more about your setup and what your pH swings between?

For example on my current tank, I've run a line from my skimmer to the outside air to help elevate my pH and try and minimize the effect two humans and three dogs have on a tank. To stabilize the pH, I also dose kalkwasser throughout the night and run my refugium opposite my main tank's photoperiod. Even with these actions, I still have a higher pH during my photoperiod than at night. I've taken steps to reduce the pH swing, but I haven't eliminated it altogether. There are other actions I could take to stabilize it further, but at this point I'm happy with my pH range and haven't chosen to invest the time or money into further reducing the range.
 
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lazycouch

lazycouch

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thanks for the input! i have a 30 gallon unitank. in the first chamber i have bio media and above that i have some floss. in the mid chamber i have ceramic rings, denitrate and purigen in a mesh bag and a decent amount of chaeto at the top in which i run a reverse light cycle on. above the return pump in the last chamber i have activated carbon also in a mesh bag. i'm running 2 power pumps and a surface skimmer in the main tank. for lighting i have the fluval marine 3.0 leds. avg temp 79-80 degrees my ph swings between 7.9-8.24 at most. could it be because i have the lights dimmed to acclimate my corals?
 
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lazycouch

lazycouch

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Thats a normal nigh to day swing.
My 120 ranges from 7.9 at night and 8.1-8.2 lights on.
Been this way since startup 1 year ago and is very common.
i'll have to check my ph during the day and then at night but i usually dont let it go below 7.9 because i turn my airpump on when it goes below 8!
 
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