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09/20/2017, 01:52 PM | #1 |
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Can someone school me on PH?
Tank born on 8/29. And my PH has remained constant within the range of 7.5-7.8. Very consistent. But at this point I'm able to maintain all my parameters with water changes due to the light bioload. Based on suggested parameters, I'd like to see my PH move into the 8.0-8.3 range. So I guess my questions are: What seems to be the difference makers when it comes to PH? Will that increase as my bioload increases and I begin to have to supplement to keep up with corals, etc? Or will I naturally see a PH increase as the tank matures? Some of you veterans out there probably have a comment or two. And I know one that I can always count on chiming in.
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When a habit begins to cost money, it's called a hobby! Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer XL 425 Alive and Kick'n BOD 8-29-17 |
09/20/2017, 01:59 PM | #2 |
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They will tell you not to worry about PH. I say wait a month and then re test. See if it goes up. I do prefer mine around 8.1-8.3, I've never had to add anything to manipulate it but I do notice that more frequent water changes (20% 1 x per week) keeps it in the 8.3 range.
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Get a life! Current Tank Info: 20gL mixed reef, 10g mixed reef w/nem & clown, 5g NPS & harlequin |
09/20/2017, 02:00 PM | #3 |
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In general...Don't chase PH..
But this gives you all you need.. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/
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09/20/2017, 02:06 PM | #4 |
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In an aquarium, pH (its not PH ) is mostly a function of CO2 content of the ambient air the tank water is in contact with. When CO2 dissolves in water, it forms carbonic acid. Carbonic acid is a weak acid that lowers the pH of the water. There are minor contributions from organic acids that regenerated by metabolic processes of living stuff (mostly bacteria). But most of those are short lived.
Most of the time, pH of your tank will improve somewhat (due to algae growing in main tank ) but I highly doubt it will increase by 0.4 pH. Every system would try to revert back to equilibrium, an aquarium is not any different. It will also try to go back to its equilibrium state, which is determined by the amount of CO2 in the air. There are ways to reduce the CO2 content of a tank that increase pH. One way is to add a fuge with some type of algae. Since algae are photosynthetic, they use CO2 and therefore increase pH. Another way is to allow you skimmer to suck air directly from outside (since indoor co2 is generally higher) or connect a CO2 scrubber to the skimmer. But keep in mind these only work if your skimmer contributes for the majority of the gas exchange. This generally this requires an over sized skimmer. All in all you dont need to keep an eye on pH as long as other parameters are in check. Higher is better but lower 7.8 is not that bad either. There are products that are advertised to raise pH. Dont use those, as I explained before, you cant change equilibrium. It will only raise pH short term and the tank will eventually revert back to equilibrium pH. If you continue adding those products to compensate, you will nuke alk and most likely cause calcium to precipitate as CaCO3. |
09/20/2017, 02:11 PM | #5 | |
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Quote:
If I've learned anything, its that everything affects everything. Very interesting.
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When a habit begins to cost money, it's called a hobby! Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer XL 425 Alive and Kick'n BOD 8-29-17 |
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09/20/2017, 02:13 PM | #6 |
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One way is to add a fuge with some type of algae. Since algae are photosynthetic, they use CO2 and therefore increase pH.
I think I'll add a fuge at one point or another, if for no other reason than I want to give it try, see how things work with it and gain a little experience working with one. Amazing how quickly you take up space in a sump, though. Would have to be a small footprint style. But that's a wishlist item. That list gets longer by the day!
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When a habit begins to cost money, it's called a hobby! Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer XL 425 Alive and Kick'n BOD 8-29-17 |
09/21/2017, 04:18 AM | #7 |
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You could add an air pump (stone) to the system. It can get a little messy with the salt creep but it should help. Just a thought.
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Jim Current Tank Info: SCA 150G, 5 inch sand bed, 2 Tunze 6095s, ReefBreeders v2+ 50" with 2 all Blue Reefbrites, and Continuous Water Change System |
09/21/2017, 06:13 AM | #8 |
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What does an air stone do for PH?
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When a habit begins to cost money, it's called a hobby! Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer XL 425 Alive and Kick'n BOD 8-29-17 |
09/21/2017, 06:16 AM | #9 |
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It helps oxygenate the water.
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Jim Current Tank Info: SCA 150G, 5 inch sand bed, 2 Tunze 6095s, ReefBreeders v2+ 50" with 2 all Blue Reefbrites, and Continuous Water Change System |
09/21/2017, 06:26 AM | #10 |
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Nothing besides make a mess if you already use a skimmer or have good water circulation with good air/water contact at the surface of your tank. If you don't have good water circulation, that would be a good place to start. Add a power head and point it towards the surface so the circulation breaks the surface a bit. First step would be to get your tank fully saturated with ambient air if its not already.
Do you use a sump? Skimmer? Where do you live? If its cold there and your house is closed up tight most of the time, and you have a family, your house could be high in CO2. If that's the case, using a CO2 scrubber on the air inlet to your skimmer is a good way to increase the O2 content going to your tank. In general, I would advise against adding a macro algae fuge primarily to control pH. It will help during the day, but when the lights go off at night, guess what? The diurnal swing will hurt your tank more then the consistently low pH. Another big question (probably the biggest right now), what method of measuring pH are you using? One of the big reasons people say don't chase pH, is our hobby methods of measuring pH are not that great as a general rule. |
09/21/2017, 11:01 AM | #11 |
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CO2 in the water drives the ph down. I use a CO2 scrubber. An air stone really won't help much if the household air is high in co2. With the house closed up and the AC on my CO2 level in the house pushes 800. With the windows ope it will get down to 300-400. Some people run an airline to the skimmer to the outdoors.
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Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels |
09/21/2017, 11:41 AM | #12 |
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I do notice more growth, especially from my stony corals if my PH (don't be a dork) is higher.
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Get a life! Current Tank Info: 20gL mixed reef, 10g mixed reef w/nem & clown, 5g NPS & harlequin |
09/21/2017, 11:52 AM | #13 | |
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Quote:
DO NOT try to increase ph by adding alk (buffers)
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Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels |
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09/21/2017, 09:42 PM | #14 |
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Agree with most observations - though don't use an airstone, it will do nothing other than make a mess. If you have persistent, and accurate low PH then better room ventilation can help. I never found fresh air to the skimmer to do anything, though room ventilation did. Reverse lit refugium can also help as can using Kalk. Never use PH adjusting chemicals.
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Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs |
09/22/2017, 07:27 AM | #15 | |
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Quote:
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When a habit begins to cost money, it's called a hobby! Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer XL 425 Alive and Kick'n BOD 8-29-17 |
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09/22/2017, 01:51 PM | #16 |
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I have an inexpensive (relative term) CO2 monitor from Amazon.
Locally you could probably find one a local medical marijuana grow shop. I do not grow.
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Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels |
09/22/2017, 04:04 PM | #17 |
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my ph is usually around 7.5 with the windows all closed
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Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef |
09/25/2017, 04:25 PM | #18 | |
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Quote:
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09/25/2017, 04:47 PM | #19 |
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Good idea. I'll try that.
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When a habit begins to cost money, it's called a hobby! Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer XL 425 Alive and Kick'n BOD 8-29-17 |
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